Cheap Shoes too Shiny

[Jack2000]

I got a pair of chukkas from Banana Republic--- before you trash me for buying crappy shoes let me say they were $34 on sale and I like the fit and the shape of the last very much. They look like the Loake Kempton. They are however made of cheap, pebble grain leather that has a shine on it that looks like a coat of polyurethane. Is there anything anyone can suggest short of stripping the leather like all he antiquing project that might improve the look and feel of this leather.

 

[chorse123]

Worst case scenario is you're out $34.

 

[illeagle]

run over it with your car several times

 

[samurai]

I had a pair of Cole Hahns like that which I bought on sale last year. They had a clear coat on them that resisted every effort to remove it. Finally I got it off with stripper, spent a few days restoring the finish.

After much effort I finally took an objective look at them and realized that they were just a cheap crp. pair of shoes and pitched them...

 

[ManofKent]

Tried stripping the finish off a pair of Grenson Feathermasters I picked up off ebay. Got the shine off with acetone, but couldn't get a decent finish to replace the shiny one. Trash can...

 

[Philip1978]

You might be out of luck.

 

[falsestart]

I recently took the shine off a pair of thrifted shoes using denatured alcohol. Needed a bit of elbow grease and two tries, but it worked. I then repolished the shoes with a darker polish, they are still thrifted shoes but look better.

 

[polar-lemon]

Try leather conditioner, and wear the shoes...the finish should wear off, and if you don't polish and condition instead, I'd imagine it would continue. Of course, I don't know how much the low quality leather will absorb conditioner.

 

[Irond Will]

I ripped the plasticky finish off a pair of Bostonians with acetone and built it back up with shoe cream, polish and conditioner. They are now decent looking (but not great).

Make sure you're wearing gloves when you're using the acetone. I did not and my fingertips on my right hand are still numb a month later. I'm kind of afraid I'd given myself permanent nerve damage.

 

[Jack2000]

Originally Posted by Irond Will

I ripped the plasticky finish off a pair of Bostonians with acetone and built it back up with shoe cream, polish and conditioner. They are now decent looking (but not great).

Make sure you're wearing gloves when you're using the acetone. I did not and my fingertips on my right hand are still numb a month later. I'm kind of afraid I'd given myself permanent nerve damage.

When you say acetone do you mean nail polish remover or are you getting industrial acetone from somewhere?

 

[Jack2000]

Originally Posted by illeagle

run over it with your car several times

Actually kind of like this--it might soften the leather up.

 

[Irond Will]

Originally Posted by Jack2000

When you say acetone do you mean nail polish remover or are you getting industrial acetone from somewhere?

Nail polish remover. Still fucked my fingertips right up.

 

[rioni]

34 bux to learn your lesson isn't all that bad - I've done far worse.

 

[Nicholas]

Originally Posted by Irond Will

I ripped the plasticky finish off a pair of Bostonians with acetone and built it back up with shoe cream, polish and conditioner. They are now decent looking (but not great).

Make sure you're wearing gloves when you're using the acetone. I did not and my fingertips on my right hand are still numb a month later. I'm kind of afraid I'd given myself permanent nerve damage.

Who wants decent looking shoes? Not that I'd expect anything better for 34 bucks, but still.

 

[riwa1]

i guess nothing u can do bout it except to enjoy the $34 shoes. worst case, you can sell it back here when you had enough of the shoes