**The Official Shoe Care Thread: Tutorials, Photos, etc.**

[ridefar]

Originally Posted by patrickBOOTH

Renovateur, then start bulling with wax. Thin layers, like a billion of them.

Kind of a bump to my previous question... When you do lots of layers, do you polish in between? Or just let dry for a few minutes and then add another?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Well, with bulling you want to add a bit of moisture and make circles with a cloth until the wax hardens and you can feel it getting tacky. Then add another layer and repeat until the mirror really starts to come out. If you go back in this thread there is a lot of info on it.

 

[Unregistered]

Before and After with my Alden shells!

Left shoe has been vigorously brushed with a horsehair brush. Right shoe had some Venetian Cream wiped on, then buffed for about a minute.

 

[Luta Livre]

Gents,

There is a dearth of skilled cobblers in my city.

As such, appreciate your inputs on how to best remove/mask the discoloration on the toes of these Fratelli Rossettis. Discoloration is not from polish - have always used neutral shoe polish. Appears to be a combination of dirt+scuffing.

Picked up at Serravalle outlet two years ago, but worn sparingly.

Current care regimen is Collonil Premium Diamant shoe cream. Previously used Collonil Rustical. (Just polished - hence, residue in brogueing.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[retozimmermann]

This looks very odd to me.

If at all possible, you should use a coloured wax instead of a colourless one. Colourless is really only for cases where the colour is extremely difficult. In all other cases coloured wax is preferable. With these shoes, particularly, it should be very easy to find a high-quality wax of matching colour.

To "repair" the current damage, use a good cleaner at first and try to remove as much of the wax and decolourisation as possible. Maybe a wash or even a full bath might be necessary. Use clean water, mild soap and a brush for that purpose.

Afterward start with a base of coloured pomade (the stuff in glass jars), brush, and then proceed with a high-quality hard-wax polish (again in a matching colour).

If, after the cleaning and washing or bathing and subsequent drying (not near a heat source) you see that the discolourisation is not gone, you may want to consider "antiquing" the toes to better cover the difference in colours.

Originally Posted by Luta Livre

Gents,

There is a dearth of skilled cobblers in my city.

As such, appreciate your inputs on how to best remove/mask the discoloration on the toes of these Fratelli Rossettis. Discoloration is not from polish - have always used neutral shoe polish. Appears to be a combination of dirt+scuffing.

Picked up at Serravalle outlet two years ago, but worn sparingly.

Current care regimen is Collonil Premium Diamant shoe cream. Previously used Collonil Rustical. (Just polished - hence, residue in brogueing.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[Unregistered]

What is a recommended leather cleaner product for stripped off old, caked on junk from wax/polish?

 

[Poshak Man]

Saphir Renomat or Crema Alpina/Nubiana.

 

[Mr. Moo]

Carmina shell cordovan hand-sewn split toe loafers. One coat of Venetian Cream followed by a coat of Saphir Renovateur.

 

[JamesX]

Originally Posted by Poshak Man

Saphir Renomat or Crema Alpina/Nubiana.
IIRC lasbar, or was it adriene, recommended a hair blower as well for removing wax.

 

[ShayaEXQT]

Originally Posted by Poshak Man

Saphir Renomat or Crema Alpina/Nubiana.

where can you buy this online??

couldnt find it on google....

 

[Poshak Man]

Renomat is available here

http://www.valmour.com/cleaning-prod...omat-saphir,20

Francos had carried the Crema Alpina / Nubina a few years back. Not aware of a US source since Francos sold out on Crema Alpina / Nubina. But I have heard that it may be available at Bata stores in Europe, not sure about it though.

Renomat is better at removing old layers of wax and shoe cream. But after using Crema Alpina / Nubina you could brush the shoes to get a really good shine without application of polish.

 

[Slewfoot]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

Carmina shell cordovan hand-sewn split toe loafers.

One coat of Venetian Cream followed by a coat of Saphir Renovateur.

Good stuff Moo! Behold, the power of shell!

 

[thesecondprize]

Originally Posted by Mr. Moo

My technique for both of these pairs of shoes is very simple. I wipe with a just every so slightly moist cotton cloth, and follow by applying the Renovateur with a horse hair dauber. The product goes everywhere on the upper. I let it dry for 3-5 minutes or so, and then brush it out with a horse hair brush. To achieve slightly more shine, I use a polishing cloth (the $3 ones from Allen Edmonds work great) for 20-25 seconds all around the shoe.

Would you use different horse hair daubers/brushes based on the color of the leather to which you're applying Saphir? And still different horse hair daubers/brushes for Saphir than you do for polish?

 

[Bravo340]

I'd like to know an answer to the above as well.

Also, when using flannel cloths (wether bought from AE, old shoe bags, etc.), do you use it once and throw away? Use it once as in to apply cleaner/conditioner/lotion; not for when you shine. I would assume you can use that one multiple times.

Can anyone help with these questions. Thanks in advance!

 

[patrick_b]

Originally Posted by Bravo340

I'd like to know an answer to the above as well.

Also, when using flannel cloths (wether bought from AE, old shoe bags, etc.), do you use it once and throw away? Use it once as in to apply cleaner/conditioner/lotion; not for when you shine. I would assume you can use that one multiple times.

Can anyone help with these questions. Thanks in advance!

I use old cotton t-shirts (plain white) cut up into strips for applying polish and/or conditioner. Separate cloths for each color, conditioner and separate cloths for cream or wax polish. A single shirt will provide ~10-12 polishing cloths. I use a clean section for each session and once they get covered I toss them and start fresh.

I then use flannel cloths or microfiber cloths (for waxing cars) and a horsehair brush to remove excess wax and polish. Also separate cloths for different colors and these get thrown in the wash every so often and can be reused.