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

[SHS]

+1, it looks like the goblin shark in the funny picture thread:

 

[Crat]

No worries, cordovan is quite strong. Should be able to handle this.

 

[OzzyJones]



No worries, cordovan is quite strong. Should be able to handle this.

Aaaaarrrrgh! Swallow your sole!!

 

[chogall]

Is it recommended to use a stiff-bristled brush for shell cordovan instead of a horsehair brush?

If shell is indeed that hard, and difficult to brush shine, then a synthetic brush is ok??

using stiff-bristled brush on cordovan to raise a shine is fairly masochist..

 

[OzzyJones]



using stiff-bristled brush on cordovan to raise a shine is fairly masochist..

Mac method is short for masochist I believe

 

[EnsitMike]

Not exactly trying to achieve a high shine but just alittle shine. Now it's just matte.

I'm polishing a black shoe so it's just black polish.

What's your advice?

Can you post a close up picture?

I've had this happen before. It was when I first started, and I thought the shoe polish color was supposed to rid of scuffs on the first coat. I ended up putting too much polish, which is likely what you have done. By now the polish should really have dried up quite significantly, and you may just take a brush to it. The brush takes off much of the product with any use, and may do you good in this situation. If it IS still gummy I wouldn't necessarily go this route, and in that case I'd wait for another member to chime in. It would be quite curious that the product would stay moist for this long however.

In the future, if you aren't going for high shine like you say, then truly you only need a very conservative amount of polish. Taking it to the limits of patience you can watch Crat's spit polish video, as you will get a good understanding of the very sparse amount of polish and it's great effect.

 

[Crat]

I'm currently polishing a pair with some new wax and was very frustrated as the shine wasn't coming along as I wanted it to.
Turns out I needed less spit/water as this new wax is fresh unlike the dried up "bits of charcoal" I'm using in the video.
You live and learn : )

-edit-
It really isn't an exact science...

 

[Crat]

Been busy lately...

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[dlind]

Been busy lately...

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Very nice! Would you consider making a short "how to" guide for doing something like this. I would very much like to try it but I'm a bit hesitant since I have not done anything similar before. Do you use something like dubbin grease after stripping the shoes to replenish the leather before you apply the dye?

 

[Crat]



Very nice! Would you consider making a short "how to" guide for doing something like this. I would very much like to try it but I'm a bit hesitant since I have not done anything similar before. Do you use something like dubbin grease after stripping the shoes to replenish the leather before you apply the dye?

Someone asked me the same question yesterday, here's my answer. Applying grease before dying would defy the purpose of stripping the leather with acetone because the greased leather wouldn't absorb the dye properly. I use renovator after dying to nourish the leather.

 

[JackFlash]

Hanger Project has Saphir Super Invulner and the Suede and Nubuck Spray back in stock

 

[vncrz]

I have two pairs of shoes that I've worn for 2+ years with built up layers of wax from spit shining them and recently purchased Renomat to strip the layers away and start afresh. However, rubbing some Renomat in a circular motion hasn't had much of an effect, should I just rub in some more until the glossy layers just go away? I am a bit afraid of overdoing it

 

[dlind]

Someone asked me the same question yesterday, here's my answer.
Applying grease before dying would defy the purpose of stripping the leather with acetone because the greased leather wouldn't absorb the dye properly. I use renovator after dying to nourish the leather.

Great thanks! Do you not feel that the shoe needs more nourishment then the renovator can provide after stripping it?

 

[jssdc]

Crat - what type of shoes are the two re-dyes you've posted recently (the BRG two-tone and the brown chukkas)? Are these just old shoes from your collection or do you actively source them for projects?

 

[EnsitMike]

Not looking forward to the day I have to polish these contrast welt-strapped loafers.

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