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

[patrickBOOTH]

Those are totally serviceable.

 

[Munky]

It's good to see you back, Patrick. I was beginning to get worried about you!

 

[patrickBOOTH]

What, because I didn't post for two days?

 

[chogall]

What, because I didn't post for two days?

Shoe poisoning from licking too much soles.

 

[Yellowevo84]

Hi guys, I am a first timer here.

I was wondering if any thrift shoppers have successfully revived tired full grain uppers, such as from a condition as depicted in the picture.


As it would be interesting to know the results of the attempts, and the process used.


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181729576568?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Best wishes.

I wouldn't even consider those in bad condition yet alone tired.

 

[mw313]



http://news.discovery.com/history/archaeology/oldest-shoe-moccasin.htm

Actually theres 5000 year old leather shoes for your survivorship bias

I was just going to mention this because I used as part of my intro for a lecture that I gave about the effects of different types of footwear on various stages of life.

 

[Josh Savage]

I've been using a shining method by shoe snob on YouTube. It involves cleaning, leather lotion/conditioner, pollish, then 4 subsequent water/pollish shinings. Is this a good method or are some saying that the conditioner/lotion is a waste of money/time?

 

[Jurgis]

I wouldn't even consider those in bad condition yet alone tired.

I would consider those very wearable, too. If you are asking if there is any way to get the toe creases to disappear, then no, there is not. You may be able to smooth them out a bit by conditioning, then putting in shoe trees, but I suspect the former owner used trees too, by the way the uppers taper toward the heel. Most non-shell shoes will have some toe creases after only a few wearings, and as long as the leather isn't cracking or splitting, it's okay. I'd be tempted by those myself, if they were my size and brown.

 

[Itsuo]



I've been using a shining method by shoe snob on YouTube. It involves cleaning, leather lotion/conditioner, pollish, then 4 subsequent water/pollish shinings. Is this a good method or are some saying that the conditioner/lotion is a waste of money/time?

I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with it. I wouldn't do the entire routine every time you care for your shoes. For example, "cleaning" with a brush can be done every time you wear them. As for the other steps, it completely depends how much you wear them and how you want them to look. But I would say generally speaking of the three, condition less often and wax more often and polish somewhere in between. As needed.

 

[mw313]

I've been using a shining method by shoe snob on YouTube. It involves cleaning, leather lotion/conditioner, pollish, then 4 subsequent water/pollish shinings. Is this a good method or are some saying that the conditioner/lotion is a waste of money/time?

I don't think there is necessarily anything wrong with it. I wouldn't do the entire routine every time you care for your shoes. For example, "cleaning" with a brush can be done every time you wear them. As for the other steps, it completely depends how much you wear them and how you want them to look. But I would say generally speaking of the three, condition less often and wax more often and polish somewhere in between. As needed.

this is a great method for the once in a while routine. It is very thorough and keeps great care of the shoes.

For normal use, brush them overtime.
For every few, you can add either conditioner or polish as needed to keep it moisturized and with enough pigment in them.
Use the wax if you want to keep a mirror shine. If you don't need the mirror, then just do it every once in a great while for added protective qualities.

 

[Stemo79]

Has the conditioner argument abated yet?

Come on guys, why can't we all just get along...?

 

[Stemo79]

I've been using a shining method by shoe snob on YouTube. It involves cleaning, leather lotion/conditioner, pollish, then 4 subsequent water/pollish shinings. Is this a good method or are some saying that the conditioner/lotion is a waste of money/time?

Justin's techniques are pretty good and I've spoken with him on occasion regards it, he certainly does know his stuff. I haven't seen the video in question but he generally infers that the full regime is only when you're stripping the wax back and starting fresh. If you already have the shine and the wax is still looking good then you only really need to keep shining, adding a little wax or conditioner now and again.

You certainly don't want to be doing the whole shebang every time you polish your shoes.

 

[Munky]

I have just been given a tub of Oliver Sweeney 'Brush Up' polish. It contains: beeswax, carnauba wax, lanolin, sea buckthorn oil and neatsfoot oil. I had never heard of sea buckthorn oil before and can't find any reference to it as a shoe product. Does this cream sound like a good thing to use on your shoes?

 

[traverscao]

I have just been given a tub of Oliver Sweeney 'Brush Up' polish. It contains: beeswax, carnauba wax, lanolin, sea buckthorn oil and neatsfoot oil. I had never heard of sea buckthorn oil before and can't find any reference to it as a shoe product. Does this cream sound like a good thing to use on your shoes?

https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/sea-buckthorn-oil/profile - here is the oil's property. I'd certainly give a try on the cream, if I can get my hands into 'em.

 

[rjonea]

Lexol ph-balanced leather cleaner and lexol "1008" leather conditioner on their way and should be in my hands be the end of the day. It should be a productive shoe care weekend.