High Shine

[CDNSushi]

The technique described by the OP is spot on. Spent years in air cadets and that's exactly what we did. I alternated between ice water and spit though... Later on used pretty much cold water exclusively... But wrapping the kiwi cloth around your index finger (or two/three fingers), dipping it in water, then the polish, then rubbing it on, layer after layer in circles is really the only "proper" way I was taught to do boots. What you end up with is an amazing shine... In cadets the preoccupation with shining boots is almost cult-like... And it's a never-ending battle. Especially when they get scuffed. <sigh>

The only other tip that I learned that made an amazing difference, was, in the process of bulling, swap out one layer of black kiwi polish for oxblood... That works some really nice magic there.

I know some guys used a lighter on their boots. Not only would you get the crap beasted out of you if someone caught you doing it (or saw evidence of you having done so), in the long rung it made the shine job look worse. It you were REALLY hard pressed, it could get you past an inspection... But after that you would really need to strip the polish and start over from scratch.

Man. Memories. To this day I hate shining shoes or boots... But there's no good alternative, as shoe-shine places don't know crap about it, and end up simply ruining your boots/shoes completely.

[Dangerdean]

The only other tip that I learned that made an amazing difference, was, in the process of bulling, swap out one layer of black kiwi polish for oxblood... That works some really nice magic there.

Occasional layers of neutral thrown in worked well too.

I know some guys used a lighter on their boots. Not only would you get the crap beasted out of you if someone caught you doing it (or saw evidence of you having done so), in the long rung it made the shine job look worse. It you were REALLY hard pressed, it could get you past an inspection... But after that you would really need to strip the polish and start over from scratch.

I don't remember using the lighter to make the actual gloss shine, just to make an incredible base coat. Get a really good layer of polish on the boot, and wet it lightly with your polishing water, into which you'd added a couple of drops of lighter fluid. Then run the lighter flame all around the boot...not actually touching the leather, but evenly melting the polish and giving you the best base possible to get a gloss shine.

I know what you mean about the boot fetish in cadets (754 Squadron represent!). I was camp staff at CFB Penhold one year and if we weren't working, drinking or sleeping we were listening to music and polishing our boots.

[CDNSushi]

I know what you mean about the boot fetish in cadets (754 Squadron represent!). I was camp staff at CFB Penhold one year and if we weren't working, drinking or sleeping we were listening to music and polishing our boots.

Lol! 11 Squadron (Lethbridge RCACS) represent! Ugh! CFB Penhold..... <shudder> Thanks for bringing that up! :buttkick: Now it's going to take awhile to re-repress those memories again! <sigh> Listening to music and polishing boots. Yup...