Shoe polish: thoughts, fun facts, questions

[EagleJCS]

Would this, be the type of wooden box?

I have a virtually identical Griffin Shinemaster shoeshine box. Used to belong to one of my uncle's (I think). I've had it so long I forget whose it was.

Regarding the OP: I, too, am diligent in shining my shoes as needed. When I have a high-profile piping gig, I even go so far as to use an old toothbrush to apply the polish in the brogued areas of my ghillies. I use regular Kiwi shoe polish, applied with an old cotton t-shirt, followed by a buff with a horsehair brush. New shoes get 2-3 coats before wearing out.

[Tobus]

When I have a high-profile piping gig, I even go so far as to use an old toothbrush to apply the polish in the brogued areas of my ghillies.

Any type of brogues can be a challenge to polish, due to the holes. I apply the polish with a rag, then brush to get most of it off, then follow up with a toothpick and Q-tip (cotton swab) to clear the holes of excess polish before buffing and final wet-polishing. Pulling the cotton off the end of the swab and just using the stem works surprisingly well, since it fits the larger holes nicely.

[Dirk95]

I used to enjoy bulling my boots, and I still like having polished shoes now I don't need to wear boots. I even used to polish my work boots when I was a semi truck driver when I came out of the army. My mother in law always said you could tell what sort of man you were by the state of his shoes. Even now I get asked was I in the army remember the old ammunition boots took some doing, got off doing guard for my best boots being really good lol on my recruits cadre