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

[CollinMacD]

Interesting. I've noticed a misty finish on one of my pairs of shoes that I polished with the brown Kiwi parade gloss wax. Well, maybe not misty so much as having a strange sort of coloured sheen under the surface that won't buff out. I had attributed it to putting on a coat of clear wax at one point, then going back to brown later. I haven't seen it happen on the other brown shoes I use that polish on, though.

If you have used any type of WAX on you leather shoes and you wish to put a traditional wet (spit) shine on your show, put about 5 squirts of DAWN (only Dawn) liquid dish washing liquid into a basin or sink of water with warm (not hot) water. Wipe the shoe down with the dishwater. Dawn dissolves wax. Then wipe show allow to dry the show before you go to the show polish. Works all the time, this gets rid of the dull or sheen that is caused by polishing over bad wax.

Key is to allow show to fully dry. Usually I let sit for 24 hours. CHEERS...

[Tobus]

Will the Dawn strip all the wax polish off down to the base leather finish, requiring a complete do-over of building up wax layers? That may be further than I'd care to go.

[Father Bill]

I confess: this morning I felt lazy (after gardening for 4 1/2 hours) so I took my previously bulled toe-cap Oxfords down the basement and for a touch-up did them over with a cream polish.

WOW!

[Tobus]

What you're saying, Father Bill, is that you get a better shine with cream polish over a bulled wax polish than from the bulled wax polish alone?

[Dileasgubas]

I will only add that by maintaining polish on decent shoes, the soles should wear out long before the upper part. I usually have shoes re-soled multiple times before the upper leather finally cracks.

[Father Bill]

What you're saying, Father Bill, is that you get a better shine with cream polish over a bulled wax polish than from the bulled wax polish alone?

Not sure if it’s better or just restored. It did seem to have a desireable depth to it.

[Baeau]

I will only add that by maintaining polish on decent shoes, the soles should wear out long before the upper part. I usually have shoes re-soled multiple times before the upper leather finally cracks.

Completely agree. I had a pair of Tony Lama boots. Not expensive ones. Always kept polished. Lasted about 18 years with an unknown amount of soles & heels. Finally, the local cobbler said we hit the limit.