Me new shoes!

[longhuntr74]

From one fairly expert Soldier Shoe-shiner to another...well done. What size are they? Find me a pair, would ya?

[RussellSm]

First off, nice brogues. To be precise these are officer's brogues.

[Father Bill]

So . . . from one shine addict to another, how DID you do that? What technique & products did you use?

[Ancienne Alliance]

Wow ! Just how do you get such a shine ?


Best,

Robert

[T-Bone]

That's one heck of a shine. Nice!

[longhuntr74]

I'm not the shiner being questioned...but here's my technique.

1st step for new shoes...strip them with 0000 steel wool and some alcohol to get that spray on lacquer off (probably not necessary for some of the higher end shoes out there)

2nd step...build up a good base coat of kiwi or other wax shoe polish. I normally use kiwi and then when I get the shoes shiny, I will finish it off with Lincoln Stain Wax shoe polish. Lincoln is a bit "softer" than kiwi and gives a better final coat in my opinion. Some people use blue for a top coat over the black as it apparently adds a transparency factor to really give it that final lustre. I never have, just because I never owned blue shoe polish.

So how do you build up the base?? I typically apply wax and let it harden a day...lightly brush it...apply another coat...let it harden, brush, repeat, etc. If I'm in a hurry, I've been known to apply a fairly heavy coat of wax and then take a lighter to the toe and melt it to smooth and harden it. Sometimes that process is repeated a time or two as well. It's a quicker way...but sometimes you end up getting fuzz or hair in your finish and then you have to try to pick it out.

The shining part itself...I use a fine multi stretch poly cotton knit fabric (which I'm on my last piece of...bought a bunch years ago...it's gonna be a challenge to find some new fabric that is exactly the same). Some flannel-type fabrics work fairly well too...but others can strip rather than polish. In my case, I apparently found the perfect fabric...and I need to find it again...try some old tshirts.

To cut and smooth the wax, I pour a little bit of 70% isopropyl rubbing alchohol in the lid of my shoe polish tin. I tip the lid diagonally and lightly dab the rag (stretched tight over my index and middle finger) against the part of the lid that only has a slight residue of the alcohol. The trick here is "just slightly damp". Alcohol will RUIN YOUR FINISH if you get too much...just a light dab and I frequently wipe off the rag on my lap cloth before I rub it over the top of the shoe polish also. To tell what is just enough...you can touch the cloth to you cheek...if it feels cool you're good...if it feels wet...too much.

With a good wax base, a little bit of alcohol on the polishing cloth, and a thin trace of polish on top of the alcohol dampened part of the cloth, I then make small circles all over the shoe. If you focus too much on the toe, you'll feel like you aren't getting any shinier sometimes. I've found that if I move around to the back of the shoe and work it...or even the other shoe...it gives the wax on the toe time to harden a bit and then it will pop a lustre better after I've left it alone for a few minutes. Sometimes I spray a very light mist of water with a spray bottle, as well, if the wax seems too dry and scratchy.

I know this has been really long and convoluted...it's hard to explain. If you want to come to my house, I'll show ya!! I learned from my company commander when I was a brand new PLT Leader...his boots were like GLASS EVERYDAY!!!

[artificer]

I'm not the shiner being questioned...but here's my technique.

1st step for new shoes...strip them with 0000 steel wool and some alcohol to get that spray on lacquer off (probably not necessary for some of the higher end shoes out there)

2nd step...build up a good base coat of kiwi or other wax shoe polish. I normally use kiwi and then when I get the shoes shiny, I will finish it off with Lincoln Stain Wax shoe polish. Lincoln is a bit "softer" than kiwi and gives a better final coat in my opinion. Some people use blue for a top coat over the black as it apparently adds a transparency factor to really give it that final lustre. I never have, just because I never owned blue shoe polish.

So how do you build up the base?? I typically apply wax and let it harden a day...lightly brush it...apply another coat...let it harden, brush, repeat, etc. If I'm in a hurry, I've been known to apply a fairly heavy coat of wax and then take a lighter to the toe and melt it to smooth and harden it. Sometimes that process is repeated a time or two as well. It's a quicker way...but sometimes you end up getting fuzz or hair in your finish and then you have to try to pick it out.

The shining part itself...I use a fine multi stretch poly cotton knit fabric (which I'm on my last piece of...bought a bunch years ago...it's gonna be a challenge to find some new fabric that is exactly the same). Some flannel-type fabrics work fairly well too...but others can strip rather than polish. In my case, I apparently found the perfect fabric...and I need to find it again...try some old tshirts.

To cut and smooth the wax, I pour a little bit of 70% isopropyl rubbing alchohol in the lid of my shoe polish tin. I tip the lid diagonally and lightly dab the rag (stretched tight over my index and middle finger) against the part of the lid that only has a slight residue of the alcohol. The trick here is "just slightly damp". Alcohol will RUIN YOUR FINISH if you get too much...just a light dab and I frequently wipe off the rag on my lap cloth before I rub it over the top of the shoe polish also. To tell what is just enough...you can touch the cloth to you cheek...if it feels cool you're good...if it feels wet...too much.

With a good wax base, a little bit of alcohol on the polishing cloth, and a thin trace of polish on top of the alcohol dampened part of the cloth, I then make small circles all over the shoe. If you focus too much on the toe, you'll feel like you aren't getting any shinier sometimes. I've found that if I move around to the back of the shoe and work it...or even the other shoe...it gives the wax on the toe time to harden a bit and then it will pop a lustre better after I've left it alone for a few minutes. Sometimes I spray a very light mist of water with a spray bottle, as well, if the wax seems too dry and scratchy.

I know this has been really long and convoluted...it's hard to explain. If you want to come to my house, I'll show ya!! I learned from my company commander when I was a brand new PLT Leader...his boots were like GLASS EVERYDAY!!!

Spoken like an Army man!

I learned a very similar technique 20 yrs ago- for speed pour a drop of iso in the kiwi and light it to melt polish and really spread smoothly. The rest of the process is nearly identical to yours.

[Calico]

If you want to come to my house, I'll show ya!!

You are kind of far away. How about I just ship the shoes to you, and when I get them back I'll know whether your method really works.

[longhuntr74]

Spoken like an Army man!

Slight correction Artificer...I think you mean "spoken like an Army man who's been in the army more than 7 years."

I'd be willing to bet there's a whole bunch of US Soldiers these days that wouldn't have the slightest clue how to shine a pair of shoes! Boots are tan suede, shoes are plastic (except mine, of course...always have to be different...I wear leather chukka-style ankle boots with my class A and B uniforms).

[artificer]

Slight correction Artificer...I think you mean "spoken like an Army man who's been in the army more than 7 years."

I'd be willing to bet there's a whole bunch of US Soldiers these days that wouldn't have the slightest clue how to shine a pair of shoes! Boots are tan suede, shoes are plastic (except mine, of course...always have to be different...I wear leather chukka-style ankle boots with my class A and B uniforms).

True. But most of the men I know who are in the army are nearly ready to retire after their "quick 20" lol

ith: