Shoe polishing, a dying art?
Discussion
I've recently invested in very nice pair of dress shoes, which id like to keep looking their best.
Can kiwi polish amd brushes still be bought, or am i being old fashioned.
With my army boots, i used to cake in kiwi warm up a table spoon with a ligher rub all over until the polish was thoroughly soaked in, leave over night then give it a good buff in the morning.
If any big cheeses were coming or it was rememberance day etc id spend hours making them look like mirrors.
Id love to re-master my skills on my work shoes, anyone else dabble in the art?
Can kiwi polish amd brushes still be bought, or am i being old fashioned.
With my army boots, i used to cake in kiwi warm up a table spoon with a ligher rub all over until the polish was thoroughly soaked in, leave over night then give it a good buff in the morning.
If any big cheeses were coming or it was rememberance day etc id spend hours making them look like mirrors.
Id love to re-master my skills on my work shoes, anyone else dabble in the art?
Yep, I find it very therapeutic. Oddly though, I hate polishing the car 
Sounds like I use a similar method to you; light the polish, let it burn for 5-10 seconds, blow out and cake the shoe/boot. Use a coarse brush to get an even/level spread then buff with a soft brush to bring out the shine.
Liquid polish is just cheating
Sounds like I use a similar method to you; light the polish, let it burn for 5-10 seconds, blow out and cake the shoe/boot. Use a coarse brush to get an even/level spread then buff with a soft brush to bring out the shine.
Liquid polish is just cheating
Like yourself, l like the sight of highly polished shoes, they speak highly of the person wearing them.
Unfortunately now days we seem to be in a minority, surrounded by plastic, felt and the inevitable
trainers.
My favourite polish for all my leather shoes is 'KIWI PARADE GROUND GLOSS'
Applied with a soft haired brush, worked well into the leather (particularly where the Upper meets the Sole)
then left overnight to dry. Next morning buff with the brush before final polishing with a soft duster.
The result will be amazing !
Best of Luck
Unfortunately now days we seem to be in a minority, surrounded by plastic, felt and the inevitable
trainers.
My favourite polish for all my leather shoes is 'KIWI PARADE GROUND GLOSS'
Applied with a soft haired brush, worked well into the leather (particularly where the Upper meets the Sole)
then left overnight to dry. Next morning buff with the brush before final polishing with a soft duster.
The result will be amazing !
Best of Luck
Dr Barrie 9 said:
Like yourself, l like the sight of highly polished shoes, they speak highly of the person wearing them.
Unfortunately now days we seem to be in a minority, surrounded by plastic, felt and the inevitable
trainers.
My favourite polish for all my leather shoes is 'KIWI PARADE GROUND GLOSS'
Applied with a soft haired brush, worked well into the leather (particularly where the Upper meets the Sole)
then left overnight to dry. Next morning buff with the brush before final polishing with a soft duster.
The result will be amazing !
Best of Luck
That is some lurking!Unfortunately now days we seem to be in a minority, surrounded by plastic, felt and the inevitable
trainers.
My favourite polish for all my leather shoes is 'KIWI PARADE GROUND GLOSS'
Applied with a soft haired brush, worked well into the leather (particularly where the Upper meets the Sole)
then left overnight to dry. Next morning buff with the brush before final polishing with a soft duster.
The result will be amazing !
Best of Luck
Love polishing shoes.
I once pulled a local thug in the pub who was giving a girl a bit of grief.
We got a mutual understanding of his wrongs.
He later told me that his was $h1t scared of me in my shiny shoes and though I was a copper.
PS
Director yes but not powerfully built, but I can run fast!
I once pulled a local thug in the pub who was giving a girl a bit of grief.
We got a mutual understanding of his wrongs.
He later told me that his was $h1t scared of me in my shiny shoes and though I was a copper.
PS
Director yes but not powerfully built, but I can run fast!
Dr Barrie 9 said:
Like yourself, l like the sight of highly polished shoes, they speak highly of the person wearing them.
I like to think that I dress with a certain sartorial awareness but despite doing so the only thing that people comment on (mainly women it has to be said), is my shiny shoes.Bailey93 said:
Can kiwi polish amd brushes still be bought, or am i being old fashioned.
Get on to the shoe w
kers thread, don't mention your grubby kiwi polish though.. You need at least saphir products and creams with oil from virgin minks fed on caviar. http://www.saphirmedailledorshop.co.uk/saphir-mdo-...
There is a very nice place to shine shoes at Bank Tube station.
If it is very quiet - and the guy (can't recall his name- but he was former military ) - spent the best part of 90 minutes polishing brand new shoes - could get a mirror finish
He used nothing but Polish, dab of water and elbow grease.
Amazing results.
If it is very quiet - and the guy (can't recall his name- but he was former military ) - spent the best part of 90 minutes polishing brand new shoes - could get a mirror finish
He used nothing but Polish, dab of water and elbow grease.
Amazing results.
Now I work back in London I take a bit of time on my shoes (I too have a box with polish, brushes and cloths). I bought some Loakes which looked good and polish up a treat (after learning how to bull my boots as an army cadet) I can get a great shine on the toes with just some kiwi polish, a cloth and a bit of time while watching Sunday night telly.
After 2 months though, the soles of the Loakes have worn through and are falling off. What absolute rubbish. I can now see the value of of a decent, but expensive pair of shoes. My RM Williams boots must be 10 years old and I wear them all winter. They're just about due some new soles now (admittedly they are rubber soled), spending decent money on shoes if you wear them every day). These get a big dose of natural dubbin every couple of weeks.
I guess, like the person above saying that they'd rather get new shoes rather than clean them, I do think you can tell a lot by what goes on people's feet. Dirty worn out shoes says a fair amount I reckon.
After 2 months though, the soles of the Loakes have worn through and are falling off. What absolute rubbish. I can now see the value of of a decent, but expensive pair of shoes. My RM Williams boots must be 10 years old and I wear them all winter. They're just about due some new soles now (admittedly they are rubber soled), spending decent money on shoes if you wear them every day). These get a big dose of natural dubbin every couple of weeks.
I guess, like the person above saying that they'd rather get new shoes rather than clean them, I do think you can tell a lot by what goes on people's feet. Dirty worn out shoes says a fair amount I reckon.
Used to do it loads when I was in the Air Cadets. I remember on my cadet JNCO and SNCO courses getting everything ironed and ready for the next morning, giving my shoes a quick check to make sure they hadn't been scuffed in transit to/from the base or, if it was the second or third night, running them under a tap with a bit of soaked, soft cotton wool to get the dust off.
Most others were going mental with the polishing because their shoes were either crap beforehand, had been scuffed at some point, or they'd been stupid and bought new shoes for the purposes of the inspection and were surprised when they didn't come pre-bulled (yes, really).
I find it quite relaxing if there's no time pressure. Like my gran sitting watching Bargain Hunt with a bit of cross stitch on the go, I could be sat with the radio on getting my shoes back to "super shiny", ready for the next event at the weekend.
Most others were going mental with the polishing because their shoes were either crap beforehand, had been scuffed at some point, or they'd been stupid and bought new shoes for the purposes of the inspection and were surprised when they didn't come pre-bulled (yes, really).
I find it quite relaxing if there's no time pressure. Like my gran sitting watching Bargain Hunt with a bit of cross stitch on the go, I could be sat with the radio on getting my shoes back to "super shiny", ready for the next event at the weekend.
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