Shoe polish: thoughts, fun facts, questions

[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.

[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.

[HenryK]

My Tony Lammas' were well taken care of for a number of years ( one of those in Viet Nam) and the cobler after 13 years made me two fine holsters for my pistols from the uppers.

[BorstalBoy]

I whole heartedly agree with the sentiments about polishing shoes being cathartic (might have something to do with that military indoctrination...). Anyway, in my search for some ghillie brogues to wear with my kilt on semi-formal occasions, all the ones I’ve come across are made if corrected grain leather - i.e., leather that has the top layer of hide sanded down to remove blemishes and then is treated with a lacquer or acrylic varnish. These don’t take polish as the pores have been sealed over and moreover, the varnish will crack with use.

Unless anyone is able to point me to a source of full-grain leather ghillie brogues, my plan is to use acetone to remove the varnish after which I will dye the brogues and then polish as usual. I don’t know how this will turn out, but I’ll report on the results. I’ve read about others doing this with mixed results on other forums in regards to generic dress shoes.

[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.

[CollinMacD]

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.

Yes, might have to go over it a few times, but should take it down.