I paid my Cheaney "Edinburgh"s some extra attention today. Over time I had build up too many layers of shoe polish (Saphir Pâte de luxe in Havane-Tabak brown) which resulted in small cracks in the surface. Creases are a natural process, but cracks in the surface due to too much polish are not pretty.
First I washed down the uppers with a horsehair brush and warm soap water. After drying in the shadow for a while I cleansed the leather with Saphir "Réno 'Mat".
Next step was to massage the uppers with "Mink oil renovator" from The Shoe Snob Shop.
Later I brushed the shoes down and applied a thin layer of Saphir Pâte de luxe (#34, Havane-Tabak brown).
Final step was to add some extra shine using the Shoe Snob Shop bee's wax.
I am still very happy with these shoes - and still a visit to the cobbler can wait. I have used the shoes a lot and even during last year's Copenhagen Tweed Ride they were utterly soaked with water due to all day rain.
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Shoe polishing "ingredients" |
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Still plenty of miles in these |
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Creases are acceptable |
A good guide to shoe polishing is found at the Shoe Snob Blog.
I purchased my Cheaney "Edinburgh" a little more than two years ago. I re-visted the shoes a year ago: haethaenstat.blogspot.dk/2014/08/the-cheaney-revisited.
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The new shoes |
Good work, I know it takes time. Myself I can't handle more than one pair a day (following that Shoe Snob route which leads to a glaçage)!
ReplyDeleteIf I may ask, after how many wears do you usually repeat the procedure? Thank you.
the wash-down with soap and water not very often, but the brush down followed by mink oil, pâte de luxe and then bee's wax for every 2-3 wears, and for every wear brush-down and depending on estimated need either pâte de luxe or bee's wax - maybe just the refrehing of the toe's. But over time I admit having applied too much pâte de luxe - so thin even layers is the new black.
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