Polishing Boots

[w8gtf]

I've got two pair of black boots, that I have not worn in afew years. One is a pair of surplus combat boots from the mid 90's and the other is a pair of doc martins.

Both have been boxed up for afew years and the leather is kind of dry. The Doc's have some nice nicks in them that will need to be filled in/built up.

I'm wondering what is the best procedure for giving these boots some TLC? I spent about an hour and a half on the doc's last night laying down thin layers of polish, working it in, and buffing it off. Is there some better way, or do I just need to put in the time/effort?

I used to keep my combat boots really nice, but they weren't as beat up as my Doc's. Also, all the websites I've looked over go into spit polishing boots. I'm just looking keep the boots looking nice and scuff free.

[k7mh]

Saddle soap. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[ka0gkt]

Neatsfoot Oil or Mink Oil.

73 DE KAØGKT/7

--Steve

[K8ERV]

KY Jelly--

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo

[k6pme]

I have three pairs of boots that I wear. One pair of dress boots for my dress uniform, one pair of station duty boots and one pair of wildland firefighting boots. The dress boots see nothing but good quality polish. When the station boots need some attention I use good oil then polish. The wildland boots see only a specially made oil for wildland firefighters. (the lye is extremely drying and hard on leather)

If the leather is dry use oil first and let it dry up after. Then polish.

[W4MAJ]

Saddle soap as previously suggested.

Funny, shinning boots and buffing floors are now part of the Army's past; another lost art form.

[w8gtf]

Thanks guys. So far I've just been building up thin layers of polish to to fill in the scuffs. Will the oil/saddle soap remove the base of polish I have put down?

I had considered saddle soap, but decided to try straight polish. I'm may snag some saddle soap next time I go out. Also, what should I look for in oil?

[NL7W]

Quote[/b] (K8ERV @ Dec. 30 2007,15:35)]KY Jelly--

TOM K8ERV Montrose Colo
I don't think he wishes to "swift kick" anyone...

[KA9VQF]

I’ve rejuvenated lots of leather over the years. I prefer neatsfoot oil to mink oil. I like the smell of the neatsfoot oil over mink oil but really both do the same job.

Put lots on at a time and put it on several times let it dry up between applications.

My woodland combat boots have deep gouges and lots of scrapes in them. There really isn’t much I can do to fix that so after the oil has done its job I just paint them with the cheapest black paint I can find.

I have been using flat black lately. When they were a bit newer I used gloss black and they came out fine.

The job I was doing required me to operate a bobcat size end loader and walk around in lots of gravel and other loose dirt so getting more scrapes and nicks was normal, no way around it.

I don’t have that job anymore when we finished I went on to other work but figured the boots had served me long enough that they had been a good investment and owed me nothing.

While they are still serviceable they are definitely not parade quality anymore.

[kc7mrq]

Quote[/b] (W4MAJ @ Dec. 30 2007,11:08)]Funny, shinning boots and buffing floors are now part of the Army's past; another lost art form.
Yup, I kind of miss the days of shining my Corcoran boots, ironing my bdu(s), and buffing floors. The pounds of Johnson paste wax, kiwi, and the occasional "secret mix" spray wax that got used each Sunday bring back good memories of esprit de corps.

It was almost sacrilegious for anyone to walk the barrack halls after the end of the GI party.

[W4HAY]

Run down to your local Tractor Supply, Co-op, or Southern States and pick up a spray bottle of Farnam's 'Leather New' liquid glycerine saddle soap.

[ab8ro]

Quote[/b] (kc7mrq @ Dec. 30 2007,11:06)]Quote[/b] (W4MAJ @ Dec. 30 2007,11:08)]Funny, shinning boots and buffing floors are now part of the Army's past; another lost art form.
Yup, I kind of miss the days of shining my Corcoran boots, ironing my bdu(s), and buffing floors. The pounds of Johnson paste wax, kiwi, and the occasional "secret mix" spray wax that got used each Sunday bring back good memories of esprit de corps.

It was almost sacrilegious for anyone to walk the barrack halls after the end of the GI party.
I'm guessing that this (http://www.supertrooper.com/MilitaryBoots.htm) is the reason for no more boot shining. What has replaced floor buffing pray tell?

[wa9cwx]

Saddle soap, let dry, neatsfoot, let dry, polish twice.

[KC9JIQ]

I've had mixed opinions about saddle soap, some saddle soap will darken the leather(I wear brown leather) and I ended up with dark up front and the further back on the shoes got lighter brown.

So ya got to be careful, consider taking the shoes to a shoe repair professional.

There is just somthing about shiney clean shoes, it just looks good.