New Boots- Question on Shining them

[DSFREP]

I DID A SEARCH AND COULD NOT FIND MY ANSWER-

Do you need to do anything to a new pair of boots before you start the shining process?

I have read you need to take off the "pre coat" or something to that effect and was wondering if i REALLY NEED to do this and if so, how?

I have read several posts on the shining process and I think I will just go with the cotton ball, kiwi and motivation theory.

Thanks for the input

[bosco]

I used Angelus dry cleaner and spot remover first. That leaves them nice and dull. Then used Angelus polish with an old sock and brush. Funny because they looked better BEFORE I did all that stuff. :D I guess that's how they know if you really shined your own boots/shoes.

[batakgt]

Buy some kiwi, buy a brush and just brush shine the boot.....no need to make them so you can see your face in them. Thats a waste of time that could be spent doing much more productive things.

Brush shining will accomplish what shoe polish is meant to do - preserve the leather.

[Cam]

To get that super reflection shine on your boot you can always spit shine your boots. Semi long process but it looks nice. A cotton swab with a touch of Mop N Glow will make the boots look FABULOUS (but repeated use of the mop n glow will eventually cause your boots to crack)


But as mentioned it's pretty much a waste. Those boots were made for walking, not to shine like a mirror. Keep them healthy by using the Kiwi boot polish....rub on, buff off.

[LV2Q]

When I was in the Marines my CWO expected everybody in the office to "spit shine" their boots. I heard that spit shinning seals up the leather and prevents the boot from "breathing." I wore jungle boots mostly so I never really noticed any kind of "breathing" problem but during the summer in 29 Palms I did notice salt build up at the creases in the boots.

I always felt that I had good boots they had that glassy look and you could see your reflection in them. The way I did it was to fill the lid of my Kiwi Boot polish can with a little bit of water. Then I wrapped a torn off piece of an old white t-shirt around my index and middle finger. I would dab them in the water to get the clothe a little wet then rub it in the polish. Then I would sit there and polish the boot over and over and over and over and over again. That's all I did, I never used Mop and Glow because as said above it cracks your boot and I didn't feel like dropping money on new boots all the time. Hope that helps

[Spears]

I've also noticed the white salty type buildup on my boots after using the mop and glo and getting my boots wet with snow. Just a thought.

[Astor]

I was in the same situation a few weeks ago...I was just starting the police academy and trying to figure out the best way to shine my boots.

On one of the older threads, they had a link to boot shining tips page. For new boots, they recommended "softening the leather" by either rubbing the boots with fine sandpaper until the leather was softened or using shaving cream and soft scrub brush.

Well, I went the sand paper method. Problem is, I didn't know the difference between fine and rough sand paper. I went with the rough paper. I put some very nice scratches in my brand new pair of Magnum Stealth boots. After doing that, as per the instructions on the site, I applied three coats of polish (Kiwi), then a final coat, then buffed it using a buff brush and shoe shine cloth

It came out pretty good, but those friggin scratches I put on the boots are visible in some spots. Luckily not the toe areas where the shine counts most, though.

I used the exact same method of applying the polish as LV2Q. Once you apply the four initial coats, you only need to apply 1 coat every night after wearing the boots. It doesn't take long at all. Putting the polish on the boots takes about 5 mins, then I wait 30 mins for the stuff to dry, then I buff it with the brush and shoe shine cloth.

They come out pretty darn good if I don't say so myself :)



Astor