How do you polish leather boots to a mirror shine?

Frito Bandito · 07-13-08, 01:51

What do you guys suggest for that mirror shine? Currently I just use a few layers of standard black Kiwi polish. I just put on a layer using a foam applicator and buff it off with a dedicated MF, then repeat a couple times. It takes all of 5 minutes and the boots have a nice gloss to them but I would like to try getting that mirror shine. I've heard of using water to apply/buff off the polish, using a lighter to melt the polish into the leather, buffing the polish off with a brush, and all kinds of other wacky stuff. I assume the biggest secret is multiple layers?

Any tips, tricks, or suggestions appreciated!

Frito Bandito · 07-13-08, 07:14

Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?

jfelbab · 07-13-08, 07:19

Spitshine.

You need to apply layer after layer of polish using wet cotton balls. Enlist in the army and you will get lots of practice.

JonP · 07-13-08, 07:26

How To Spit-Shine Your Boots

themightytimmah · 07-13-08, 07:31

Melt the polish with a lighter, put it on liquid.
Get 5-10 layers on.
Use a soft cloth, a hair dryer and fast motion with a cloth to melt it to a shine.

It's a lot like waxing a floor.

bigltc · 07-13-08, 10:46

Apply polish by hand. Remove by PC and buffing pad.

thesacrifice · 07-14-08, 09:28

Get a plain white T-shirt. Pull it tight around your finger...super tight. Dip that finger in water. Dip that finger in Kiwi. Apply to boot.

repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat repeat
brush
repeat

It will come

JasonC8301 · 08-18-08, 04:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfelbab

Spitshine.

You need to apply layer after layer of polish using wet cotton balls. Enlist in the army and you will get lots of practice.

Those days are over. I believe since 2004 or so the USMC has made the full switch to roughed out leather boots and a utility uniform that doesn't need to be starched/ironed.

Here are my jungle boots from the pre-2004 days when the old uniforms (analog as we call them) were still allowed for wear.

JonP's posted method is how I shined the above boots.

Quality Leather · 08-18-08, 07:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonC8301

Those days are over. I believe since 2004 or so the USMC has made the full switch to roughed out leather boots and a utility uniform that doesn't need to be starched/ironed.

Here are my jungle boots from the pre-2004 days when the old uniforms (analog as we call them) were still allowed for wear.

JonP's posted method is how I shined the above boots.

And my dreams of making a lot of money were dashed by George Bush and Iraq.

Around 2003, one of the chemical suppliers come out with a nice water based patent leather coating. The light clicked and I grabbed my old boots from my Marine days and here are the results.

[img=http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/65/boots2customfq0.th.jpg]

[img=http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2025/boots14customjh3.th.jpg]

It took about one hour to apply the coating with a base and top including sanding. I haven't worn them a lot since I did them, but they still look like that.

Frito Bandito · 08-18-08, 08:23

Thanks for the additional advice, guys. I haven't tried again due to lack of time but one of these days I'll make time.

Quality Leather - What product are you talking about? I probably wouldn't try it on my duty boots but I have an old pair or two that are pretty much a lost cause......

John Styrnol · 08-19-08, 06:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfelbab

Spitshine.

You need to apply layer after layer of polish using wet cotton balls. Enlist in the army and you will get lots of practice.

That's the way.

Accumulator · 08-19-08, 11:04

JasonC8301- OMG, Howdy Stranger

Hope all is well with you. How's the Mazda? Shoot me a PM is you like...

Back on-topic...yeah, getting that mirror shine with Kiwi just takes a decent spit-shine technique and (a whole lotta) time. My dress shoes look almost like patent leather and they're ~20 years old.

Heh heh, note that Quality Leather was able to get that great look in *only* an hour with that miracle product...doing it the old way takes a whole lot longer than that, at least when I do it..I can't do the initial shining as fast as in the linked article and have them turn out as nice as I want. The good news is that once you *get* 'em nice, it's not that hard to keep 'em that way (maybe half an hour per pair for perfection).