See you guys in a while... any tips for polishing boots?

[Tarmac]

Headed off to the police academy last week.  Looks like I'll be way too busy to get on the internet often, so I won't be around too much on the BB or in AH.  

And of course, AH2 is about to come out.  Figures.  

Academy's been fun so far, except for the grueling PT and inspections.  Good people there.  We get yelled at a lot, though, especially at inspection.    

All you military/police guys have any good tips for polishing boots?  I've just been putting a coat on, brushing over it with a big flame from a lighter, and repeating about 5 times.  Any other suggestions?  

Either way, clear skies for the next five months.  Hopefully things will slow down enough that I can get on during weekends more often.  I try to check my email once or twice a week, so anyone who wants to get ahold of me can do it through this BB's email feature.

[Pei]

Good luck Tarmac!

[strk]

Spit-shine basics

cover the boot, especially the tip, in a moderately thick coating of polish.  Use a linen rag or handkerchief and spit onto the shoe, then rub it in until the coat is smooth and shiny.  You may want to buffer off some excess with the rag  - do it in a back and forth motion really fast.

keep spitting on it and rubbing it out.  The more you do it the more shine you will get.  When you have a good base spit directly into the polish can and mix it there before you apply.  It takes a while but it gives the best shine.

dont use a brush on it.

[RTR]

Get rid of the flame.

Brush shine them for a while, until you get a good layer of polish built up.

Then, put some cold water (and I mean COLD water) in a little container. Wrap a soft polishing cloth around your index finger, dip it in the water to dampen it. Take a bit of polish on it and spit shine them boots man! (don't use spit, that's what the waters for, saliva ain't good)

Small circles and a bit of pressure. You'll be shaving in them in a couple of days.

Or, you could paint'em:D

RTR

[Tex68]

We always used pantyhose for the final buff in basic but what do I know I was just Air Force.

[flakbait]

Get a Kiwi buff brush for starters; they last forever and give a very nice shine. And contrary to what strk said, you never use a heavy coat of polish because you have to buff all that off. Not only does it leave your shoes slightly gummed up, but it'll coat the buff rag or brush pretty heavily. A light coat and a very fast motion with the buff brush can make a mirror out of anything. Start out with a terry-cloth rag to spread the polish over your shoes. What you're looking for is a semi-gloss coat on the shoe, not a matte coat. Another way to put it is to look for a "haze" of polish on the shoe. Use the terry-cloth to remove any excess. Once you've got a thin coat of polish on your shoe, you're ready to buff it.

Stick one hand in your shoe to hold the thing, and use a rapid side-to-side motion with the brush in your other hand to buff. Don't grind the brush into the shoe leather; let speed do the work for you. If your elbow starts getting sore and your arm is slowing down just before you're done, you're doing it right. After a few minutes you'll have both shoes looking almost like a pair of black mirrors. To get the USMC "shaving mirror" look, follow what RTR said with the water. Your objective is to build up many thin coats of polish on the shoes, not one or two thick ones. Aside from looking better, you won't waste shoe polish or gum up the brush.

Course, you can always cheat with that Kiwi insta-polish stuff.



-----------------------
Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School
Put the P-61B in Aces High

[Maverick]

I found an old nylon sock did the trick. You still need to build up a base of wax then polish as has been suggested. I did the cold water and polish bit but found a nylon sock that has a knap on it did a superior job polishing without scratching like pantyhose. Use a good quality polish as well. Kiwi had a "spit shine" polish that buffed up well in a short time.

[VOR]

After applying a good spit-shine, rub a thin layer of Mop-N-Glow over the shined portion and they will positively GLEAM.

Good luck!

[Gunslinger]

Originally posted by VOR
After applying a good spit-shine, rub a thin layer of Mop-N-Glow over the shined portion and they will positively GLEAM.

Good luck!

Yes do this for an inspection but be warned it will ruin the leather and mess up the polish underneath.  

If they are boots put a REALLY REALLY thick coat of polish on them but dont buff them.  Put them in the oven for 15 minutes at 200 degrees.  Make sure you check them often to make sure thay are not melting


Other than that spit shining is 90% experience 10% actual instruction.

there's alot of good ideas here so far here's my input:

spit or cold water...either works.

You MUST have a good base to start with....at least 5 thick coats of buff shine

When polishing use a WHITE 100% COTTEN SHIRT  that's the most important thing I can think of.  Make sure it's tight on your fingers. put a good glob of polish on it and rub it in an area until it starts to stick.....spit on it then use slight presure to buff it in.  

good luck to a ya  

[2Slow]

Spoon it on.  Hardest part of the spit shine is having enough polish to fill the leather grain.

Get a half teaspoon spoon.  Put a thick coat of polish on the toe of the boot.  Heat the bottom of the spoon with a lighter.  Best way to judge if you have the spoon at the right temp is to put a speck of polish in the spoon.  When it melts, the spoon is right.

Using the rounded bottom of the spoon, rub spoon on toe of boot, melting the polish into the grain.  Allow polish to dry and cool, then buff with a soft brush.

Repeat this a few times until the grain is filled.  Then use a cotton ball or your favorite polish rag, a little water or spit, a dab of shoe polish, and polish the toe.  You will get a mirror finish.

This technique will work on the other parts of the shoe or boot.
I have, over the course of a 20 year USAF carear in Security Police, tried most every brand of polish.  Kewi works best.

[Nilsen]

Originally posted by Tarmac
big flame from a lighter

...skip this part if you like your boots and want to keep them


gl Tarmac

[rpm]

[XtrmeJ]

Good Luck Tarmac! Hope you don't get stationed in Hawaii:p

[Gixer]

Basic Training? If so..

Make sure you have some polish and a brush with you all the time especially anytime you fall in, always have a min or two for a quick polish before the NCO will get there for inspection.

And the number one item to take with you to basic training.  A good heavy Iron.



...-Gixer

[gunnss]

I always put a layer of leather dye down first, and then waxed and used a nylon on my boots, but we spent a lot of time in the Field an my boots were regulary worn down to the leather by exposure to sand scufing.  A lether dye coat and a layer of wax would only take about 10 mikes to knock out and saved enormous amounts of time

Gunns