Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Tarmac on June 05, 2004, 10:32:44 PM
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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.
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Good luck Tarmac!
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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.
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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
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We always used pantyhose for the final buff in basic but what do I know I was just Air Force.
:)
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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.
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Flakbait [Delta6]
Delta Six's Flight School (http://www.wa-net.com/~delta6)
Put the P-61B in Aces High
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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.
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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!
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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
(http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0790731754.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg)
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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.
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Originally posted by Tarmac
big flame from a lighter
...skip this part if you like your boots and want to keep them :)
gl Tarmac :)
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(http://img.epinions.com/images/opti/ed/82/6662032724504013167.pre-resized200.jpg)
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Good Luck Tarmac! Hope you don't get stationed in Hawaii:p
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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
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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
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use a toothbrush to work the polish - kiwi - into the seam where the leather meets the sole - wear two prs of cotton socks for the first month or so to wear them in
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Bacon Grease.
Just remember to stay away from the guy with the foriegn accent and his Dachshund. Or you may end up in a hot air balloon.
LOL
Now lets see how many know what Im talking about:cool:
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Just ordinary polishing paste + fur cap.
Tip: Be sure your sergeant won't see you polishing your boots with your cap.
Then again running is good for your health :)
btw also pantyhoses are pretty good for polishing your boots.
edit: I'm not sure if you're using "braced combat boots" (orwhateveryoucallthem) but if you do use thick rubberbands to keep your trouser legs in shape (if you're not familiar with that trick maybe someone with better english can explain [http://www.kolumbus.fi/staga/rubberband.GIF]This pic[/url] if needed.
Don't be the first but don't be the last; Just run with the majority and keep your mouth shut. Did work in here :)
Take care
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Congrads Tarmac...
always prepare for the worst scenerio...my uncle was a Detroit policeman and killed in the line of duty 6 months after he married!
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Originally posted by Tex68
We always used pantyhose for the final buff in basic but what do I know I was just Air Force.
:)
I always suspected Air Force personnel wore pantyhose. :)
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Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Bacon Grease.
Just remember to stay away from the guy with the foriegn accent and his Dachshund. Or you may end up in a hot air balloon.
LOL
Now lets see how many know what Im talking about:cool:
LOL the Captans Girl was a Hottie, and I used to have a Sergent just like that....
Gunns
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Congrats, Tarmac.
As for your boots? Get promoted and get someone else to polish them for you.
Ravs
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Originally posted by Tex68
We always used pantyhose for the final buff in basic but what do I know I was just Air Force.
:)
I was in the navy, they didn't issue us pantyhose like you Air Force guys get.
LOLOLOLOLOL
My regards,
Widewing
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kiwi, cigarette lighter, cold water, and cotton balls.....
apply the kiwi to the toe of the boot (nice thick coat) run the lighter flame across it to make it look like liquid...dip the cotton ball in the cold water and circular motion work the polish into the boot..... repeat. if the boots are brand new, repeat ALOT! this is how ive been doing my boots for 13 years. they will get that mirror look in no time.
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Pay some other poor slob to polish them. You'll make lieutenant in no time...
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Not sure why but I smell pork.
:p
lol...couldn't resist Tarmac...good luck and have fun.
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(http://pages.cpsc.ucalgary.ca/~jungle/gallery/bacon.jpg)
:D :D
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Thanks for the tips guys. Things are going pretty well here now...we still get yelled at at inspections, but at least it's not about my boots anymore. :)
Originally posted by xrtoronto
Congrads Tarmac...
always prepare for the worst scenerio...my uncle was a Detroit policeman and killed in the line of duty 6 months after he married!
Toronto, he wasn't one of the two that got killed a few months ago, was he? Either way, sorry to hear it.
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ROFL Widewing!
What, they made you pay for your panty hose in the Navy?
Why, that just ain't cricket!
Navy...*hmmmph, snicker, giggle*
"OOPS! I dropped my soap!
I'm bending over to pick up my soap, and I will be there for a while!"
LOL, sorry couldn't resist (I'm retired Canadian Airforce)
sir
RTR ;)
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Originally posted by DREDIOCK
Just remember to stay away from the guy with the foriegn accent and his Dachshund. Or you may end up in a hot air balloon.
LOL
over a cess pool?
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Originally posted by gunnss
LOL the Captans Girl was a Hottie, and I used to have a Sergent just like that....
Gunns
LOL Very good. Now can you remember the main quote from that particular episode?
I know I say it every time I see one
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What flakbait and rtr said. IMO having that kiwi brush it an important step to getting that base coat on and filling in the grain. As for the lighter I always did that by melting a small puddle directly in the can and diping it out with the cloth covered finger for the final coat. (if i remember correctly geesh i must be getting old)
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Originally posted by RTR
ROFL Widewing!
What, they made you pay for your panty hose in the Navy?
Why, that just ain't cricket!
Navy...*hmmmph, snicker, giggle*
"OOPS! I dropped my soap!
I'm bending over to pick up my soap, and I will be there for a while!"
RTR ;)
The saddest day of my life was when the YMCA gave everybody Soap-On-A-Rope along with their towel for the showers... I hope our Armed Forces never stoop to tatics that deliberately take all the fun out of bath time.
:(
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Originally posted by Gaylord
The saddest day of my life was when the YMCA gave everybody Soap-On-A-Rope along with their towel for the showers... I hope our Armed Forces never stoop to tatics that deliberately take all the fun out of bath time.
:(
WTF??? :D
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don't burn the kiwi.
brush shine them up then spit shine. It will take several layers before you get a good shine going. A cotton sock across three fingers small round circles wipe the kiwi on, as it goes dead spit on it to get it smoothed out the rest of the way.
brush shine the creasy areas.
Good Luck!
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We get yelled at a lot, though, especially at inspection.
I could never handle this.