Polishing without a shoe butler

**Isaac** · 08-09-2012, 08:32 AM

Well the title pretty much says it all. Right now, I am a single young man. I do not have my shoe butler placed on a wall. How do you all, that have the same living conditions do the buffing of your shoes with the finishing cloth? I have more than a few pairs of shoes that I need to get back into shape.

**The Count of Merkur Cristo** · 08-09-2012, 09:36 AM

[QUOTE=IsaacRN;4354767]Well the title pretty much says it all. Right now, I am a single young man. I do not have my shoe butler placed on a wall. How do you all, that have the same living conditions do the buffing of your shoes with the finishing cloth? I have more than a few pairs of shoes that I need to get back into shape./QUOTE]
Isaac:
I'm not sure what you're hinting at, but for starters do you have a shoe-shine kit?

“Shoetini: 4oz GQ Fashion, 1oz Cool Attitude, a splash of indulgence, a twist of temptation; shake over ice, strain into a trendy pair of shoes and garish with lots of accessories”. CBJ

**JoshuaNY** · 08-09-2012, 09:40 AM

To be honest, I had to google what a shoe butler was, and I don't use a "finishing" cloth. I shove my hand in the shoe and spit shine with an old tshirt. I use the same tshirt to apply the polish as well as shine it. No extra buffind needed.

If I deem a shoe needs a little extra polish, I will apply with tshirt and use the brush to buff it, then put more polish and shine with the tshirt.

If I understand you correctly, you use two hands on each end of the cloth and pull it back and forth quickly across the toe, like I see the shoe shine guys at the train station? If you need soemthing to keep it stationary, You could turn a chair on its side and stick the shoe onto one of the legs. That could work.

**galopede** · 08-09-2012, 09:43 AM

Shoe Butler? Well, I had to look that up as I've never heard of such a thing!

Found it and still can't see why you'd need something like that. Must be an American thing as when I changed to UK and Ireland Google, all links for that gadget vanished!

Couple of brushes and a tin of polish does for me. Maybe an old pair of underpants for buffing now and then!

Gareth

**Isaac** · 08-09-2012, 09:44 AM

[QUOTE=The Count of Merkur Cristo;4354971]

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Well the title pretty much says it all. Right now, I am a single young man. I do not have my shoe butler placed on a wall. How do you all, that have the same living conditions do the buffing of your shoes with the finishing cloth? I have more than a few pairs of shoes that I need to get back into shape./QUOTE]
Isaac:
I'm not sure what you're hinting at, but for starters do you have a shoe-shine kit?

“Shoetini: 4oz GQ Fashion, 1oz Cool Attitude, a splash of indulgence, a twist of temptation; shake over ice, strain into a trendy pair of shoes and garish with lots of accessories”. CBJ

I have quite the impressive build up of products. Im more than covered there.

Originally Posted by JoshuaNY

To be honest, I had to google what a shoe butler was, nor do I use a finishing cloth. I shove my hand in the shoe and spit shine with an old tshirt. No extra buffind needed.

If I understand you correctly, you use two hands on each end of the cloth and pull it back and forth quickly across the toe, like I see the shoe shine guys at the train station? If you need soemthing to keep it stationary, You could turn a chair on its side and stick the shoe onto one of the legs. That could work.

Thats exactly what I was talking about, like the guys at the train station. I find that the shine is a bit better than just using a brush.

**htownmmm** · 08-09-2012, 10:00 AM

I think this may be what you are looking for:

http://artofmanliness.com/2012/06/18...hoe-shine-box/

**CharlieFoxtrot** · 08-09-2012, 10:06 AM

I've passed many inspections with nothing more than Kiwi, 4 cotton balls and a small glass of hot water. Don't over think the process. If you want additional info PM me.

**TheVez2** · 08-09-2012, 10:06 AM

**Isaac** · 08-09-2012, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by htownmmm

I think this may be what you are looking for:

http://artofmanliness.com/2012/06/18...hoe-shine-box/

Now that is pretty neat. I wish i was a carpenter, or had any type of wood working skill

**ricardo9505** · 08-09-2012, 11:03 AM

WOW. I remember waking up to watch saturday morning cartoons and my dad would make me shine all his shoes. they lasted for years and years and I learned the value of good shoe maintenance.
watch some good youtube videos on shoe polishing, the most popular. you'll need a hard bristle brush and a soft. also, before polishing I use a lanolin and animal oil leather treatment to condition the leather for 30 mts. this is mainly done every two months. I recommend terry cloth or microfiber towels. I have some from my car detailing kit. Any auto parts or home depot carries them. small ones so you can have one for each color. I have 3 for browns alone. these you will use to polish the wax. the treatment can be applied by hand. I appply my wax with a small skinny sponge slightly damp to soften. then polish with the rags.
I like the paste wax best as it last longer then I touch up with a softer cream or liquid for weekly maintenance.
also if it rains and you have to run out, just dab and polish some vaseline into the shoe to prevent water damage.

**Isaac** · 08-09-2012, 11:04 AM

I personally have the paste and wax lines of Saphir. Great products.

**JoshuaNY** · 08-09-2012, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

Thats exactly what I was talking about, like the guys at the train station. I find that the shine is a bit better than just using a brush.

Like I said, I just use the brush if I think the shoe needs some extra polish. It will never give you a good shine like a spit polish will.

The real shining I do with an old Tshirt wrapped around my index and middle finger. Rub in the polish, rub it on the shoe, spit, using the same wrag/fingers I work the water into the shoe over the polish until it comes out with a mirror shine.

**jpakstis** · 08-09-2012, 12:33 PM

I just put the shoe between my knees and "clamp down" so that the front part sticks out and beat the hell out of it with my polishing cloth.

**professorchaos** · 08-09-2012, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by IsaacRN

I personally have the paste and wax lines of Saphir. Great products.

They are indeed.

Beyond storing the pastes, cremes, brushes and cloths, I have little need for a dedicated box. Spread some newspaper on a counter and I am good to go. When it comes time to really bringing out the shine with a soft cloth, I simply grip the shoe between my knees.

**johnniegold** · 08-09-2012, 05:58 PM

I always wanted a shoe butler. Like Henry, I put the shoe between my knees when finishing them off with a soft cloth. But with a shoe butler you could definitely apply more pressure and perhaps get an even higher finish.

This site provides a rather pricey cast iron one.

http://georgesshoes.com/shinebutler.htm

**Isaac** · 08-09-2012, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by johnniegold

I always wanted a shoe butler. Like Henry, I put the shoe between my knees when finishing them off with a soft cloth. But with a shoe butler you could definitely apply more pressure and perhaps get an even higher finish.

This site provides a rather pricey cast iron one.

http://georgesshoes.com/shinebutler.htm

I actually own that one, but unfortunately am not in a dwelling that I can put it up at the moment. It is nice and sturdy though.

**Deltaboy** · 08-09-2012, 06:48 PM

I set mine on a towel on the kitchen table to polish them. I got a old tackle box that I use for all my wax, rags and polish.

**Graybeard57** · 08-09-2012, 07:11 PM

The kit shown earlier is what I used for my working boots and dress shoes in the Navy. One addition worth having: a substantial piece of panty hose or nylon stocking for the finishing shine. You should also keep a small piece of it in your pocket for a quick buff-up of the inevitable scuffs you'll get. There are so many ways to get a great shine, but really it comes down to time and effort, and a little spit. A pair of shoes deserves AT LEAST a half hour to do well. It's worth the effort. There are a great many vets on this site, and each and every one of them has spent countless hours perfecting their technique. No doubt you'll get a lot of great advice.

**strop** · 08-09-2012, 08:01 PM

My grandfather had one in the basement, but I wasn't big enough to even reach it at the time! I've thought about getting one, but I simply jam my left hand into the shoe a buff like hxxx with an old tee shirt. I agree that the brush alone just doesn't get it done. The key is the second or third application of wax with water (or spit) and really rubbed in. I spent many Sunday evenings as a kid polishing shoes with my dad.