I'm an air cadet and have been doing it for two years, I've always struggled to bull my shoes, but your method actually worked, now I'm getting compliments from staff and other cadets about my shoes thank you!
43 years for me and never bulled a boot since then....Why do I suddenly feel like trying it ? PS I still have my boot brush's issued in Sept 65. As good as new.
Well there is that , lol ! However the main reasons are to teach soldiers to have pride in themselves and their appearance. To stand out from the crowd and be as smart as a carrot. Self discipline, patience and it's a great way to bond with the lads , just sitting and chatting. You can get a lot more than sore feet from an old army boot! 😁
Yup, but you get the pleasure of starting again. If you have a specific pair of parade shoes/boots then I would recommend going the whole hog and using bees wax and polish
I left the army in 99 after 9 years service, whilst watching this clip it took me back to all the lads sittin together in basic all bulling our boots 😂 good times
10 yrs service and did this from day one. Learnt from my father who served in the Marines (grossly disappointed that I chose the army) It really was easier and cheaper. Now teaching my sons fiancée who has just joined the police.
Thanks for all the comments. This video is now used by the police as part of their induction training . Anyone need to know anything else? Can I help with anything else on kit preparation? 😀
This way works buddy. They WILL crack and flake . You just have to keep redoing them. A damp sylvet cloth is a must. Cotton wool balls are used for final water bulling. See my other video. Good luck dude 😊
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Absolutely awesome! Thanks for the practical tips. I could have used them well in my three years in the (swiss) army! Hope as many recruits as possible watch your video.
Thank you very much for sharing this method. I have been getting ready for my annual inspection in the ATC and been struggling with my shoes but this method helped a ton. Thanks
Im sorry and no disrespect but all I see is a shoe that needs reconditioning. The leather looks damaged though the lack of proper leather care and there is just a build up of wax. Maybe alright for a parade ground but definitely not good for quality shoe care. Nice shine though.
That was another slant to getting a good shine on your boots, I will give it a go sometime soon, your son could have done the dishes first for you, please keep safe and well in these crazy times we are all in at the moment, very best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia.
Hi Joe. Sorry to hear you are struggling, I'd love to open a bulling shop and sort everyones shoes out 😬 it's difficult to answer your question without seeing the shoes but my initial thought is that you haven't put enough layers on (4 or 5) and allowed atleat 30 minutes before gently brushing off before bulling with a damp Sylvet. If the cloth is dry or you bull too hard, you can drag off or over heat and wipe off layers. Watch again and start again.
Not a lot you can do tbh! Other than going full 'guards' on them with bees wax! Just keep brushing off and adding new polish once worn. It's good for the soul 😊
Drill Boots no. But shoes as they are softer will crack the polish where they bend and flex. The toe caps and heels will be fine. Just brush off the residue and repolish. Thanks for the comment 😬
I use to polish my dads dress and jump boots. I got really good at it! Cloth, rag, lighter, polish, boar hair brush a little water…now I use saphir polish, but use to Kiwi!
My niece joined the sea cadets and I am former army. Showed her this video today and we polished her boots for almost 2 hours. Passing on life skills to the next generation. Thank you
My metho involves polish, water and two cotton balls. 1.) smear one ball in polish and rub into the boot in circles like you did 2.) sink other cotton ball in water, squeeze most of it out so it's damp, but not dripping in water, and rub in circles on polished area Dead easy imo. What do you think of this method?
Don't know if you'll see this but I recently got some new shoes and polished them up nicely, but got them out to wear for a parade and all the polish cracked and seemed to flake off. Is there anyway I can prevent this without using shed loads of waxes?
If it’s a brand new Shoe, would you still use the off brush on the first layer, or wait until the first layer dries and keep adding up to 10-15 layers and after they have dried, then use the off brush?
No difference if its new mate. A few base layers to start, allow to dry then brush off. Basic bull up then repeat layering. Just keep repeating and building that shine. 😁
100%. Who ever is telling you that has no clue. Clean them, brush polish, layer up, allow to dry, brush off, get bulling. Layer brush bull, layer brush bull. When happy with finish water bull with a cold water and cotton wool balls.
In my opinion: US military doesn't polish shoes anymore. That ended in Vietnam. Military boots come in Nubuck & dress shoes come in patent leather (Bates®). Can't have anything shiny on a combat uniform - obviously😂. Nice to know how to do it though because it saves the leather from scuffs & abrasion. The type of military grade leather would be a utility low end top grade & far from the dress shoes for bankers & office workers. Kiwi is a satin gloss paraffin wax that does a fine job on work shoes. Satin waxes are what military polish typically are. That's why you guys spend so much time to make an unrealistic shine that says a lot about your abilities. Bar lacing is incorrect on military foot wear. All boots & shoes are derbies - not ever oxfords. The only bar lacing you'd see would be to put the laces inside the vamp through stitching down two grommets on the same side before crossing over so they wouldn't snag. It just causes more snags off the now flared vamp ends & shovels dirt inside the boot when crawling. It doesn't do anything to help circulation like they claim.
this is exactly how i do it, they should teach this way because it's so much easier, far less faff and produces the exact same result in half the time.
Watching these while trying to get my horse riding boots to shine.. and failing 😂 if I ever got them this shiny do you think there would be a risk of black polish transferring to my competition saddle pad (white) or on to my horse? 😅
Its high finish polish at the end of the day. One way to really annoy a soldier is to scuff his parade boots. Pressure or rubbing will scuff them. I'd still bull them if i were you. Look at the Household Cavalry, they fully bull their long riding boots and they are thigh length 😮. Good luck
Steve king wud u suggest a sylvet cloth rather than a duster and how many layers of polish do u recommend as Iv watched a few videos and they do about 7 layers and a ball of cotton wool Iv tried this way doesn't work so I'll gladly give Ur way a go thanks
One little tip I might add with the sylvete, as your dampening it before use, or just before, give it a good scrape on a flat surface with a nail brush under running water. This makes sure there’s no lumps or bits to spoil the polishing and also over time, softens the material so it polishes better and quicker.
Hi I have watched lots of videos on how to bull your shoes. Your video is as easy as it comes to follow and it does work. The only thing I did not do the same was the shoe polish as I use Saphir Medaille Dor and some times I put a few coats of their mirror gloss on but not this time. I have never been in the military but I can't go out with dirty shoes. Thank you for a good video.
Are the products you use any good? I have previously ordered the same products and am anticipating their arrival, but it would be nice to have a (maybe less biased than sponsored ads) opinion
Need to show how we prepare the brogue when there new from QM will all the dimples and holes ? This is more important? If you don’t get that done properly you’ll have issues?
Great video Steve, I'm 56 now nut this exactly how I was taught to bull boots and shoes as a 14 year old army cadet, no bullshit just as you say ordinary Kiwi polish and elbow grease... Once taught it has stayed with me, there was a lot of rubbish spoke on how to achieve the shine but your method is the best 👍
Quick question, there's a couple of patches on my shoes where the polish has cracked badly, pretty much down to the bare leather, when I start to layer them up again should I focus on those patches until they're back level with the rest of the polish on the shoe? or should I strip all the polish off and start from scratch?
Personally I would put a blob of black polish onto the patch or dent and heat with a lighter so it melts flat. Leave it to go hard, brush over it then start layering and bulling as normal . Good luck 👍
Shouldn't be the brush? Maybe old polish or specs of dirt on the Selvyt. Wash it with shampoo in a sink and scrub it with a nail brush. Make sure its thoroughly rinsed out. The only way to get rid of scratches is to add more layers, brush off ince dry and start bulling again. Good luck
@@dis7247 probably putting too much on mate. Super thin layers and build it up. Hopefully you are using normal kiwi black not parade gloss. It will crack where the creases lie , nothing you can do about that if its shoes.
If it’s a brand new shoe, would you still use the off brush on the first layer, or wait until the first layer has dried and keep adding up to 10-15 layers and after they have dried, then use the off brush?
I seeved from 1957-1959 (National Service) in RAOC & still polish my shoes in this way. Mind you our boots when first issued were pimples all over & we used to set fire to the polish momentarily to get rid of them then we spent hours bulling them. A good trick was to buy a chocolate bar so the your spit had some backbone to it. I was in the army when they were needing them not feeding them. I enjoyed (almost) every day & came out a Corporal.
That's fantastic to hear. I go every year come rain or shine . It seems mean more as a veteran. I always look smart as a carrot. Best wishes buddy. Lest we forgot ❤
Up to you. A good bull now and then actually helps soften and protect combat boots. And when you clean them normally they will naturally have a better finish. I've bulled Guards ammo boots, Cavalry long boots, combats, parade shoes, civvi shoes even brown Chelsea boots ! 😀
One question would you repeat this process over and over again until your happy ? And also for when you get second hand parade shoes have you got any tips as to how and get cracks out of the polish ?
Hi imogen . Yes I would repeat over and over until I'm happy. As far as cracks are concerned, there's not a lot you can do. Shoes or boots will crack until they are broken in and the lines in the leather are established. Brush them off even they crack and start layering again. If you have a scratch or chip on the tie cap, you can add a layer of polish and gently melt it into place with a lighter. Once it's dried in place, just start the bulling process. I hope that answers your question. 😬
Now that's a question! I could easily spend a day building them up . It would depend on the quality and smoothness of the leather. If you melted wax and polish on the to start. A couple of days of on and off effort would probably do it. Would also depend on your ability !
Thank you for your reply I have been polishing my shoes since I was 12 in secondary school as our teacher used to line us all up every morning to make sure we all had a clean shirt on school tie and clean shoes. The guy used to march up and down the two lines of boys and girls and if you were not clean and tidy he would hit you round the head an evil guy. But he taught me to turn my self out smartly even when I worked nights my boots always had a shine on them. I am now 66 and I still spend hours doing my shoes. I am a manson and when I go to the Lodge the guys like to take piss but I do have to best shoes.
No mate just lots of layers and bulling. You can buy bees wax on ebay, it's a process that neltscand mixes it with black polish and then painting it on the shoe/boot. Yiu have to pack out the shoe first to ensure they hold shape. It's an acquired skill.
Hi Steve, Stellar video. Just one question. What's best in your opinion to clean your fingers to get polish off? Always seem to have a black tint on my fingers
Hi Steve, on the edge of my toecap the polish cracks / flakes off quite severely along with the area of the shoe behind it. Is this strange for a toecap?
No, sorry tocsay it's perfectly normal. It's where the leather stretches and flexes with movement. Other than bee's waxing the whole shoe/boot, there's not a lot you can do other than brush them off and relayer. . Good luck !
When you have wiped it down with the damp selvyt to the point that it is dry, do you start over and wipe another layer on with your fingers, off brush it and then start again or do you just carry on adding polish with the selvyt?
I would probably spend 20-30 minutes bulling and creating a shine. Then re layer, allow to dry, brush off and start bulling again. Just build up until you are happy with the depth of the shine. When you can see the ceiling lights or your own perfect reflection, you can stop ! 🙂
This is by far the best video I have seen. Thanks for the tips Steve. On my boots how do you get them up to the standard you like? Just keep going with the water and cloth? I can see the reflection of my ring light…
Or would you after using the water add more polish layers and water again and repeat? Or repeat layers, brush off more layers, brush off before adding the water?
Hi Adele. Thank you. I need to do another one covering people's questions. Just keep adding a couple of light layers of polish and keep bulling. Tap in the polish and bull, tap in the polish and bull. Just keep checking for polish specks on the cloth that can cause the swirl scratches. I am parading at the Cenotaph on Sunday with the Royal British Legion. I've spent all week bulling my shoes. 😎
I'm an air cadet and have been doing it for two years, I've always struggled to bull my shoes, but your method actually worked, now I'm getting compliments from staff and other cadets about my shoes thank you!
That's great to hear 😀. It's age old, tried and tested. A bit of hard work and effort really pays off. Well done!
I’ve been out of the Army 5 years and I’m watching a video spit polishing. I should be shot 🤣
43 years for me and never bulled a boot since then....Why do I suddenly feel like trying it ? PS I still have my boot brush's issued in Sept 65. As good as new.
Me too! Lol
Ha me too.
Guards as well
I have been out of the Marines for 32 years and I am still looking to find ways to get a better shine.
Been out since 2006 but every year watch a refresher 😮
Standards must be maintained at all costs.
Never quite understood the purpose of bulled boots on parade. I guess its in the word 'bull'
Well there is that , lol ! However the main reasons are to teach soldiers to have pride in themselves and their appearance. To stand out from the crowd and be as smart as a carrot. Self discipline, patience and it's a great way to bond with the lads , just sitting and chatting. You can get a lot more than sore feet from an old army boot! 😁
Don't they crack with no beeswax
Yup, but you get the pleasure of starting again. If you have a specific pair of parade shoes/boots then I would recommend going the whole hog and using bees wax and polish
@@steveking8258 thanks can you make a video on how to beesewax please if you dont i understand
@@steveking8258 cwchs 3d printer was me and thanks fkr the swift reply just forgot to change the account i was on to reply lol
humble man passing on his life skills, thank you
I left the army in 99 after 9 years service, whilst watching this clip it took me back to all the lads sittin together in basic all bulling our boots 😂 good times
10 yrs service and did this from day one. Learnt from my father who served in the Marines (grossly disappointed that I chose the army) It really was easier and cheaper. Now teaching my sons fiancée who has just joined the police.
U.S. Army here, sorry it's that way there Sir,here th' Army was far more stringent on boots than our Marines. Now,it doesn't matter
Thanks for all the comments. This video is now used by the police as part of their induction training .
Anyone need to know anything else? Can I help with anything else on kit preparation? 😀
Trouser ironing perhaps?
MTP ironing maybe?
This way works buddy. They WILL crack and flake . You just have to keep redoing them. A damp sylvet cloth is a must. Cotton wool balls are used for final water bulling. See my other video. Good luck dude 😊
How do you wash your 'Selvyett cloth ' ?
Trying to raise a few quid for combat stress if any of my subscribers can help. Thank you 😊
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Will an old cotton Tshirt work?
Great video of the proper old skool way. Only difference I do is have 3 fingers in the sylvet and keep the pinky out for the queen 💪
I'm in the ACF and am looking to improve my polishing skills. So thank you for making this video
Absolutely awesome!
Thanks for the practical tips. I could have used them well in my three years in the (swiss) army! Hope as many recruits as possible watch your video.
Thank you very much for sharing this method. I have been getting ready for my annual inspection in the ATC and been struggling with my shoes but this method helped a ton. Thanks
Is the ATC the old Guards Depot in Pirbight if yes nice place was there in 81 in the Grenadier Guards
Thanks for this, my son was struggling, also joined the ATC its the Air Training Corps for young cadets aged 12 to 21.
I am a new recruit in the ATC thanks for the advice good to see fellow members on this platform
Im sorry and no disrespect but all I see is a shoe that needs reconditioning. The leather looks damaged though the lack of proper leather care and there is just a build up of wax. Maybe alright for a parade ground but definitely not good for quality shoe care. Nice shine though.
That's exactly what they are designed for, the parade ground!. Only to be worn for best!. They are not for every day use. Thanks
I retired after 23 years of service over 9 years ago... why am I watching this? haha
Takes a few hours. However eventually the finish is like shellac.
Pretty darn good!!
You should all learn to water bull your boots after polishing 😀
See here :
ruclips.net/video/I0wZLGrxuKg/видео.html
Worked a dream. Ten minutes and I had a beautiful gloss shine. Thanks
this is the correct way folks....those babies are gonna shine...
That was another slant to getting a good shine on your boots, I will give it a go sometime soon, your son could have done the dishes first for you, please keep safe and well in these crazy times we are all in at the moment, very best regards from a Kiwi living in Australia.
Niceee 💯🔥💪🙌🏅🥇🏆🙏👏💰💰💰😁🙏👏
Kiwi shoe polish is no LONGER available in shops.
New Zealand here...
Ebay ! 😉
Mate that saved my life from wasting money 😂
Use a pair of womens tights after the off brush ....... trust me
I'll have to try this one. Thanks Warren
I'm in India, My Nana thought me the exact same way...
I tried this and on the first step all my previous progress wiped off immediately, what do you reccomend
Hi Joe. Sorry to hear you are struggling, I'd love to open a bulling shop and sort everyones shoes out 😬 it's difficult to answer your question without seeing the shoes but my initial thought is that you haven't put enough layers on (4 or 5) and allowed atleat 30 minutes before gently brushing off before bulling with a damp Sylvet. If the cloth is dry or you bull too hard, you can drag off or over heat and wipe off layers.
Watch again and start again.
every time I polish the whole shoe like that it ends up flaking all over the place as soon as I walk in them. Any tips?
Not a lot you can do tbh! Other than going full 'guards' on them with bees wax! Just keep brushing off and adding new polish once worn. It's good for the soul 😊
This is interesting.. so simple, do your boots or shoes ever crack from putting too much polish on it?
Drill Boots no. But shoes as they are softer will crack the polish where they bend and flex. The toe caps and heels will be fine. Just brush off the residue and repolish. Thanks for the comment 😬
thats where youd use beeswax burnt into boot then polish layers on top after sanding it that stops cracking and takes bulling to patent levels lol
Helping me out before RAF grad!
From a cadet point of view, very useful, thanks
15 years and a yellow naafi cloth, never came across your type of cloth
A must for a guardsman. Give it a go! You won't be disappointed!
I use to polish my dads dress and jump boots. I got really good at it! Cloth, rag, lighter, polish, boar hair brush a little water…now I use saphir polish, but use to Kiwi!
Your dad was smart for outsourcing his shoe shining! lol
My niece joined the sea cadets and I am former army. Showed her this video today and we polished her boots for almost 2 hours. Passing on life skills to the next generation. Thank you
Love this. Great memories for you both. ❤️
My metho involves polish, water and two cotton balls.
1.) smear one ball in polish and rub into the boot in circles like you did
2.) sink other cotton ball in water, squeeze most of it out so it's damp, but not dripping in water, and rub in circles on polished area
Dead easy imo. What do you think of this method?
I have seen it before, it's the same principle but using a polish applicator that is reusable rather than disposable. Lol. Great comment, thanks !
I joined the RN in the seventies and have many happy memories of all the lads trying every trick in the book to get our boots bulled
Don't know if you'll see this but I recently got some new shoes and polished them up nicely, but got them out to wear for a parade and all the polish cracked and seemed to flake off. Is there anyway I can prevent this without using shed loads of waxes?
Nope, bee's waxing them like guards ammo boots is the only solution. Just fall in love with bulling and start again 💕
@@steveking8258 Cheers Steve, once waxing is done the bulling is the fun part 😃
17 years in the Guards and this method would certainly not work on parade boots they will crack after about 10 minutes 😂😂😂
I’m an air cadet and this is very helpful so thank you 🙏
If it’s a brand new Shoe, would you still use the off brush on the first layer, or wait until the first layer dries and keep adding up to 10-15 layers and after they have dried, then use the off brush?
No difference if its new mate. A few base layers to start, allow to dry then brush off. Basic bull up then repeat layering. Just keep repeating and building that shine. 😁
Cheers mate, joining the navy in two weeks, trying to get last minute tips
We have always been told not to brush polish your toe caps, is it worth doing before bulling them??
100%. Who ever is telling you that has no clue. Clean them, brush polish, layer up, allow to dry, brush off, get bulling. Layer brush bull, layer brush bull. When happy with finish water bull with a cold water and cotton wool balls.
Parade gloss was too soft. It would melt in heat.
Was your silvet wet or dry?
Damp. Wash it, rinse it wring it, use it ! 😁
In my opinion: US military doesn't polish shoes anymore. That ended in Vietnam. Military boots come in Nubuck & dress shoes come in patent leather (Bates®). Can't have anything shiny on a combat uniform - obviously😂. Nice to know how to do it though because it saves the leather from scuffs & abrasion. The type of military grade leather would be a utility low end top grade & far from the dress shoes for bankers & office workers. Kiwi is a satin gloss paraffin wax that does a fine job on work shoes. Satin waxes are what military polish typically are. That's why you guys spend so much time to make an unrealistic shine that says a lot about your abilities.
Bar lacing is incorrect on military foot wear. All boots & shoes are derbies - not ever oxfords.
The only bar lacing you'd see would be to put the laces inside the vamp through stitching down two grommets on the same side before crossing over so they wouldn't snag. It just causes more snags off the now flared vamp ends & shovels dirt inside the boot when crawling. It doesn't do anything to help circulation like they claim.
this is exactly how i do it, they should teach this way because it's so much easier, far less faff and produces the exact same result in half the time.
Thanks bud 😊
Good day, where did you get that beeswax polish from? Thank you Sir
Watching these while trying to get my horse riding boots to shine.. and failing 😂 if I ever got them this shiny do you think there would be a risk of black polish transferring to my competition saddle pad (white) or on to my horse? 😅
Its high finish polish at the end of the day. One way to really annoy a soldier is to scuff his parade boots. Pressure or rubbing will scuff them. I'd still bull them if i were you. Look at the Household Cavalry, they fully bull their long riding boots and they are thigh length 😮. Good luck
Steve king wud u suggest a sylvet cloth rather than a duster and how many layers of polish do u recommend as Iv watched a few videos and they do about 7 layers and a ball of cotton wool Iv tried this way doesn't work so I'll gladly give Ur way a go thanks
Btw you dont need to polish all around the shoe as its prone to cracking. Just the toecap is fine.
After you bull them with the selvyt do you just keep going or is there any time where you would layer them up again?
Great video thanks so much, helped me lots as I’m in air cadets and needed to get my shoes up to standard
One little tip I might add with the sylvete, as your dampening it before use, or just before, give it a good scrape on a flat surface with a nail brush under running water. This makes sure there’s no lumps or bits to spoil the polishing and also over time, softens the material so it polishes better and quicker.
Great advice 👍
Thanks Steve
Very helpful thanks steve
Hi I have watched lots of videos on how to bull your shoes. Your video is as easy as it comes to follow and it does work. The only thing I did not do the same was the shoe polish as I use Saphir Medaille Dor and some times I put a few coats of their mirror gloss on but not this time. I have never been in the military but I can't go out with dirty shoes. Thank you for a good video.
Are the products you use any good? I have previously ordered the same products and am anticipating their arrival, but it would be nice to have a (maybe less biased than sponsored ads) opinion
Yes they are very good but not cheap
@Demon Lord they are the best polish you can buy
Steve King what regiment was you in?
2 years with the grenadier guards then RLC
@@steveking8258 nice one bud i did 5 years in the grens!
Need to show how we prepare the brogue when there new from QM will all the dimples and holes ? This is more important? If you don’t get that done properly you’ll have issues?
I’ve been in for 3 years and cannot stop them cracking ??
how do you clean the selvyt cloth
Great question. You can either chuck it in the washing machine or give it a scrub in the sink with some shampoo and a nail brush. 😊
@@steveking8258 thanks
My old SWO would have still found fault with those.
Great video Steve, I'm 56 now nut this exactly how I was taught to bull boots and shoes as a 14 year old army cadet, no bullshit just as you say ordinary Kiwi polish and elbow grease... Once taught it has stayed with me, there was a lot of rubbish spoke on how to achieve the shine but your method is the best 👍
Thanks buddy. ❤
Can we see finish look
Quick question, there's a couple of patches on my shoes where the polish has cracked badly, pretty much down to the bare leather, when I start to layer them up again should I focus on those patches until they're back level with the rest of the polish on the shoe? or should I strip all the polish off and start from scratch?
Personally I would put a blob of black polish onto the patch or dent and heat with a lighter so it melts flat. Leave it to go hard, brush over it then start layering and bulling as normal . Good luck 👍
@@steveking8258 brilliant, thanks for the quick reply, I’ll give it a go!
Yes this is the way.
Informative and useful to know. Thank you.
My shoes look gleaming, cheers
Aqua-net was the standard in my hellish world..
wish I knew this when I joined the Navy 50 years ago. !
My brush keeps leaving scratches on my shoe, can someone help me please?
Shouldn't be the brush? Maybe old polish or specs of dirt on the Selvyt. Wash it with shampoo in a sink and scrub it with a nail brush. Make sure its thoroughly rinsed out.
The only way to get rid of scratches is to add more layers, brush off ince dry and start bulling again.
Good luck
@@steveking8258 ok, thank you
@@steveking8258 my shoe polish keeps cracking and peeling off, is there anything i can do to prevent this?
@@dis7247 probably putting too much on mate. Super thin layers and build it up. Hopefully you are using normal kiwi black not parade gloss. It will crack where the creases lie , nothing you can do about that if its shoes.
@@steveking8258 thank you Steve, it is much appreciated. I do use normal kiwi black btw
Happy Days. ( Sent a few recruits to the Naafi for bulling rings lol ) Nice 1.
If it’s a brand new shoe, would you still use the off brush on the first layer, or wait until the first layer has dried and keep adding up to 10-15 layers and after they have dried, then use the off brush?
I seeved from 1957-1959 (National Service) in RAOC & still polish my shoes in this way. Mind you our boots when first issued were pimples all over & we used to set fire to the polish momentarily to get rid of them then we spent hours bulling them. A good trick was to buy a chocolate bar so the your spit had some backbone to it. I was in the army when they were needing them not feeding them. I enjoyed (almost) every day & came out a Corporal.
Great comments and thank you for your service 👍
This year will be my first remembrance Day wearing FAD's this video has been a lifesaver! Cheers for helping me get squared away!
That's fantastic to hear. I go every year come rain or shine . It seems mean more as a veteran. I always look smart as a carrot. Best wishes buddy. Lest we forgot ❤
Currently serving and start rehearsing for rememberance tomorrow and this is a life saver, cheers mate. UBIQUE
Good luck buddy. I'll be on Parade at the cenotaph
Nice
Hopefully this will work soon for me cool vid!
Easy mate, light pressure and patients.
It goes super dry super quick when I use my fingers do you dip ur fingers in water or swim thing?
No, it's supposed to do that. Just be generous with the amount you have on your fingers. Rub it in thoroughly 😌
Is it worth doing this to combat boots, or is it pointless due to getting all scuffed and dirty?
Up to you. A good bull now and then actually helps soften and protect combat boots. And when you clean them normally they will naturally have a better finish. I've bulled Guards ammo boots, Cavalry long boots, combats, parade shoes, civvi shoes even brown Chelsea boots ! 😀
How do You buy elbow grease in a tube or container?😉
Unfortunately this kind of grease is only passed on from those who have it. Not everyone uses it 😁
Very informative and useful. I’m having to bull them for the police force, had no idea where to start. Thank you
Good luck buddy. 👍
@@steveking8258 Thank you
Army??? They look like RAF shoes to me
One question would you repeat this process over and over again until your happy ? And also for when you get second hand parade shoes have you got any tips as to how and get cracks out of the polish ?
Hi imogen . Yes I would repeat over and over until I'm happy.
As far as cracks are concerned, there's not a lot you can do. Shoes or boots will crack until they are broken in and the lines in the leather are established. Brush them off even they crack and start layering again. If you have a scratch or chip on the tie cap, you can add a layer of polish and gently melt it into place with a lighter. Once it's dried in place, just start the bulling process.
I hope that answers your question. 😬
@@steveking8258 thankyou so much I’ve been doing that and they look so much nicer 🙂
Outstanding. Thank you
Did the shoe trees die??????????
Thanks for the advice. My Son has just joined the cadets and we are building up the shine.
I have ordered a cloth as recommended.
Good luck to your son and thanks for watching 👀
How many hours do you think it takes to get a good military shine on a pair of shoes out of the box?
Now that's a question! I could easily spend a day building them up . It would depend on the quality and smoothness of the leather. If you melted wax and polish on the to start. A couple of days of on and off effort would probably do it. Would also depend on your ability !
Thank you for your reply I have been polishing my shoes since I was 12 in secondary school as our teacher used to line us all up every morning to make sure we all had a clean shirt on school tie and clean shoes. The guy used to march up and down the two lines of boys and girls and if you were not clean and tidy he would hit you round the head an evil guy. But he taught me to turn my self out smartly even when I worked nights my boots always had a shine on them. I am now 66 and I still spend hours doing my shoes. I am a manson and when I go to the Lodge the guys like to take piss but I do have to best shoes.
My dog has eaten my number 2 shoes this morning just gone out and brought a cheap pair of Clarks not happy
Have these been waxed as they look like they have ? if so where did you get your wax from?
No mate just lots of layers and bulling. You can buy bees wax on ebay, it's a process that neltscand mixes it with black polish and then painting it on the shoe/boot.
Yiu have to pack out the shoe first to ensure they hold shape. It's an acquired skill.
Hi Steve, Stellar video. Just one question. What's best in your opinion to clean your fingers to get polish off? Always seem to have a black tint on my fingers
Soap ! Lol and a nail brush 😬
my master chief (us navy) complimented my boots after i did this
thats amazing to hear, well done and keep up the good work 😊
Hi Steve, on the edge of my toecap the polish cracks / flakes off quite severely along with the area of the shoe behind it. Is this strange for a toecap?
No, sorry tocsay it's perfectly normal. It's where the leather stretches and flexes with movement. Other than bee's waxing the whole shoe/boot, there's not a lot you can do other than brush them off and relayer. . Good luck !
Great video thanks steve. Been brushing up ready for basic & this has been a massive help
Get in touch if you need help. Good luck buddy.
@@steveking8258 thank you very much Steve
When you have wiped it down with the damp selvyt to the point that it is dry, do you start over and wipe another layer on with your fingers, off brush it and then start again or do you just carry on adding polish with the selvyt?
I would probably spend 20-30 minutes bulling and creating a shine. Then re layer, allow to dry, brush off and start bulling again. Just build up until you are happy with the depth of the shine. When you can see the ceiling lights or your own perfect reflection, you can stop ! 🙂
@@steveking8258 preparing for my first parade in a while and everyone around me is flapping. Hopefully this will work 🤣 thank you for your response
I'm about to start training so this is now in my life hack section of my brain 😅
Fantastic news! Which ever service you join I wish you luck. Please get In touch of you need help with anything 😀
Absolute legend
Did you ever find that Green Kwack that got nicked in Walton? 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️😂😂
Hope you are well Stevey… passing on the CAV hints and tips!
This is by far the best video I have seen. Thanks for the tips Steve. On my boots how do you get them up to the standard you like? Just keep going with the water and cloth? I can see the reflection of my ring light…
Or would you after using the water add more polish layers and water again and repeat? Or repeat layers, brush off more layers, brush off before adding the water?
Hi Adele. Thank you. I need to do another one covering people's questions. Just keep adding a couple of light layers of polish and keep bulling. Tap in the polish and bull, tap in the polish and bull. Just keep checking for polish specks on the cloth that can cause the swirl scratches.
I am parading at the Cenotaph on Sunday with the Royal British Legion. I've spent all week bulling my shoes. 😎