@@wishoeguy There are great, its the Grant Stone Edward boot.. I've owned trumans vibergs and redwings in various leathers but never shell.. its next game.
Wow, thank you for posting this! Just bought my first pair of shell Cordovan boots and this was really helpful. Out of curiosity, who makes your pig bristle brush and where did you get it? I searched Amazon and the choices seem limited.
Do you mean the rolls on the vamp? I don’t usually want boots to look unworn so I don’t usually remove them or try to. If it’s excessive I would remove. Do you find them excessive?
@@wishoeguy Correct. I don’t think their excessive, however I have yet to see a video where a roll is smoothed out completely. As always I do appreciate your videos and hope you create more videos on shell cordovan shoes and boots .
Thank you for this video. Do you have any experience using Saphir Renovating and Repair Cream on deeper shell cordovan gashes? It seems like it can be a miracle on calfskin but I haven't read or seen anything about using it on shell cordovan.
BTW, I was fortunate enough to thrift three pairs of Alden's in cordovan a few weeks ago, in pristine condition. A pair of captoe oxfords, a pair of captoe boots and a pair of tankers, all in black. Crazy find!!!! 😁😁😁
I saw the benefits of using a deer bone debunked on Styleforum by a couple of shoemakers who basically implied it was an internet legend and waste of money. I have to agree as I struggle to see the benefits of a deer bone over a spoon or similar implement and can't see why the minimal amount of oil in a deer bone is better than any other animal bone or why the oil in any bone is better than conditioners (which contain various oils and fats anyway). It's also interesting that Saphir recommend using the Super Invulner spray on shell cordovan shoes after conditioning which again is very much against shoe community advice which is to only use this type of spray (Tarrago nano being the other recommended one) on suede and mot smooth leathers.
I agree that the spray advice is bizarre. In terms of the bone, sleeping bone and skiving tool in ebony, I do think the shape of the tools is more important than the oils they have, especially since you have to use the same conditioners with them you do when using a spoon and you can see in this video how effective the conditioners are alone. That said if I were doing it without conditioner? They way I did before I watched videos of the pros do it, the three tools do actually release some oils on the cordovan to help. As I said in the video the purpose is to move the oil in the material and not on top. For that the shape is most important and I personally find the sleeking bone much easier to work with than a spoon.
@@wishoeguy That makes sense regarding the deer bone. For the waterproofing spray, Saphir do recommend their spray for all smooth leathers that are likely to get harsh treatment and specifically include it as the last step for cordovan care. I have the Tarrago Nano spray plus a couple of cans of some cheaper sprays that probably contain silicon and I have started using them on some of my smooth leather boots. I have recently applied the cheap (probably silicon based) Punch waterproofing spray to a pair of Thursday boots rugged and resilient leather and to my cheapest, beater pair of shell boots and will see how things go I am slowly coming to the conclusion that we 'baby' our shoe leathers far too much and silicon spays (and petroleum based products) have been used for decades before the internet decided that they were going to destroy our shoes. I suspect the Scottish mud and rain is going to destroy my boots and shoes a lot quicker than a silicon spray.
I bought mine on Amazon. It’s better around stitching and can get at places the deer bone can’t. It’s really similar properties but the shape makes some things easier.
@@wishoeguy oh gotcha. Yeah. What’s the reason for covering the sleeking bone and deerbone in polish? Also, I’ve got to ask what the deal is with this rough brushing thing. There’s no advantage to physically hitting shell with a brush. If you push the bristles into the shell too forcefully, you risk scratching the shell from the bristle, or agitating it so much it’ll create those little dimples on the shell which is from excess heat during the forming process. Both for your own sake and the folks watching, just trying to understand where this rough brushing idea was formed.
@@Shellvedge professionals all use Venetian shoe cream or a substance like it when using the bones on shell cordovan. Not doing so can lead to scratching the shell (speaking from personal experience). I also believe rough brushing helps lift the shine on the shell and with over thirty pairs of shell I’ve never had those dimples appear nor has a brush ever scratched the shell. I don’t believe in gingerly treating your shoes. They’re made to be tough and you shouldn’t be able to harm them. There is a fine line between being an expert in the field and a user and enthusiast. I don’t profess in any way to be an expert, just experienced. I don’t buy into the hype that people can mistreat their shoes with care. You can over polish the shoes, over condition, and of course you can cut them and damage them, but there is a ton of alarmism in the airwaves that I don’t buy into and will not promote. I’m also one of the few folks out here with no agenda other than to share my experience. I hope that folks build enthusiasm for their shoes and the industry from watching my channel. I do hope I don’t suggest anything that causes anyone to damage their shoes, but a little brushing shouldn’t hurt them and has never hurt mine.
@@wishoeguy yea, I think that’s all fine. I think there’s also a sense of, while you may believe you shouldn’t be able to harm your shoes, you absolutely can. They’re well made, so they can withstand the abuse taken from regular wear, weather and shoe care, but that doesn’t mean they’re meant to take abuse or withstand an accidental smack of the edge of the brush to the toe cap. 100%, I take the same approach that I don’t present myself as an expert, but as someone with a platform that people listen to, I do carry a sense of responsibility. So while I manipulate shoe care products, and know what I’m doing, I’d never show that on my channel in concern that someone may do the same and end up damaging their shoe because they don’t have the same experience and access to resources as I do to understand the process behind them
Boots are made to be worn. Whether 150 bucks or 1500… they’re not dress boots. You should have confidence that they’re fit for purpose. Cordovan was originally used in the belts to sharpen knives. The second use was in work boots. They’re very very sturdy.
@@wishoeguy I get that but, for instance, cleats are made to be worn, but not on a tennis court. Plenty of boots are made for hiking and chainsawing, but they're not leather-soled shell boots. (And I see these boots are (somehow) only $350. How are they selling shell boots for that cheap?!)
@@tonymoore2100 This pair in the video is different from the $350 one on the website right now. This pair in the video is made with Horween Cordovan and JR soles. The $350 one is from some unknown tannery (Meermin does not disclose it) with lightweight fast-rubbing-out rubber sole.
Beautiful illustration. Thank you
Out in the farm wearing shell cordovan, I've been doing it all wrong! Nice job on those boots.
I just got my first pair of shell cordovan. I got AE Daltons and love them. They are fantastic! Nice to see how easy it is to care for them.
Got my first pair of shell boots in maduro. thanks for the tips.
Very exciting. How do you like them?
@@wishoeguy There are great, its the Grant Stone Edward boot.. I've owned trumans vibergs and redwings in various leathers but never shell.. its next game.
Always enjoy and appreciate your videos and shoe wisdom. Like how that watch band seems to match that shell Cordovan.
Thanks. I have a burgundy shell band too, should have thought of that.
Leather as Art .
Wow, thank you for posting this! Just bought my first pair of shell Cordovan boots and this was really helpful. Out of curiosity, who makes your pig bristle brush and where did you get it? I searched Amazon and the choices seem limited.
Mine is made by abbeyhorn though you’ll get a better deal with Kirby Allison or the elegant oxford.
Will there be a part 2 for getting the creases out of the Vamp area ?
Do you mean the rolls on the vamp? I don’t usually want boots to look unworn so I don’t usually remove them or try to. If it’s excessive I would remove. Do you find them excessive?
@@wishoeguy Correct. I don’t think their excessive,
however I have yet to see a video where a roll is smoothed out completely.
As always I do appreciate your videos and hope you create more videos on shell cordovan shoes and boots .
Check out my shell cordovan playlist. I’ll always put new ones there as well.
Thank you for this video. Do you have any experience using Saphir Renovating and Repair Cream on deeper shell cordovan gashes? It seems like it can be a miracle on calfskin but I haven't read or seen anything about using it on shell cordovan.
I’ve never tried it. I’d reach out to a good cobbler to ask.
Cordovan may have feelings, bro. The science is still out on that... 😂
BTW, I was fortunate enough to thrift three pairs of Alden's in cordovan a few weeks ago, in pristine condition. A pair of captoe oxfords, a pair of captoe boots and a pair of tankers, all in black. Crazy find!!!! 😁😁😁
Awesome!
What boot trees are those?
Just new boot goofin
Do you wear these year round, snow, and rain?
I saw the benefits of using a deer bone debunked on Styleforum by a couple of shoemakers who basically implied it was an internet legend and waste of money.
I have to agree as I struggle to see the benefits of a deer bone over a spoon or similar implement and can't see why the minimal amount of oil in a deer bone is better than any other animal bone or why the oil in any bone is better than conditioners (which contain various oils and fats anyway).
It's also interesting that Saphir recommend using the Super Invulner spray on shell cordovan shoes after conditioning which again is very much against shoe community advice which is to only use this type of spray (Tarrago nano being the other recommended one) on suede and mot smooth leathers.
I agree that the spray advice is bizarre. In terms of the bone, sleeping bone and skiving tool in ebony, I do think the shape of the tools is more important than the oils they have, especially since you have to use the same conditioners with them you do when using a spoon and you can see in this video how effective the conditioners are alone. That said if I were doing it without conditioner? They way I did before I watched videos of the pros do it, the three tools do actually release some oils on the cordovan to help. As I said in the video the purpose is to move the oil in the material and not on top. For that the shape is most important and I personally find the sleeking bone much easier to work with than a spoon.
@@wishoeguy That makes sense regarding the deer bone.
For the waterproofing spray, Saphir do recommend their spray for all smooth leathers that are likely to get harsh treatment and specifically include it as the last step for cordovan care.
I have the Tarrago Nano spray plus a couple of cans of some cheaper sprays that probably contain silicon and I have started using them on some of my smooth leather boots.
I have recently applied the cheap (probably silicon based) Punch waterproofing spray to a pair of Thursday boots rugged and resilient leather and to my cheapest, beater pair of shell boots and will see how things go
I am slowly coming to the conclusion that we 'baby' our shoe leathers far too much and silicon spays (and petroleum based products) have been used for decades before the internet decided that they were going to destroy our shoes. I suspect the Scottish mud and rain is going to destroy my boots and shoes a lot quicker than a silicon spray.
Where can one purchase an ebony stick? I use deer bone and stick for scratches and smoothing out rolls. What's the benefit of investing in one?
I bought mine on Amazon. It’s better around stitching and can get at places the deer bone can’t. It’s really similar properties but the shape makes some things easier.
Thank you for this video. I just bought the VERY last pair size 9 for $590 😅 feel very lucky
What’s a skiving bone?
Haha. Sleeking bone. My bad.
@@wishoeguy oh gotcha. Yeah. What’s the reason for covering the sleeking bone and deerbone in polish?
Also, I’ve got to ask what the deal is with this rough brushing thing. There’s no advantage to physically hitting shell with a brush. If you push the bristles into the shell too forcefully, you risk scratching the shell from the bristle, or agitating it so much it’ll create those little dimples on the shell which is from excess heat during the forming process.
Both for your own sake and the folks watching, just trying to understand where this rough brushing idea was formed.
@@Shellvedge professionals all use Venetian shoe cream or a substance like it when using the bones on shell cordovan. Not doing so can lead to scratching the shell (speaking from personal experience). I also believe rough brushing helps lift the shine on the shell and with over thirty pairs of shell I’ve never had those dimples appear nor has a brush ever scratched the shell.
I don’t believe in gingerly treating your shoes. They’re made to be tough and you shouldn’t be able to harm them.
There is a fine line between being an expert in the field and a user and enthusiast. I don’t profess in any way to be an expert, just experienced. I don’t buy into the hype that people can mistreat their shoes with care. You can over polish the shoes, over condition, and of course you can cut them and damage them, but there is a ton of alarmism in the airwaves that I don’t buy into and will not promote. I’m also one of the few folks out here with no agenda other than to share my experience.
I hope that folks build enthusiasm for their shoes and the industry from watching my channel. I do hope I don’t suggest anything that causes anyone to damage their shoes, but a little brushing shouldn’t hurt them and has never hurt mine.
@@wishoeguy yea, I think that’s all fine. I think there’s also a sense of, while you may believe you shouldn’t be able to harm your shoes, you absolutely can. They’re well made, so they can withstand the abuse taken from regular wear, weather and shoe care, but that doesn’t mean they’re meant to take abuse or withstand an accidental smack of the edge of the brush to the toe cap. 100%, I take the same approach that I don’t present myself as an expert, but as someone with a platform that people listen to, I do carry a sense of responsibility. So while I manipulate shoe care products, and know what I’m doing, I’d never show that on my channel in concern that someone may do the same and end up damaging their shoe because they don’t have the same experience and access to resources as I do to understand the process behind them
Hi
First comment!
@@wishoeguy I know, not sure why it's satisfying to be first...
Why would anyone hike and chainsaw in boots like this? It is so baffling.
Boots are made to be worn. Whether 150 bucks or 1500… they’re not dress boots. You should have confidence that they’re fit for purpose. Cordovan was originally used in the belts to sharpen knives. The second use was in work boots. They’re very very sturdy.
@@wishoeguy I get that but, for instance, cleats are made to be worn, but not on a tennis court. Plenty of boots are made for hiking and chainsawing, but they're not leather-soled shell boots. (And I see these boots are (somehow) only $350. How are they selling shell boots for that cheap?!)
@@tonymoore2100 This pair in the video is different from the $350 one on the website right now. This pair in the video is made with Horween Cordovan and JR soles. The $350 one is from some unknown tannery (Meermin does not disclose it) with lightweight fast-rubbing-out rubber sole.
@@tonymoore2100 They have that price point because they are outsourced to Shanghai.
@@dukeyin1111 is this take on the soles: "lightweight fast-rubbing-out rubber sole." from experience?