Enter for a chance to win a FREE Saphir Shoeshine Starter Kit. Sign Up Here: www.hangerproject.com/giveaway/ This comprehensive kit contains everything you need to begin taking the best care possible of your shoes. Giveaway ends January 29th. Good luck!
I hope you're not advising (via subliminal suggestion) that certain folks of a particular pedigree use Petrossian Caviar to shine their shoes? There's a blue/white/red signature tin on the desk behind you that I find curiously utilitarian. Not sure of the odds it being Petrossian, but I've made far riskier bets.
Kirby, I want you to know I just did a presidential shoe shine on my old allen edmonds and it was a raging success. excellent results. I bought almost every product you used in the video from your store and I am very happy with results. I do have one question: what do you recommend for shoe lace care? I would rather not throw away my shoe laces because I have some special ones and a variety of colors and textures. I usually just hand wash them but I am thinking there might be a better way of keeping them looking great longer.
@@psilocybemusashi you will want to wax them. Any old 100% beeswax candle will work. Hold your lace by the ends and run the wax vigorously back and forth up and down the lace. Then I pull my lace through my waxing clothe to even out the texture of the lace. This will make all the fluffy Ness to get stuck down and greatly helps to keep your laces tied.
After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion; in the shower I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply a herb-mint facial pack, which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
I started watching videos while shining my patrol boots with Kiwi. 5 hours of youtube later I now realize I am peasant scum and should be ashamed of myself. Also now I don’t talk to my friends that use Kiwi because I have class.
I have better results with kiwi paste applied on my military boots. I use a small soft brush to apply the paste (a lot of it), leave it overnight and then I a use big soft brush to polish. I use a firm force and give more time for the polishing. The effect is very shiny, almost mirror-like.
I only began buying high-quality shoes about a year ago, and used the polish I knew from the military - Kiwi. When I first looked at Saphir polishes I was taken aback by the price and resisted for some time - but after going through most of the presidential shine process (minus the Dubbin) I'm a true believer. I was completely amazed by the difference in my pair of black Allen Edmonds Park Avenues; they look better than new.
I recommend closing the Reno Mat after every dip to the towel or chamois because just as you see Kirby with the bottle next to his hand mine it just happened to tip over and once I realized from full bottle to almost half. So, be careful
Great videos! As a veteran, I have long known how to make a pair of leather shoes shine like patent leather but you, along with HangerProject have turned it into a science. I've spent over an hour watching shoe shining videos to make sure I can make my expensive, professional, shoes look good. One question; what brand of shoes did you say were in this video? I couldn't quite hear it in the video. *EDIT:* I figured it out: Cleverley shoes.
Good video but I have a couple notes. I always remove the laces so I can treat the entire shoe. Then I can clean the laces with a clean cloth. On some shoes you can actually wash the laces. Also this is fairly dirty work I either wear an apron or an old shirt while I work and I almost never do this in the house, a garage or workshop is best. Thanks
Yes! True professionals do remove the laces every time. He's a salesman! This guy is not only bias because he works with this company, but he's doesn't clean or restore shoes for a living so take his advice with a grain of salt.
Excellent!! Somewhat reminds me of my military days. I took notes like an eager student to ensure that my dress shoes get an extended life and brilliant shine! Subscribed!
I used this method on my 15 year old Allen Edmonds they look so much better. I’m still learning and developing my technique but your videos shows me the way. Thanks for the great videos!
I tried doing this with my shirt cuffs buttoned on white shirt, just so I get same results as you. I got the shoes to shine, but my shirt, not so lucky.
LOL! Sorry! To be completely honest, some of my dress shirts have gotten a little polish on the cuff, but nothing that the cleaners couldn't remove. It's part of the technique!
Just purchased these required items. So far have used the cream and mirror gloss. I haven’t tried the pate deluxe just yet, but I couldn’t be happier with the product. I kicked my cans of kiwi to the side and replaced them with the Saphir line. This polish smells much better, piney almost and is more workable than the kiwi brand and even the Lincoln brand polish.
and the necktie isn't restricted (with a tiebar for example) for a potentially dirty job like this. i can wash/dry-clean cotton anytime with a stain remover pen next day... if a silk necktie gets a stain, its trash bin time...
Very informative tutorial. It would seem sensible to apply the sole guard first, to ensure the top of shoe isn't scratched while the sole guard is applied. Is there any reason you didn't apply the sole guard prior to polishing the top of the shoe?
What is or is there a difference between the following polishes? Saphir Creme Surfine Pommadier Shoe Polish 50ml - Neutral (50ml) +-$9. Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier Natural Cream Leather ShoePolish (75ml) +- $21 to $24 Thank you for your videos, they are very informative.
Thanks for all the tips and pointers Kirby, your guides are the best. I can testify as well that Saphir's wax polish is damn damn good. All the Kiwi polishes I used to have are in the trash can!
Thanks so much for all your shoeshine related videos! Good work! I am wondering if you would like to make some videos on how to care for museum calf shoes? With the antiquing and mottle effects, it's a little bit trickier than caring for box calf shoes. Will appreciate it!
Big fan of your work. This is a very thorough procedure. A good video. Too bad I don’t have access to Saphir in my country. Just one thing though- since this is an instructional video and a through maintenance work - you should’ve taken the shoe laces off. But anyway lovely - great vid as always
I am very glad you enjoy the video! As I have said in these videos, however, I prefer to not remove the laces unless I am replacing them, as it puts unnecessary strain on the eyelets. This is personal preference, so its fine it you always remove your laces.
Kirby, really appreciate your videos, they have certainly helped prolong my shoes and boots! I always go back to this video when I'm polishing my shoes. With that being said, I have a few questions. For reference, I use saphir products ...purchased from hanger project! 1925 pigmented cream- how do you know if you've applied too much polish and generally how much time do you spend brushing between coats? Why does my neutral 1925 Glacage wax remove pigment from the toe box/heel? It's not as severe when I apply with my fingers but when I use a cloth it pulls off a substantial amount of pigment. Do you think renovateur is safe for my kipp skin baseball glove without adding to much weight due to saturation? How about using a pigmented creme to recolor the areas that have been worn down and turning grey due to normal wear? Its my baby so I'm willing to pay for the best haha. thanks again man and keep at it!
Just discovered your channel yesterday. Love the videos. Just placed my first order today. Q. Do you ever polish the shoe's tongue? Do you recommend shoe heel taps/caps to protect the heel or do you recommend replacing the rubber portion of the heel as it wears? Thanks.
Very nice, I'll be buying some of that sole guard, which I wasn't aware of previously. I have a handful of Alden shell cordovan pairs, and even with the double leather sole, I'll still be safer with the sole guard!
@@kirbyallison I'm interested by the sole guard, but in your video it was hard to gauge how much water was absorbed. It looked like you used more water on the "non-proofed" shoe, so it was hard to accurately see the difference it made with the "proofed" shoe.
Nice job. Good to know about products . I know you put wood shoe trees to keep body while polishing, but recommend removing laces and cleaning tongue of shoe while you're doing this overhaul.
As I have said in a few videos, I prefer to not remove the laces unless I am replacing them, as it puts unnecessary strain on the eyelets. This is personal preference, so its fine it you always remove your laces.
Kirby, working on my first pairs since ordering all the supplies. 2 questions: 1. After applying the dubbin, how long to wait? One pair seemed fully absorbed and dry after one day, another it seemed it took 2 days. Your instructions seem to imply a brush off after 1 day, and then wait 2 more days for full absorption? Is that right? I’m trying to determine the time period that I can move forward with the next step with the renovateur. 2. How much renovateur is to be used? Worried I am using too much. Am putting on a moderate coat/amount to work on some neglected shoes. Is there a guideline for how many applications/pairs of shoes a jar should last (considering 2 applications per pair)? Thanks. I know these are details, but would benefit from your guidance as I’m trying to do it “Presidentially”! David
Hi there! I never thought shoe shining was chemically inclined. I just bought a Brown camouflage monk strap pair of shoes. Could you please tell me what of products and where I can purchase them here in Montreal, 🇨🇦 your help is appreciated. Cheers. This morning May 7 I was able to find your Canadian equivalent website. Now what would I need to buy in order to maintain or improve the shine on my brown camo monk shoes. Thanks again.very educational especially for a novice like moi. Merci. Well I viewed the "basic shoe shine video " I am ok . Thank you Sir, for your service.
Hey Man; You can see the button over the tie, in the army it means; clean lokum for a week! A unrestrained hippi or ? Well nice shoe anyhow ! So: NEW VIDEO ! ONE MORE TIME ! GO GO GO GO ! Ekviperet ( Danish ).
How often should the Renovateur be used? Also - if you put the Pate de Luxe wax on a shoe wouldn't that keep something like the Renovateur from absorbing in at the next time of usage?
Mink oil lol! I guess the conservation status is: Least Concern Population stable I'm all for hobbies, but this is taking it to another level. What do you do for a living? I'm curious.
This is a great question. No... if you keep on rubbing until nothing is coming off onto the chamois anymore, you've stripped all the color off your shoe! The idea here is to not go crazy. A few passes with medium-firm pressure is enough. When trying to remove deposits of hard waxes, you have to use medium to firm pressure and keep rubbing until the hard waxes come off. Hope this helps!
Hey Kirby, great video. I followed it to a tee and wore my cap toe oxfords once and noticed it was cracking around the stitching of the cap toe and even on the heels. What gives? It looked so great! Let me know when you can.
Just a note on the smell of the polish and creams...if you're used to Kiwi products, etc. then at first, this is off-putting. I had watched these videos over and over before actually purchasing the Safir products, and one thing I was excited about was the natural smell Kirby talks about all the time - and when it arrived, I opened it and smelled it and almost threw up. BUT - I think this is similar to someone who is used to eating chicken fingers exclusively for x amount of years, and then suddenly having a perfectly prepared ribeye steak (with no A1 sauce). Of COURSE it will seem gross at first. But once you get your mind used to associating the scents with the experience...next thing you know you sit down with a nice glass of whiskey and some nice music in the background, and you open the polish and creams and get your shoes ready to go, and it just transports you someplace else for an hour or so. Nothing like it - thanks for the informative videos; definitely changed everything.
Thanks for sharing! Funny - I have that same reaction with Kiwi. One difference between Lincoln and Saphir is that Lincoln adds fragrances to conceal it's natural petroleum smell. The smell of Saphir is from the pine-based turpentine... and I feel that you can really smell the pine trees! (personally)
I know the focus is shoes, but tips for conditioning and polishing higher end leather bags? Would you still use Saphir products or is there another brand better suited for such items?
Do you recommend cleaning your sole with saddle soap before applying the sole guard? Or, cleaning the soles with saddle soap any other time? Also, you recommend using one of the conditioners on your soles from time to time? And, if so, since they are hitting the pavement, do you recommend cleaning them (in any method, saddle soap or otherwise) and letting them dry before using conditioner on the? Thank you, I am learning a lot from your videos!
Kirby - this was very helpful, and I just got my first order from hanger project this week, thanks! One question - I used dauber to put on the polish on my shoes. Do I need to clean the dauber after each use, or do I just let the dauber dry out after? If I’m supposed clean it, what should I clean it with? Thanks for your videos - keep them coming!
Forget the hype. Try Angelus products 1907. I have used on Lobbs London for 20 ++ years. No build up. No issues or problems. Several pairs. Do it right
Hi From Spain love your chanel, i have a question sorry if this is not the place to ask. But i will ask anyway, my question is when should and how often we use the shaphir renovateur. I have undertood that renomat is to remove old stuff and clean our shoes, that the creme is for coloring and the waxes for the gloss polish but i dont end to undertand the renovateur. Thank you very much and hi from spain!!! Keep going you are doing a great job.
10:38 @kirbyallison Hi Kirby Allison! I would like to thank you for putting together these superb tutorials on proper fine leather shoe care as it has opened my eyes to some crucial mistakes I’ve made in the past with my Leather care and I have also learned some great new lessons that have improved the condition of my leather shoes in exactly the way I was hoping. Now I have a question concerning how to use the Dubin or the pure mink oil from Saphir when it comes to dying leather shoes (I understand this tutorial does not focus on actually dying the leather and I have watched your helpful tutorial video on dying leather shoes) and so I was hoping you could answer this: After using the decapatant and the leather soap, I found my shoes in the perfect condition to dye, but I also felt they needed some serious hydration and so after allowing them to dry for at least 24 hours I applied the pure mink oil and after another 24 hours it hit me that I may have jumped the gun with the mink oil. I am buffing the mink oil off of the shoes now but should I repeat the process of cleaning everything off the leather with either the soap or the decapatant and then after 24 hours for them to dry immediately die them with the saphir teinture francaise allow the die to dry and then hydrate them? Or will I be safe in buffing off the mink oil now, and then applying the dye to the shoes without fully removing the mink oil in the same way that I removed everything from the Leather originally? In other words, can I merely buff the mink oil in the same fashion you buffed the Dubin in this video and then apply the leather dye to the shoes or will the mink oil create too strong a barrier for the leather to absorb the leather dye properly? Should I basically just start from the beginning so that I am insured the dye will be absorbed fully and work properly? Thank you again for your informative videos and I thank you in advance for your time. MR
Can you explain the process of Presidential Shoe Shine. I noted some optional charges such as shipping label, shoe laces, etc.. explain please. How does this work?
I had the same, question. (I only want to remove a single thick layer of new Pure Polish I just applied to a pair of brown pebble grain Ferragamo Derbys, and he mentioned that Renomat was the "strongest remover," so I'm now wondering what alternative product, is perhaps better... when there aren't multiple layers, of petroleum based, polish/ es?) Jonasholm suggests using Saphir lotion, in his comment... below yours.
Good day to you Kirby... Hope you are doing great... I recently started watching your channel for shoe care... I must say amazing work... really love it... I was working on my first shoe as per your guidance... I by accident applied a small layer of dubbin on the toe of the right shoe (then applied the same on the left to balance out)... Any pointers to what I should do to get that high gloss shine (as you mentioned that applying it on the toe can cause difficulty to get a high gloss shine)...
thanks for the great video. i cleaned my shoes with the renomat but then it does not respond well to the wet polishing (to get the mirror shine). it gets rough when polishing with water drops and cannot get to shine. Best I can do is shine with dry cloth but cannot get to mirror shine! Any advise?
Steve Priddy We are just about to publish a video on exotics! Stay tuned!! But the short answer is to use the Saphir Reptan conditioner for the reptiles. Great product. And then if you are looking to add more of a shine, I recommend the Saphir Mirror Gloss wax polish because it has a lower solvent concentration, which is more gentle on exotics.
Hi Kirby, loving your videos so far. I had a question regarding this video: does the reno mat' also remove some of the petina developed on the shoe because of shoe polish and use over time?
Why would one complete a deep-clean / restoration / polish without having first removed the laces? Removing the laces would both eliminate the possibility of soiling the laces with product, as well as provide full access to the surfaces covered by the laces plus the tongue of the shoe, to ensure a thorough job. Was it done for the aesthetic of the video, or do most people truly not treat / polish those areas of their shoes?
Is it ok to use the same brush for all the different applications? Don't you risk contaminating each application with the previous application as you are using the same bristles?
Which Rénovateur do you use? One is called Cirage Rénovateur Saphir Médaille d'Or, and there's another one called Cirage Rénovateur Nappa Saphir Médaille d'Or.
Kirby, great video(s). Can you recommend a good starter kit to purchase. My shoe collection only consists of shoes costing no more than £100/$150. I do plan on adding more luxurious items as and when I can. Keep up the great work!
This is great, thank you. Ordering in a paycheck. Given the time that has passed, what are your thoughts on the Dubbin vs the Mink Oil and why would you use one or the other? Also, is swapping them out (with whatever charge change is appropriate) be reasonable within the kit?
Good interesting video but very surprised you didn’t remove the shoe 🤐laces? I must remember to put on a nice white shirt next time i deep clean my shoes
Why not apply the sole guard on the heel? Would it not be applicable because it's not leather? Or world it hurt of it was applied? Thinking of mere water protection
I've watched a few of your shoe polishing videos and in all of them at each step you say grab a chamois. How many chamois do you end up using for a pair of shoes? Do you need a different one for each step? For each pair/color? Can you use the same one for basic cleaning steps for all your shoes and then a separate one for each polish color? How do you clean them? Also, when it comes to the brushes, you usually specifically mention one for black and one for browns. Do you mean 1 for black and 1 for all the other colors? Or do you mean more dark vs light? Where would oxblood, dark chili, dark/medium brown fall in terms of which brush or number of brushes?
I've got two or three chamois. You can use different areas to apply different color polishes and they can be hand-washed with light detergent once they become very soiled. You only need two brushes. One for dark-colored polishes and one for light-colored brushes. Anything more than two horsehair brushes is totally unnecessary. You could probably even get away with one brush if you were super careful to clean the bristles against a towel after every use (but probably not worth the risk of streaking given the cost and that they last forever).
Is there a time limit to when this process should be repeated to moisturize the leather? Kind of like oil change in a car, if not by miles than at least yearly? I don’t wear dress shoes often so mine are still gleaming from a shine two years ago but must I strip it all back off to moisturize the leather?
lullemans72 The Devon is a much greasier conditioner that's not meant to be used every time you clean your shoes. It is to be used with the initial intense liquid cleaner. Also the Devon is used only where the creases form, the wear and tear, to keep that area moisturized longer. And since it is so greasy it cannot be applied in the area of the shoe where you work your patina. The renovatour is just a conditioner you can use weekly or every two days depending on how often you wear your shoes. Rule of thumb, never use the same shoe back to back.
Fantastic video. Two questions... Would this work on a more large market shoe such as florshiems. And would you apply the same process to an Italian leather briefcase?
Mr. Allison, thank you for creating this tutorial. I had a question about conditioning a pair of AE in Walnut. I noticed when I use dubbin on lighter shoes, they get significantly darker. Is there a product you recommend after renomat, that offers deep conditioning without darkening significantly? Again, thank you for all the videos you create!
I have a question why you don’t use another brand so far instead the Saphir? Because in many countries that brand isn’t available so would be nice if you do some thing with another brand. Thanks
Do you use a different horse hair brush for each color of wax ? I wonder if, for example, you used the same brush to buff for each colour, eventually it would affect the colour of your shoes ?
Kirby,m have you tried this method on the Allen Edmonds all weather park avenues? I have a pair and it seems to not want to let the polish absorb. Curious to hear your thoughts on it.
Question for you, Mr. Allison. I have a handcrafted calf leather dress shoes which was originally a walnut color. I had gotten black marks on it so after trying couple times with Ecco leather cleaner, I gave up and left it with one of the shoe repair shops in town. I went back and to my surprise, my shoe had medium brown on it. He told me when he stripped off the mark and gave conditioning, shoe turned into medium brown color and said there's nothing he could do about getting it back to walnut color. Do you think if I follow what you said on this video, do I have a chance to get it back to walnut color?
Hello and thank you so much for such wonderful instructions and advice! i was wondering if you could please comment on the difference between "pate de luxe, beaute de cuir" and the "Saphir Medaille D'or 1925 Pate De Luxe" polishes. thank you! :-)
Different combination of hard and soft waxes in the Medaille d’Or, which is why you get an easier, higher shine than in the Beauty Cuir. Higher concentration and quality of pigments used in the polish. Huge difference in the waxes you are using in the Saphir Pommadier MDO vs. SBC. In the Saphir SBC, using an almond oil vs shea butter in the Medaille d’Or. Combined with the combination of the other waxes makes a more nourishing polish with higher quality waxes. Lower quantity of beeswax in the Medaille d’Or vs. Vegetable Waxes, which produce better nourishing. Carnoba is like a a veg wax, but more indicated for shine and waterproofing. Beeswax is the historical #1 wax used in shoe care. Good nourisher. Some waterproofer. Some shine. But not as good as carnoba or mountain (spelling?) wax.
I don't want to apply it to the heel because it is such a hard leather that doesn't flex that it isn't important. I also don't want anything that could possibly make the heel slick.
Enter for a chance to win a FREE Saphir Shoeshine Starter Kit. Sign Up Here: www.hangerproject.com/giveaway/
This comprehensive kit contains everything you need to begin taking the best care possible of your shoes. Giveaway ends January 29th. Good luck!
I hope you're not advising (via subliminal suggestion) that certain folks of a particular pedigree use Petrossian Caviar to shine their shoes? There's a blue/white/red signature tin on the desk behind you that I find curiously utilitarian. Not sure of the odds it being Petrossian, but I've made far riskier bets.
Kirby, I want you to know I just did a presidential shoe shine on my old allen edmonds and it was a raging success. excellent results. I bought almost every product you used in the video from your store and I am very happy with results. I do have one question: what do you recommend for shoe lace care? I would rather not throw away my shoe laces because I have some special ones and a variety of colors and textures. I usually just hand wash them but I am thinking there might be a better way of keeping them looking great longer.
Why is Saphir Renovateur applied after Saphir Dubbin?
@@psilocybemusashi you will want to wax them. Any old 100% beeswax candle will work. Hold your lace by the ends and run the wax vigorously back and forth up and down the lace. Then I pull my lace through my waxing clothe to even out the texture of the lace. This will make all the fluffy Ness to get stuck down and greatly helps to keep your laces tied.
Kirby Allison I like your video. It’s too useful
After I remove the ice pack, I use a deep pore cleanser lotion; in the shower I use a water-activated gel cleanser, then a honey-almond body scrub, and on the face an exfoliating gel scrub. Then I apply a herb-mint facial pack, which I leave on for ten minutes while I prepare the rest of my routine. I always use an aftershave lotion with little or no alcohol, because alcohol dries your face out and makes you look older. Then moisturizer, then an anti-aging eye balm followed by a final moisturizing protective lotion.
Huey & the news plays in background 🔪⚒🔪⚒🕺🏻
Sabrina don't just stare at it, eat it.
Now let’s see Paul Allen’s shoe care
That's bone.
Yup!
I started watching videos while shining my patrol boots with Kiwi. 5 hours of youtube later I now realize I am peasant scum and should be ashamed of myself. Also now I don’t talk to my friends that use Kiwi because I have class.
😂
I have better results with kiwi paste applied on my military boots.
I use a small soft brush to apply the paste (a lot of it), leave it overnight and then I a use big soft brush to polish.
I use a firm force and give more time for the polishing. The effect is very shiny, almost mirror-like.
Same here 🤣😂
Saphir is only like $20-$25 bucks. Its not that expensive.
ThatXoneXguy Kiwi is about $3. I’ve used more than 20 cans of Kiwi from my time in the Army, we never knew anything else existed.
I only began buying high-quality shoes about a year ago, and used the polish I knew from the military - Kiwi. When I first looked at Saphir polishes I was taken aback by the price and resisted for some time - but after going through most of the presidential shine process (minus the Dubbin) I'm a true believer. I was completely amazed by the difference in my pair of black Allen Edmonds Park Avenues; they look better than new.
Thanks for sharing!
Shoes get better with age and care! Shares a different relationship with time unlike most products we buy.
This has to be the finest restoration and maintenance video I have encountered yet. Thanks.
I recommend closing the Reno Mat after every dip to the towel or chamois because just as you see Kirby with the bottle next to his hand mine it just happened to tip over and once I realized from full bottle to almost half. So, be careful
Great videos! As a veteran, I have long known how to make a pair of leather shoes shine like patent leather but you, along with HangerProject have turned it into a science. I've spent over an hour watching shoe shining videos to make sure I can make my expensive, professional, shoes look good. One question; what brand of shoes did you say were in this video? I couldn't quite hear it in the video. *EDIT:* I figured it out: Cleverley shoes.
Good video but I have a couple notes. I always remove the laces so I can treat the entire shoe. Then I can clean the laces with a clean cloth. On some shoes you can actually wash the laces. Also this is fairly dirty work I either wear an apron or an old shirt while I work and I almost never do this in the house, a garage or workshop is best. Thanks
Absolutely a best practice to remove laces!
you should have removed the laces!
I was wondering why the laces were not removed I think the videos should show with them removed.
Yes! True professionals do remove the laces every time. He's a salesman! This guy is not only bias because he works with this company, but he's doesn't clean or restore shoes for a living so take his advice with a grain of salt.
@@kirbyallison lol he hearted his own comment and not the one he was responding to
Excellent!! Somewhat reminds me of my military days. I took notes like an eager student to ensure that my dress shoes get an extended life and brilliant shine! Subscribed!
Thanks! More great videos to come!
I used this method on my 15 year old Allen Edmonds they look so much better. I’m still learning and developing my technique but your videos shows me the way. Thanks for the great videos!
That is awesome! Send a picture next time you shine them!
@@kirbyallison definitely will do!
And the best wast kept for last: water proof oil for the leather soil. Attention to detail. Great video.
I tried doing this with my shirt cuffs buttoned on white shirt, just so I get same results as you. I got the shoes to shine, but my shirt, not so lucky.
LOL! Sorry! To be completely honest, some of my dress shirts have gotten a little polish on the cuff, but nothing that the cleaners couldn't remove. It's part of the technique!
Just purchased these required items. So far have used the cream and mirror gloss. I haven’t tried the pate deluxe just yet, but I couldn’t be happier with the product. I kicked my cans of kiwi to the side and replaced them with the Saphir line. This polish smells much better, piney almost and is more workable than the kiwi brand and even the Lincoln brand polish.
Great decision! Thank you for the comment! The Pate de Luxe works great in conjunction with the Mirror Gloss. Check out our video on the mirror shine!
The Hanger Project I’m going give that a shot this weekend I regrettably forgot to order the high shine shamy.
bro he's wearing a white shirt too. i see he likes to live dangerously
He's the James Bond of shoe Shining. Double O Shoe
and the necktie isn't restricted (with a tiebar for example) for a potentially dirty job like this. i can wash/dry-clean cotton anytime with a stain remover pen next day... if a silk necktie gets a stain, its trash bin time...
Very informative tutorial. It would seem sensible to apply the sole guard first, to ensure the top of shoe isn't scratched while the sole guard is applied. Is there any reason you didn't apply the sole guard prior to polishing the top of the shoe?
This is by far the best and most thorough shoe shine video anywhere.
Sweet! Thanks!!
What is or is there a difference between the following polishes?
Saphir Creme Surfine Pommadier Shoe Polish 50ml - Neutral (50ml) +-$9.
Saphir Medaille d’Or Pommadier Natural Cream Leather ShoePolish (75ml) +- $21 to $24
Thank you for your videos, they are very informative.
These shoes are GORGEOUS! Can't wait to try this on some of my own shoes. Thanks!
Thanks for all the tips and pointers Kirby, your guides are the best. I can testify as well that Saphir's wax polish is damn damn good. All the Kiwi polishes I used to have are in the trash can!
hallelujah! Thanks for sharing!
Burgol from Switzerland also has excellent products.
Le cirage de rigueur! Those are beautiful shoes, they love you back after the shine. Well done!
Why leave laces in during this process? What about the tongue?
@Doug Durrum he speaks with very little confidence. Sounds like he's trying to sell things and is scared he'll fuck his fancy shoes up
Saphir make the best polishes etc that’s why top shoe makers endorse there products worth buying and investing
Great videos Kirby. How often do you replace your chamois? How often do you wash them before replacing it?
Excellent vid - thank you for sharing...love those shoes too!
Thanks so much for all your shoeshine related videos! Good work! I am wondering if you would like to make some videos on how to care for museum calf shoes? With the antiquing and mottle effects, it's a little bit trickier than caring for box calf shoes. Will appreciate it!
A good solid 30 minutes of infomercial. I guess it's an art more than a science. Beautiful shoes and artful set otherwise!
Gotta pay for this electricity somehow! haha. ;)
Big fan of your work. This is a very thorough procedure. A good video. Too bad I don’t have access to Saphir in my country. Just one thing though- since this is an instructional video and a through maintenance work - you should’ve taken the shoe laces off. But anyway lovely - great vid as always
I am very glad you enjoy the video! As I have said in these videos, however, I prefer to not remove the laces unless I am replacing them, as it puts unnecessary strain on the eyelets. This is personal preference, so its fine it you always remove your laces.
I agree with another fan, you should have more followers.
Kirby, really appreciate your videos, they have certainly helped prolong my shoes and boots! I always go back to this video when I'm polishing my shoes. With that being said, I have a few questions. For reference, I use saphir products ...purchased from hanger project!
1925 pigmented cream- how do you know if you've applied too much polish and generally how much time do you spend brushing between coats?
Why does my neutral 1925 Glacage wax remove pigment from the toe box/heel? It's not as severe when I apply with my fingers but when I use a cloth it pulls off a substantial amount of pigment.
Do you think renovateur is safe for my kipp skin baseball glove without adding to much weight due to saturation? How about using a pigmented creme to recolor the areas that have been worn down and turning grey due to normal wear? Its my baby so I'm willing to pay for the best haha.
thanks again man and keep at it!
I really admire these products , but I suggest to have them bottled in some sprayers type to keep fresh and healthy product 🎉
Just discovered your channel yesterday. Love the videos. Just placed my first order today. Q. Do you ever polish the shoe's tongue? Do you recommend shoe heel taps/caps to protect the heel or do you recommend replacing the rubber portion of the heel as it wears? Thanks.
Very nice, I'll be buying some of that sole guard, which I wasn't aware of previously. I have a handful of Alden shell cordovan pairs, and even with the double leather sole, I'll still be safer with the sole guard!
landshark321 Yes, always a good idea to condition and waterproof the sole, if possible.
@@kirbyallison I'm interested by the sole guard, but in your video it was hard to gauge how much water was absorbed. It looked like you used more water on the "non-proofed" shoe, so it was hard to accurately see the difference it made with the "proofed" shoe.
Nice job. Good to know about products . I know you put wood shoe trees to keep body while polishing, but recommend removing laces and cleaning tongue of shoe while you're doing this overhaul.
As I have said in a few videos, I prefer to not remove the laces unless I am replacing them, as it puts unnecessary strain on the eyelets. This is personal preference, so its fine it you always remove your laces.
Kirby, working on my first pairs since ordering all the supplies. 2 questions:
1. After applying the dubbin, how long to wait? One pair seemed fully absorbed and dry after one day, another it seemed it took 2 days. Your instructions seem to imply a brush off after 1 day, and then wait 2 more days for full absorption? Is that right? I’m trying to determine the time period that I can move forward with the next step with the renovateur.
2. How much renovateur is to be used? Worried I am using too much. Am putting on a moderate coat/amount to work on some neglected shoes. Is there a guideline for how many applications/pairs of shoes a jar should last (considering 2 applications per pair)?
Thanks. I know these are details, but would benefit from your guidance as I’m trying to do it “Presidentially”! David
Hi there! I never thought shoe shining was chemically inclined. I just bought a Brown camouflage monk strap pair of shoes. Could you please tell me what of products and where I can purchase them here in Montreal, 🇨🇦 your help is appreciated. Cheers.
This morning May 7 I was able to find your Canadian equivalent website. Now what would I need to buy in order to maintain or improve the shine on my brown camo monk shoes. Thanks again.very educational especially for a novice like moi. Merci.
Well I viewed the "basic shoe shine video " I am ok . Thank you Sir, for your service.
Jacques vi what website i also live in mtl
Make this a drinking game, every time he mentions a Saphir product, take a drink.
Hey Man; You can see the button over the tie, in the army it means; clean lokum for a week!
A unrestrained hippi or ? Well nice shoe anyhow !
So: NEW VIDEO ! ONE MORE TIME !
GO GO GO GO !
Ekviperet ( Danish ).
Question, do you clean your chamois after a process like this? Or just keep a chamois for each product?
Thanks.
How often should the Renovateur be used? Also - if you put the Pate de Luxe wax on a shoe wouldn't that keep something like the Renovateur from absorbing in at the next time of usage?
Can I use coconut oil instead of conditioner? I don't have access to leather conditioner available here. What should I do?
Sifat Sartaj believe it or not THTS eat I've been using on my boots COCONUT OIL . I am not a pro yet but it does a damn good job to me.
I love how he wore a white shirt just to show it CAN be done lol good work!
Mink oil lol! I guess the conservation status is:
Least Concern
Population stable
I'm all for hobbies, but this is taking it to another level. What do you do for a living? I'm curious.
When applying the RenoMat, should I keep wiping with a chamois until it comes back clean? Or is there a general stopping point?
This is a great question. No... if you keep on rubbing until nothing is coming off onto the chamois anymore, you've stripped all the color off your shoe! The idea here is to not go crazy. A few passes with medium-firm pressure is enough.
When trying to remove deposits of hard waxes, you have to use medium to firm pressure and keep rubbing until the hard waxes come off. Hope this helps!
Hey Kirby, great video. I followed it to a tee and wore my cap toe oxfords once and noticed it was cracking around the stitching of the cap toe and even on the heels. What gives? It looked so great! Let me know when you can.
Just a note on the smell of the polish and creams...if you're used to Kiwi products, etc. then at first, this is off-putting. I had watched these videos over and over before actually purchasing the Safir products, and one thing I was excited about was the natural smell Kirby talks about all the time - and when it arrived, I opened it and smelled it and almost threw up. BUT - I think this is similar to someone who is used to eating chicken fingers exclusively for x amount of years, and then suddenly having a perfectly prepared ribeye steak (with no A1 sauce). Of COURSE it will seem gross at first. But once you get your mind used to associating the scents with the experience...next thing you know you sit down with a nice glass of whiskey and some nice music in the background, and you open the polish and creams and get your shoes ready to go, and it just transports you someplace else for an hour or so. Nothing like it - thanks for the informative videos; definitely changed everything.
Thanks for sharing! Funny - I have that same reaction with Kiwi. One difference between Lincoln and Saphir is that Lincoln adds fragrances to conceal it's natural petroleum smell. The smell of Saphir is from the pine-based turpentine... and I feel that you can really smell the pine trees! (personally)
Agreed - after I shined my shoes I didn't wash my hands so I could keep the smell around for a while :)
Now if they could make the polish smell like a rib-eye steak...
. . and many more colours in the Saphir BdC line of creme polish!
I know the focus is shoes, but tips for conditioning and polishing higher end leather bags? Would you still use Saphir products or is there another brand better suited for such items?
Absolutely! The Saphir Leather Lotion is good for bags. But I'll be happy to post more information!
What is the diference between
Saphir Pommadier Medaille D'or and Saphir Medaille d'Or ??
Excellent RUclips video Kirby
You know? You know? You know? No, actually, I don't know, that's why I'm here!
Bradley Hotrax We worked on removing that nervous repetition in future refinements....
they look nice, but they still need to be mirror glossed! thanks for the video!
Definitely! The "Presidential Shoe Shine Pt. II" mirror shine video will be posted next. Stay tuned. :)
Do you recommend cleaning your sole with saddle soap before applying the sole guard? Or, cleaning the soles with saddle soap any other time? Also, you recommend using one of the conditioners on your soles from time to time? And, if so, since they are hitting the pavement, do you recommend cleaning them (in any method, saddle soap or otherwise) and letting them dry before using conditioner on the? Thank you, I am learning a lot from your videos!
I followed this video like a bible to shine for the first time my shoes. How long should I wait before removing the polish and use Renovateur again?
Kirby - this was very helpful, and I just got my first order from hanger project this week, thanks! One question - I used dauber to put on the polish on my shoes. Do I need to clean the dauber after each use, or do I just let the dauber dry out after? If I’m supposed clean it, what should I clean it with? Thanks for your videos - keep them coming!
You can clean a dauber either by brushing off excess polish with a chamois or towel, or by washing it under water.
Is there anything that can be applied during the shoe shining process that will prevent mildew/mold growth on leather?
Forget the hype. Try Angelus products 1907. I have used on Lobbs London for 20 ++ years. No build up. No issues or problems. Several pairs. Do it right
Hi From Spain love your chanel, i have a question sorry if this is not the place to ask. But i will ask anyway, my question is when should and how often we use the shaphir renovateur. I have undertood that renomat is to remove old stuff and clean our shoes, that the creme is for coloring and the waxes for the gloss polish but i dont end to undertand the renovateur. Thank you very much and hi from spain!!! Keep going you are doing a great job.
10:38 @kirbyallison
Hi Kirby Allison! I would like to thank you for putting together these superb tutorials on proper fine leather shoe care as it has opened my eyes to some crucial mistakes I’ve made in the past with my Leather care and I have also learned some great new lessons that have improved the condition of my leather shoes in exactly the way I was hoping.
Now I have a question concerning how to use the Dubin or the pure mink oil from Saphir when it comes to dying leather shoes (I understand this tutorial does not focus on actually dying the leather and I have watched your helpful tutorial video on dying leather shoes) and so I was hoping you could answer this:
After using the decapatant and the leather soap, I found my shoes in the perfect condition to dye, but I also felt they needed some serious hydration and so after allowing them to dry for at least 24 hours I applied the pure mink oil and after another 24 hours it hit me that I may have jumped the gun with the mink oil.
I am buffing the mink oil off of the shoes now but should I repeat the process of cleaning everything off the leather with either the soap or the decapatant and then after 24 hours for them to dry immediately die them with the saphir teinture francaise allow the die to dry and then hydrate them? Or will I be safe in buffing off the mink oil now, and then applying the dye to the shoes without fully removing the mink oil in the same way that I removed everything from the Leather originally?
In other words, can I merely buff the mink oil in the same fashion you buffed the Dubin in this video and then apply the leather dye to the shoes or will the mink oil create too strong a barrier for the leather to absorb the leather dye properly? Should I basically just start from the beginning so that I am insured the dye will be absorbed fully and work properly?
Thank you again for your informative videos and I thank you in advance for your time.
MR
Can you explain the process of Presidential Shoe Shine. I noted some optional charges such as shipping label, shoe laces, etc.. explain please. How does this work?
Your shoes are exceptionally beautiful. What shade of brown would you say they are?
Tommy devito will love that video
I don't know if someone has asked this, but what should I do to remove old waxes, etc., if I find that the Renomat is too strong?
I had the same, question. (I only want to remove a single thick layer of new Pure Polish I just applied to a pair of brown pebble grain Ferragamo Derbys, and he mentioned that Renomat was the "strongest remover," so I'm now wondering what alternative product, is perhaps better... when there aren't multiple layers, of petroleum based, polish/ es?) Jonasholm suggests using Saphir lotion, in his comment... below yours.
Good day to you Kirby... Hope you are doing great... I recently started watching your channel for shoe care... I must say amazing work... really love it...
I was working on my first shoe as per your guidance... I by accident applied a small layer of dubbin on the toe of the right shoe (then applied the same on the left to balance out)...
Any pointers to what I should do to get that high gloss shine (as you mentioned that applying it on the toe can cause difficulty to get a high gloss shine)...
The Dubbin really requires a lot of time to dry. I would let it sit for a few days before trying to polish.
@@kirbyallison thanks a million...
After all this what would you use on shoes worn daily?
does the mirror gloss have to have a pigment? Or can I get away with buying the clear to be used on different colored shoes? Thanks!!
Ok Kirby you win. I’ll subscribe now.
As edge dressing, would you recommend the Crème Rénovatrice or the Teinture Française?
My brush doesn't sound like yours when you brush, mine seems to be be of soft bristles. Is there a soft ,medium,hard bristle horse hair brush?
thanks for the great video. i cleaned my shoes with the renomat but then it does not respond well to the wet polishing (to get the mirror shine). it gets rough when polishing with water drops and cannot get to shine. Best I can do is shine with dry cloth but cannot get to mirror shine! Any advise?
I have several pairs of exotic shoes, alligator, lizard, ostrich etc. can you give a step by step with the products that should be used.
Steve Priddy We are just about to publish a video on exotics! Stay tuned!!
But the short answer is to use the Saphir Reptan conditioner for the reptiles. Great product. And then if you are looking to add more of a shine, I recommend the Saphir Mirror Gloss wax polish because it has a lower solvent concentration, which is more gentle on exotics.
Any reason Mirror Gloss was not used on these shoes?
Hi Kirby, loving your videos so far. I had a question regarding this video: does the reno mat' also remove some of the petina developed on the shoe because of shoe polish and use over time?
Hi , Kirby I’ve just bought a new paint of Loake Oxfords. Would I need to follow this routine on a new shoe? Thanks.
Why would one complete a deep-clean / restoration / polish without having first removed the laces? Removing the laces would both eliminate the possibility of soiling the laces with product, as well as provide full access to the surfaces covered by the laces plus the tongue of the shoe, to ensure a thorough job. Was it done for the aesthetic of the video, or do most people truly not treat / polish those areas of their shoes?
Is it ok to use the same brush for all the different applications? Don't you risk contaminating each application with the previous application as you are using the same bristles?
Which Rénovateur do you use? One is called Cirage Rénovateur Saphir Médaille d'Or, and there's another one called Cirage Rénovateur Nappa Saphir Médaille d'Or.
Here we are using the standard Saphir Renovateur Medaille d'Or, not the Nappa (which does not contain any waxes and has a whey protein basis).
Kirby, great video(s). Can you recommend a good starter kit to purchase. My shoe collection only consists of shoes costing no more than £100/$150. I do plan on adding more luxurious items as and when I can. Keep up the great work!
I think a nice AE on sale or, better, an older AE model purchased off eBay are great starts...
The Hanger Project sorry to sound silly, but what does AE stand for. Just tried searching on eBay but just basic kits come up
Allen Edmonds, fifth avenues or McAllister’s Are pretty popular
This is great, thank you. Ordering in a paycheck.
Given the time that has passed, what are your thoughts on the Dubbin vs the Mink Oil and why would you use one or the other?
Also, is swapping them out (with whatever charge change is appropriate) be reasonable within the kit?
Good interesting video but very surprised you didn’t remove the shoe 🤐laces? I must remember to put on a nice white shirt next time i deep clean my shoes
Why not apply the sole guard on the heel? Would it not be applicable because it's not leather? Or world it hurt of it was applied? Thinking of mere water protection
Nice video guide! By the way, what tie knot do you use?
I've watched a few of your shoe polishing videos and in all of them at each step you say grab a chamois. How many chamois do you end up using for a pair of shoes? Do you need a different one for each step? For each pair/color? Can you use the same one for basic cleaning steps for all your shoes and then a separate one for each polish color? How do you clean them?
Also, when it comes to the brushes, you usually specifically mention one for black and one for browns. Do you mean 1 for black and 1 for all the other colors? Or do you mean more dark vs light? Where would oxblood, dark chili, dark/medium brown fall in terms of which brush or number of brushes?
I've got two or three chamois. You can use different areas to apply different color polishes and they can be hand-washed with light detergent once they become very soiled.
You only need two brushes. One for dark-colored polishes and one for light-colored brushes. Anything more than two horsehair brushes is totally unnecessary. You could probably even get away with one brush if you were super careful to clean the bristles against a towel after every use (but probably not worth the risk of streaking given the cost and that they last forever).
Is there a time limit to when this process should be repeated to moisturize the leather? Kind of like oil change in a car, if not by miles than at least yearly?
I don’t wear dress shoes often so mine are still gleaming from a shine two years ago but must I strip it all back off to moisturize the leather?
Can you follow this technique on a pair of shell cordovan shoe ? Thank you !
i don't understand the difference between the saphir devon applied at 7:14 and then renovateur at 10:51 considering they are both conditioners...
lullemans72 The Devon is a much greasier conditioner that's not meant to be used every time you clean your shoes. It is to be used with the initial intense liquid cleaner. Also the Devon is used only where the creases form, the wear and tear, to keep that area moisturized longer. And since it is so greasy it cannot be applied in the area of the shoe where you work your patina. The renovatour is just a conditioner you can use weekly or every two days depending on how often you wear your shoes. Rule of thumb, never use the same shoe back to back.
*Debbin...
Two intems means more money for seller
Fantastic video. Two questions...
Would this work on a more large market shoe such as florshiems. And would you apply the same process to an Italian leather briefcase?
Yes and yes!
Mr. Allison, thank you for creating this tutorial. I had a question about conditioning a pair of AE in Walnut. I noticed when I use dubbin on lighter shoes, they get significantly darker. Is there a product you recommend after renomat, that offers deep conditioning without darkening significantly? Again, thank you for all the videos you create!
I have a question why you don’t use another brand so far instead the Saphir?
Because in many countries that brand isn’t available so would be nice if you do some thing with another brand. Thanks
awesome tutorial. Thanks mr Kirby.
Do you use a different horse hair brush for each color of wax ? I wonder if, for example, you used the same brush to buff for each colour, eventually it would affect the colour of your shoes ?
Kirby, have you ever introduced a street shoe shiner to Saphir products? Or had a street shiner use your personal Saphir?
Those shoes look fantastic!
Kirby,m have you tried this method on the Allen Edmonds all weather park avenues? I have a pair and it seems to not want to let the polish absorb. Curious to hear your thoughts on it.
Question for you, Mr. Allison. I have a handcrafted calf leather dress shoes which was originally a walnut color. I had gotten black marks on it so after trying couple times with Ecco leather cleaner, I gave up and left it with one of the shoe repair shops in town. I went back and to my surprise, my shoe had medium brown on it. He told me when he stripped off the mark and gave conditioning, shoe turned into medium brown color and said there's nothing he could do about getting it back to walnut color. Do you think if I follow what you said on this video, do I have a chance to get it back to walnut color?
Where did you get those shoes from? They look lovely!
Hello and thank you so much for such wonderful instructions and advice! i was wondering if you could please comment on the difference between "pate de luxe, beaute de cuir" and the "Saphir Medaille D'or 1925 Pate De Luxe" polishes. thank you! :-)
Different combination of hard and soft waxes in the Medaille d’Or, which is why you get an easier, higher shine than in the Beauty Cuir.
Higher concentration and quality of pigments used in the polish.
Huge difference in the waxes you are using in the Saphir Pommadier MDO vs. SBC. In the Saphir SBC, using an almond oil vs shea butter in the Medaille d’Or. Combined with the combination of the other waxes makes a more nourishing polish with higher quality waxes.
Lower quantity of beeswax in the Medaille d’Or vs. Vegetable Waxes, which produce better nourishing.
Carnoba is like a a veg wax, but more indicated for shine and waterproofing.
Beeswax is the historical #1 wax used in shoe care. Good nourisher. Some waterproofer. Some shine. But not as good as carnoba or mountain (spelling?) wax.
All this work to perfect the outside of the shoe,what can be done to the inside of the shoes?
Great video with alot of good information
If you needed to use recolourant/renovatrice or even juvacuir at which stage would you recommend?
Thanks for a great 101! I have one question though - you didn't apply the leather heel of the shoes with the Saphir Sole Guard. How come?
I don't want to apply it to the heel because it is such a hard leather that doesn't flex that it isn't important. I also don't want anything that could possibly make the heel slick.