There's a reason this 30 min video has 252k views. Engineering analysis is sorely lacking in so many areas of craft and repair content, so I really appreciate it. Even if it's information I personally know, it builds credibility and kept me watching to the end.
I took sandpaper to my black leather boots and all I saw was myself making it worse and I stopped. I have a small gouge in the toe and ended up filling it with with sealant for waders and polishing over it. It didn’t last so here I am. This video is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
I hang out both in the goth subculture and the adult leather community. Well kept doc martens are critical. I just severely scuffed mine today and I could cry. Highly reflective doc martens are both prized in the leather and latex community. but I originally also chose doc martens because I wanted something that could take a beating and be used for work around the house so I guess I should have expected a scratch sooner or later. I just didn't expect it by bumping into a gravestone when I was taking photos in a cemetery.
@@sadpostrayne I just found my doc martens that I used to wear A LOT. They are in pretty bad shape. I used to wear them everywhere and didn't really take care of them. I scuffed them from work, since I had to bend down to pick up heavy boxes sometimes. The damage is around the lower part of the shaft where it crinkles when you squat down. The rubber sole is still surprisingly good, so im trying to find a way to fix the leather. Should've maintained them better. Fingers crossed.
@@rotenhoko Sounds like you have a proper pair of English made Doc Martin's which were better constructed than their modern day counterparts. In the 70's everybody wanted Doc Martin's and they took awhile to wear in! Save them if you can I would say!
Congrats on 5K subscribers! We don't care if you're a "professional" or not. We like hearing you talk about your shoes, and watching you care for them.
Good job,i scuffed my berghaus hillwalkers 2's after two days of wearing them,tripped over a concrete step in the dark..its the reason im here,going to try this technique,thank you
This is why I love RUclips and content creators like you Robert! I found a pair of pretty scuffed black Ferragamo women's loafers at the thrift. Paid a mere $5.99 for them. So there's really no downside to trying your technique to repair them! Also found a pair of vintage Ferragamo boots this summer at the Salvation Army for $3.75 (75% off boots)! No major scuffs but they can definitely use conditioning. Will update if I'm successful. Thanks again...
Good to see…On some small repairs, I’ve used a hot teaspoon and tiny amounts of solid beeswax. Heated it, rubbed it down and repeat if necessary. Once happy, blend the colours and start bulling. Always good to see the results. Years in the military has taught a few things. I’ve got a small scuff on the front of my Loake Chester brogues (tan) and am about to strip back and renovate them. 🤞
Thank You Robert! You explained it very well and showed how to do it wonderfully! I went thru about a dozen videos before I found yours. Had to fix a large scratch in $400 pair of boots! This worked Great. it helped that you explained it in car terms. I totally got it then! (seriously, not being sarcastic in that remark at all. I was raised with 3 brothers LOL) Thanks!
Rob I am the guy who commented about restoring my shoes, actually therebwas deep cracking spots on them, on my $690 Fratelli Rossetti Brera tassel loafers. Let me tell you I followed the steps you did on a previous video and the results were just awesome. If you can give me you email I can send you some pictures of the process and final result so you can share as well. Thanks a lot Im also a ”shoe head” keep up your videos. Salute from Panama City 🇵🇦
Robert Powers yes the results were great, people in the office are even bringing their shoes to me for shines and so on....sure you can show them on a video whenever you want. Once again thanks 🙏
Oh Bob, thank you for this video ! I’ve got my favourite pair of brown leather boots with 2 scuffs just like your clients shoes. I’m over the moon I’ve found you, thank you for your detailed explanation- even to the smallest detail of the sand paper levels... I would have most certainly bought the wrong ones and ruined my boots even more. I’ve subscribed- thank you again! Life saver 👍🏻
Great work Sir. I am from the Philippines and ever since I watched your videos I was encouraged to start my own collection of good quality Dress shoes. I have been watching your Thrift Guide on buying shoes and I can say that I have learned a lot from you. 😊 Thank you so much Cobbler Bob. Godbless you always.
I'm mostly a cowboy boot guy (15+ pairs) but your info applies as well and is much appreciated. Well done sir, keep up the great work and God bless! (New sub BTW!)
Incredible. What outstanding work. Here I am, looking for ideas to remove a gouge on my Irish Setter work boots, and you're restoring a whole polished shoe. Wonderful work!
You’re an artist sir. I’ve bought my first supplies of Saphir and loving it.... Be fascinating to see you do the same on English shoes. I’m a big fan of church’s
Same thing happened to me, had a fresh pair of butta soft timbs and scraped them on the concrete stoop and it feels like they're ruined. Ive sanded them down. But i need a smoother sand paper and maybe use dye to bring back to life, any tips are appreciated! Thanks for this video man, I learned alot, I typed the first part about ten minutes in and im thinking get a 400 grit sand paper and maybe the color will come back once its smooth.
I have to tell you, I stumbled onto this video in searching for a way to repair gouges in a pair of black dress boots (cheap boots but SO comfortable haha). Your video is extremely helpful and you’re quite talented at your craft, thank you for sharing and I’m definitely subscribing.
Also thank you for making it possible to fix shoes and not just throw it away as the culture we live in typically dictates! Love to keep my nice things and just fix what I love not try to find a new pair , your great!
Really great work Robert! It is not easy to take on this kind of project. I have done similar jobs my self and want to give you two tips that have helped me alot with the end result. 1: use even finer sandpaper, I actually tried it with 2000 grid and the spot got even nicer than before, it is also much easier applying both creames and waxes afterwords. 2: when U start to polish with the waxes, start with the pate de lux from saphir and then end with the mirror gloss. It is easier for the leather to take in. :) But overall, great work and congrats to 5k subs! 👏
Looks good. I have tried for minor scratches one of those nail polishing sponges or even on of the two stage double faced files. This was much finer than most sandpaper I had available. From model airplane building I found this method to be extremely great at getting that fine glass like finish.
Congrats on 5,000 Bob! Watching your videos and techniques has encouraged me to try some repairs and restorations I wouldn't have attempted otherwise. For sanding/smoothing I've had great success with the emery boards specifically the foam backed ones. Can get them in a range of "grits" even up to a buffed or polished finish at your local Sally's or other beauty supply shop.
Bob, this is my first pair of shoes. (Very important to me”. Black leather Chelsea boot. Got scuffed. How do I repair this. The boot was scraped against the curb. Thanks for the video. ;)
It all depends... I've got at least 2 other videos on scratch repair. It depends on how deep it is, where it is, and how much material is removed. I'll say this though, the majority of the time, they can be disguised with just polishing! Try coating the area liberally with black paste wax (not cream polish, but the harder paste wax in a tin). Use multiple coats and don't hesitate to try and fill in the scratch. Without seeing it it's hard to say, but I have a video of a buddy's black Florsheims that he ran a hotel door over the toe, and it made a huge cut in the toe cap. Those were too deep to cover with polish, but unlike these shoes, since the cut was so deep and since it was on the top (flat area) of the toe cap, I elected to fill it with acrylic paint. It's one of the 2 videos I'm referencing. The good thing about black is it's EASY to match the color. I wouldn't fill a cut in a brown or walnut shoe with acrylic for example. I hope this helps? feel free to email me at robertpowers1972 at gmail dot com.
The first thing you need for these type of repairs is an OptiVisor, which is a magnifying vision tool with light. That on itself, will make your repairs invisible to the naked eye. Guitar repair shops, weavers, etc. use this tool in their crafts.
Amazing video Bob, God Bless You my man I’m starting a sneaker cleaning and leather care business and I’m learning some from you and your videos. God Bless You mate ! 😀🤝☘️🙏
Got lots of scuffs, scratches and gouges on an old pair of black militarily boots from the 70's. I've probably had them 10 or 12 years and have only worn them 20 times or so to work but they still are not even broke in yet, so stiff. I'd like to get them looking nice again, maybe soften them somehow. Looks like I've got alot of work to do.
On work-boots, yeah i suppose. Its basically an inevitability. Now if we are talking about a pair of $800 Salvatore Ferragamo's or something, i think id prefer mine without character.
Would putting renauvator be better if you applied after sanding the leather? Just thinkingabout 1)moisturise the leather with renauvator 2) apply leather cream to add pigment 3)apply saphir pate de luxe to seal layers 4)use saphir mirror shine to finish.
I’m sure it would help, but to be honest, since it’s on the hard toe cap I wasn’t worried about the leather cracking there (it always seems to crack on the areas that flex). But you’re right, it would be a good idea.
Nice job on fixing/repairing the gouge on this shoe. Looks like you did an excellent job sanding and evening out the leather, coupled with the appropriate mix of shoe polish and wax. I think the finished product looks much, much better than the damaged leather of the shoe prior to your restoration of the leather. I am sure that your work buddy will be really pleased with the results. Also, before I forget congratulations on getting to 5,000 subscribers! I’ve learned a lot watching your videos over the past few years. Always very informative, interesting and with excellent editing of the finished product. Keep up the good work! Ed...
Thank you so much. I just happened to have a variety of sandpaper on hand and thank to this, I was able to remove the huge scuffs from my boots and get them back to a smooth mirror shine, ready for work tomorrow! I also learned the difference between full grain and corrected grain leather! Lol
Lol, didn’t know how strong pressure washers were till I sprayed my boot with it. Big line across my boot now, bright brown that stands out a lot compared to the nice, dark brown my boots have, I’m gonna have to recolor the leather some how
Wow! Easiest way is with cream (not paste) shoe polish. You can use a color darker than the leather. Hopefuylly that does it. Either that or hose off the rest?? LOL. Re-dying would be a last resort, but you could dye the whole boot(s) a darker shade rather than trying to get the light area to match?
Hello Bob, Great video and very bold to take this project on for your colleague ;-) One question I keep asking myself: why didn't he take the finish of the toe completely off??
Ed Rollpret - I could have, but I guess I just didn’t think it was necessary. It would have probably been better to do so though, as you noticed, at first I started clogging the sandpaper with wax.
Great job! What would really help is if you would show and name the products you use. I have no idea what was in that metal can you were using while sanding? Then what else did you use? Please be more informative. Thanks
Are you talking about at 17:00? It’s Acetone. I did show the label (you could pause the video) and I did also say that it was Acetone. Sorry if it wasn’t clear.
Thank you so much for this very useful vid! Just two questions, how long should I wait between each polish coat and then wax at the end? And if the scuff goes over stitching, should I bother sanding down or just go straight to polish and wax?
You’re welcome! Great questions, but they’re kind of difficult to answer because it’s so subjective, depending on your shoes. The drier the air is, the less time you have to wait between coats. I’ll probably only leave at 5 - 10 mins between coats. If subsequent coats feel gummy/sticky, give it more time. As far as scuffs going over stitching, I would definitely avoid sanding a stitch. Only sand as a last resort. If the scuff actually didn’t remove a significant amount of leather, you can often repair it with polish only. You’ll see in my other videos lots of examples of this.
hi.. today i have sanded one boots. Tried to use Saphir color creme but the color did not fits well. Then I use Saphir neutral creme followed by hard wax. Do comments on the results for improvements. Thanks
My apologies for missing your comment! Getting the color right on mid brown or tan shoes is defitely the toughest part. I assume you're coloring with cream polish? Don't be afraid to mix a tan or light brown cream polish with another color like black to change it. Just err on the side of too light, as it's easier to darken leather than to strip off cream polish and start over. The cream polish does penetrate the surface to some degree, which is why I use it to re-color the leather afterwards. This is why I always warn people to test or try these things on cheaper shoes first before attacking your treasured or expensive shoes for the first time. I hope that helps?
Do you have any experience repairing (filling in) scuffs/gauges/cuts in shell cordovan? Supposedly you can use a wax crayon and the back of a spoon. Perhaps you can do a video of that one day....
Jack Toews - no, I don’t have any experience! I’ve handled and shined up probably 4 pairs of Shell Cordovan shoes, and none of them have had any cuts or scratches that couldn’t just be polished over.
Hiya Mr. Im Mike I came across a great video of yours and you have great tips! Any idea what kind of products i can use to do this but for a black gripfast steel toe?
Dinks DeLarge77 - I just looked it up... is Gripfast the brand? I have found black shoes to be easy to touch up. You could sand them like I did and re-dye the sanded area with even Kiwi edge dressing (it’s just black alcohol based dye). You could use black acrylic paint from Walmart too which would fill in and cover the scratch.
@@dinksdelarge7790 - it depends... the main disadvantage to sanding down a scratch is the leather gets thinner. If you sand it a second time and sand through... you may ruin a pair of shoes! This is exactly why I learn (practice) on shoes that were thrifted, or are friend's shoes that they got cheap and they are not willing to pay a pro to fix. In other words, all of my early repairs were/are "everything to gain, nothing to loose" scenarios.
@@CobblerBob Thanks alot for the tips! Im thinking im going to wear them for a while longer with the scratch so i can learn how to prevent from scratching them more. And then i will fix it once i get the hang of wearing them in ( i scratched on 2nd day of breaking them in)
Jon Walker I’m only 19 and these have been pretty useful since leather soled shoes are good for something like tango (not to mention that Allen Edmonds look nice imo) and it convinced me to look at a local thirft store and I found myself some Auburns
@@walkermorales337 19 tango hoo ha tango try twisting in them.none of you lot just go into a shop and buy a pair of brand new pair of Brouges,Shoes not salvation army or ebay sweaty halitosis diseased shoes dirty mingers get spruced up in top hat and tails in your tramp shoes and go for a slap up in dennys....nuggets
I misheard what you said @24:50 and thought you said 'unless you're a turtle your face is never going to be that close to the shoe' and now it's my new saying when cleaning my personal boots lol
Thank you! 👊🏼 It’s “Straight Out Cold” by Noir Et Blanc Vie”. Almost all of my music is from RUclips free audio library because if you use anything else toy rub into copyright problems.
I prefer to condition the leather first (my favorite nowadays is Pure Polish Products Cleaner Conditioner) then polish the shoes with cream polish after. I make sure to leave the shoes sit for at least an hour after applying the Cleaner Conditioner (per the directions), before brushing to allow the product to get into the leather.
Thanks for this post, Robert! I saw in your background a checkerboard-nose P-51 with black and yellow; could that possibly be the P-51 named "Baby-Duck"?
Any ideas on distressed leather boots? They are new and full grain leather but I don’t like the spots that are lighter and look like they’ve peeled (bed Stu distressed leather boots)
Using one of these 13 in a dozen nail polishing files (with 6 different grains) will have the leather almost shining before even the first treatment with any oil or cream.
I wouldn't see why not. The one I would be careful of is corrected grain leather, aka bookbinder leather or PU leather. It's coated with a polymer that would probably make a sanding repair not feasable. BTW I apologize for missing your comment!!
I have a pair of Brown Learher Timberland Brogue Boots and they have a few scuffs on them can you tell me what I could use on them to get them out. I hope you can help me thanks.
It all depends on the material and how severe the scuffs are. I’m not up to speed on Timberlands, but first try shoe polish. If that doesn’t do it, then you might want to take them to a cobbler, or if you’re brave try the technique I’ve documented here. Be careful though, do not make your first attempt at repairing a bad scratch a $200 or $300 pair of boots. Practice on some shoes you can throw away if you mess up.
Ok thanks. They are not really that deep. I’m gonna try to find a cobbler cause They were like $300 a pair. The leather is really nice leather they used. Thanks for the replying back
is there any reason you didn't use the saphir renovating repair cream? that would have permanently filled in the scuffed area, after which you could have polished on top of it.
lullemans72 - i’ve never used it, and therefore maybe I am wrong, but I have read the directions for it. The directions say it will fill small scratches. Not to split hairs, but I would not call this a scuff, it’s a major gouge into the leather. I find it hard to believe that a cream from a tube will fill a large area like this, dry, and have any decent tensile strength. Have you personally used the it to fill a large deep area like this?
i wonder if after sanding and adding a dye to match the color if burnishing the leather with something like Tokonole would help seal and provide a smooth surface.
The problem with that is it will not allow Leather to breathe. Check out a recent video I posted with Andy Vaughn from pure polish products, he talks about that specifically.
The big surprise here, for me at least, was the use of the black wax. It's a matter of experience, I guess - I would never dare do that to a brown shoe myself.
Have you ever tried sealing the leather with something like a satin clearcoat? just wondering if that would work on my black Lucchese hand made roper boots?Thanks, BTW great video!
@@CobblerBob I was wondering about leather studio acrylic leather repair. There is one video that uses it and it looks pretty good. The video is robert powers repairing a pair of black florsheim shoes with a scuff and door cut. Looks pretty good, I thought it might help you out. Good videos and repairs you do,interesting.
D K - just to make sure we are on the same page, you’re saying it is natural colored leather? In other words very very light tan leather? If that’s the case, maybe just a neutral polish?
A pair like this brown full grain leather pair of shoes I would NOT paint. You’ll never get the color to match. You CAN also dye a repaired area. When I do that, I typically would make the entire toe darker, blending it back into the rest of the shoe. I did a repair on a black pair of shoes. I have found that black is black. I mean, there aren’t really different shades of black. I did a repair that was filling a large scratch, I filled it with black acrylic paint.
Steve, sorry for missing your comment! It's not dependent on the style of shoe, but on the quality of the leather. I would not try the sanding down method on corrected grain aka bookbinder aka PU leather aka genuine leather bc it has a polymer coating on it that you'll sand through.
messylaura - I have kids now instead of a hot rod, LOL, but I used to be big into Oldsmobiles. The nicest one I had was a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with a 1968 455 bored 0.030” over, Keith Black hypereutectic pistons, ported C code heads, Edelbrock Torker intake, 850CFM Quadrajet, in-tank electric fuel pump, custom home built headers, 2004R overdrive transmission with a 10.5” 3,000 stall lockup converter, 3.73 gears. It went 12.39 seconds in the quarter mile @ 110MPH on 235/60/R15 drag radials. Unfortunately in 2004 it got stolen! 😭
The only leather I would not try this with is corrected grain leather aka bookbinder, PU leather, or genuine leather. It's coated with a polymer coating that you'll sand thruogh.
I find blues and tans the hardest colors to match with leather paints. Just about any other color I can get to match with 3 colors. If I need more than 3 colors, one or more of the 3 colors is wrong.
![Jack Harlow - Hello Miss Johnson [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Q86_nlRoIGw/mqdefault.jpg)
The value of this man's shoe maintenance and repair products is worth more than what he spent on his entire shoe collection and I respect that lol
(Actual repair starts at 12:40) Good info. Thanks for sharing.
Saved me a year thanks
Thank you!!!
Too much bla bla bla
There's a reason this 30 min video has 252k views. Engineering analysis is sorely lacking in so many areas of craft and repair content, so I really appreciate it. Even if it's information I personally know, it builds credibility and kept me watching to the end.
Bob, personally, I like your enthusiasm and your down to earth style. Keep up the good work.
👊🏼 thank you!
I took sandpaper to my black leather boots and all I saw was myself making it worse and I stopped. I have a small gouge in the toe and ended up filling it with with sealant for waders and polishing over it. It didn’t last so here I am.
This video is exactly what I needed. Thanks!
When you’re too attached to your Docs to get new ones (too broke for new ones anyway lmao)
I hang out both in the goth subculture and the adult leather community. Well kept doc martens are critical. I just severely scuffed mine today and I could cry. Highly reflective doc martens are both prized in the leather and latex community. but I originally also chose doc martens because I wanted something that could take a beating and be used for work around the house so I guess I should have expected a scratch sooner or later. I just didn't expect it by bumping into a gravestone when I was taking photos in a cemetery.
@@sadpostrayne I just found my doc martens that I used to wear A LOT. They are in pretty bad shape. I used to wear them everywhere and didn't really take care of them. I scuffed them from work, since I had to bend down to pick up heavy boxes sometimes. The damage is around the lower part of the shaft where it crinkles when you squat down. The rubber sole is still surprisingly good, so im trying to find a way to fix the leather. Should've maintained them better. Fingers crossed.
@@rotenhoko Sounds like you have a proper pair of English made Doc Martin's which were better constructed than their modern day counterparts. In the 70's everybody wanted Doc Martin's and they took awhile to wear in! Save them if you can I would say!
Thats why I am here.
Lol. I know the feeling but love my Fg boots.
Congrats on 5K subscribers! We don't care if you're a "professional" or not. We like hearing you talk about your shoes, and watching you care for them.
Good job,i scuffed my berghaus hillwalkers 2's after two days of wearing them,tripped over a concrete step in the dark..its the reason im here,going to try this technique,thank you
Nothing to lose bybtrying, except having to wear wounded leather.
« He’ll probably buy me chipotle if I do a good job ». I love that 😂
This is why I love RUclips and content creators like you Robert! I found a pair of pretty scuffed black Ferragamo women's loafers at the thrift. Paid a mere $5.99 for them. So there's really no downside to trying your technique to repair them! Also found a pair of vintage Ferragamo boots this summer at the Salvation Army for $3.75 (75% off boots)! No major scuffs but they can definitely use conditioning. Will update if I'm successful. Thanks again...
Good to see…On some small repairs, I’ve used a hot teaspoon and tiny amounts of solid beeswax. Heated it, rubbed it down and repeat if necessary. Once happy, blend the colours and start bulling. Always good to see the results.
Years in the military has taught a few things.
I’ve got a small scuff on the front of my Loake Chester brogues (tan) and am about to strip back and renovate them. 🤞
Thank You Robert! You explained it very well and showed how to do it wonderfully! I went thru about a dozen videos before I found yours. Had to fix a large scratch in $400 pair of boots! This worked Great. it helped that you explained it in car terms. I totally got it then! (seriously, not being sarcastic in that remark at all. I was raised with 3 brothers LOL) Thanks!
Rob I am the guy who commented about restoring my shoes, actually therebwas deep cracking spots on them, on my $690 Fratelli Rossetti Brera tassel loafers. Let me tell you I followed the steps you did on a previous video and the results were just awesome. If you can give me you email I can send you some pictures of the process and final result so you can share as well. Thanks a lot Im also a ”shoe head” keep up your videos. Salute from Panama City 🇵🇦
Gian Famiglietti - LOL I’m so relieved!! I just saw the pictures, and they’re fantastic! Maybe I could show them on a future video?
Robert Powers yes the results were great, people in the office are even bringing their shoes to me for shines and so on....sure you can show them on a video whenever you want. Once again thanks 🙏
Oh Bob, thank you for this video ! I’ve got my favourite pair of brown leather boots with 2 scuffs just like your clients shoes. I’m over the moon I’ve found you, thank you for your detailed explanation- even to the smallest detail of the sand paper levels... I would have most certainly bought the wrong ones and ruined my boots even more. I’ve subscribed- thank you again! Life saver 👍🏻
B macklen 👊🏼
What school did Plato attend? Yet today universities and scholars infer mainly from Plato’s writings. So, by definition, you are a PRO
Great work Sir. I am from the Philippines and ever since I watched your videos I was encouraged to start my own collection of good quality Dress shoes. I have been watching your Thrift Guide on buying shoes and I can say that I have learned a lot from you. 😊 Thank you so much Cobbler Bob. Godbless you always.
Lawrence Anthony Marcaida you’re welcome! Thank you for your kind words!
Robert Powers this is therapeutic, almost like ASMR. Lovely to watch and listen to you. It’s ART.
I'm mostly a cowboy boot guy (15+ pairs) but your info applies as well and is much appreciated. Well done sir, keep up the great work and God bless! (New sub BTW!)
Thank you!!
Incredible. What outstanding work. Here I am, looking for ideas to remove a gouge on my Irish Setter work boots, and you're restoring a whole polished shoe. Wonderful work!
THANK YOU!!
Just gouged my 1980s combat boot toe that I use for reenacting. Plan to try this. It's black leather so I hope it'll be easier.
Black is easier from the color match standpoint! Good luck, and be cautious not to sand off too much. Go slow.
@@CobblerBob Thanks! I'm scared that I'll sand through to the steel toe.
You may not be a professional but I think the job on those shoes is better than a lot of professionals could do!
Thank you!!
You’re an artist sir. I’ve bought my first supplies of Saphir and loving it....
Be fascinating to see you do the same on English shoes. I’m a big fan of church’s
Same thing happened to me, had a fresh pair of butta soft timbs and scraped them on the concrete stoop and it feels like they're ruined. Ive sanded them down. But i need a smoother sand paper and maybe use dye to bring back to life, any tips are appreciated! Thanks for this video man, I learned alot, I typed the first part about ten minutes in and im thinking get a 400 grit sand paper and maybe the color will come back once its smooth.
I really love the fact you didn't do the second small crack. Nice job. Follower
thank you!
I have to tell you, I stumbled onto this video in searching for a way to repair gouges in a pair of black dress boots (cheap boots but SO comfortable haha).
Your video is extremely helpful and you’re quite talented at your craft, thank you for sharing and I’m definitely subscribing.
Thank you! I do have another video on repairing a cut on the toe cap of a pair of Florsheim monk straps. That one I fix with acrylic paint.
Also thank you for making it possible to fix shoes and not just throw it away as the culture we live in typically dictates! Love to keep my nice things and just fix what I love not try to find a new pair , your great!
You're so welcome!
If you did some jordan 11 concord you'd be a hero among millions. Loved the video. Cheers. Very useful knowledge.
🤔 I’ve watched some guys restore old Air Jordans… I’m pretty clueless about them, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t learn!
Shoe make up artistry.
Good job.
Not clear on whether 600 paper was used or not.
Really great work Robert! It is not easy to take on this kind of project. I have done similar jobs my self and want to give you two tips that have helped me alot with the end result. 1: use even finer sandpaper, I actually tried it with 2000 grid and the spot got even nicer than before, it is also much easier applying both creames and waxes afterwords. 2: when U start to polish with the waxes, start with the pate de lux from saphir and then end with the mirror gloss. It is easier for the leather to take in. :) But overall, great work and congrats to 5k subs! 👏
Very great content, first time finishing a 30 minute video in youtube.
LOL, I’ll take that as a definite compliment! My videos do tend to be longer and more detailed.
Not bad at all Robert. You sir, are an inspiration and as such I’ve ordered my shoe care products to begin this stage of my journey
Looks good. I have tried for minor scratches one of those nail polishing sponges or even on of the two stage double faced files. This was much finer than most sandpaper I had available. From model airplane building I found this method to be extremely great at getting that fine glass like finish.
I've often wondered what steps were necessary to smooth out this type of shoe injury. Thanks.
Congrats on 5,000 Bob! Watching your videos and techniques has encouraged me to try some repairs and restorations I wouldn't have attempted otherwise. For sanding/smoothing I've had great success with the emery boards specifically the foam backed ones. Can get them in a range of "grits" even up to a buffed or polished finish at your local Sally's or other beauty supply shop.
Mike McCoy - thank you! And, good idea!
Bob, this is my first pair of shoes. (Very important to me”. Black leather Chelsea boot. Got scuffed. How do I repair this. The boot was scraped against the curb. Thanks for the video. ;)
It all depends... I've got at least 2 other videos on scratch repair. It depends on how deep it is, where it is, and how much material is removed. I'll say this though, the majority of the time, they can be disguised with just polishing! Try coating the area liberally with black paste wax (not cream polish, but the harder paste wax in a tin). Use multiple coats and don't hesitate to try and fill in the scratch. Without seeing it it's hard to say, but I have a video of a buddy's black Florsheims that he ran a hotel door over the toe, and it made a huge cut in the toe cap. Those were too deep to cover with polish, but unlike these shoes, since the cut was so deep and since it was on the top (flat area) of the toe cap, I elected to fill it with acrylic paint. It's one of the 2 videos I'm referencing. The good thing about black is it's EASY to match the color. I wouldn't fill a cut in a brown or walnut shoe with acrylic for example. I hope this helps? feel free to email me at robertpowers1972 at gmail dot com.
Robert you did a really good job on that shoe.
Thank you!
The first thing you need for these type of repairs is an OptiVisor, which is a magnifying vision tool with light. That on itself, will make your repairs invisible to the naked eye. Guitar repair shops, weavers, etc. use this tool in their crafts.
Well done Robert awesome job, you are a good friend, the owner of those shoes should be really happy with the results
Bernardo Pena And should buy you more than Chipotle. 😁
Amazing video Bob, God Bless You my man I’m starting a sneaker cleaning and leather care business and I’m learning some from you and your videos. God Bless You mate ! 😀🤝☘️🙏
Got lots of scuffs, scratches and gouges on an old pair of black militarily boots from the 70's. I've probably had them 10 or 12 years and have only worn them 20 times or so to work but they still are not even broke in yet, so stiff. I'd like to get them looking nice again, maybe soften them somehow. Looks like I've got alot of work to do.
A little imperfection adds some character. Buff it out and let those imperfections shine. Lol
On work-boots, yeah i suppose. Its basically an inevitability.
Now if we are talking about a pair of $800 Salvatore Ferragamo's or something, i think id prefer mine without character.
Would putting renauvator be better if you applied after sanding the leather? Just thinkingabout 1)moisturise the leather with renauvator 2) apply leather cream to add pigment 3)apply saphir pate de luxe to seal layers 4)use saphir mirror shine to finish.
Amazing results regardless though- it looks great and unnoticeable!!
I’m sure it would help, but to be honest, since it’s on the hard toe cap I wasn’t worried about the leather cracking there (it always seems to crack on the areas that flex). But you’re right, it would be a good idea.
You polish very fast...
can you dodge bullets too, like on the Matrix?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
😆
you’re so nice and your videos are really easy to understand. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and skills
Emilie Lwtn 👊🏼😎
I did this on my heels and I’m so grateful! Thanks!
First off, excellent video, and congrats on 16K subs! I hope to get there eventually.
Thank you! I like the font you've been using on your more recent video thumbnails BTW.
Thanks for the lesson sir, this is a really good video ! Saving tons of expensive shoes for others😄
Nice job on fixing/repairing the gouge on this shoe. Looks like you did an excellent job sanding and evening out the leather, coupled with the appropriate mix of shoe polish and wax. I think the finished product looks much, much better than the damaged leather of the shoe prior to your restoration of the leather. I am sure that your work buddy will be really pleased with the results. Also, before I forget congratulations on getting to 5,000 subscribers! I’ve learned a lot watching your videos over the past few years. Always very informative, interesting and with excellent editing of the finished product. Keep up the good work! Ed...
Thanks again E’d F!
Thank you so much.
I just happened to have a variety of sandpaper on hand and thank to this, I was able to remove the huge scuffs from my boots and get them back to a smooth mirror shine, ready for work tomorrow!
I also learned the difference between full grain and corrected grain leather! Lol
I love hearing when this stuff helps! 👊🏼
Robert where can I get these supplies to do this? Awesome work!
I get a lot of my supplies from eBay! Check out the seller "Nordshoe". For polishes, www.PurePolishProducts.com is my favorite brand.
Thank you for the great tutorial Cobbler Bob! 👞
My pleasure!
Lol, didn’t know how strong pressure washers were till I sprayed my boot with it. Big line across my boot now, bright brown that stands out a lot compared to the nice, dark brown my boots have, I’m gonna have to recolor the leather some how
Wow! Easiest way is with cream (not paste) shoe polish. You can use a color darker than the leather. Hopefuylly that does it. Either that or hose off the rest?? LOL. Re-dying would be a last resort, but you could dye the whole boot(s) a darker shade rather than trying to get the light area to match?
@@CobblerBob nah, I ain’t messing the rest of it up, I don’t like that bright brown color, I’m gonna have to buy some of that coloring paste stuff
Congrats on the 5k legend, thankyou for the fantastic vids.
👊🏼
Hello Bob, Great video and very bold to take this project on for your colleague ;-) One question I keep asking myself: why didn't he take the finish of the toe completely off??
Ed Rollpret - I could have, but I guess I just didn’t think it was necessary. It would have probably been better to do so though, as you noticed, at first I started clogging the sandpaper with wax.
Nice job! Im gonna try this on my pair of old Docs! Thank you a lot!!
Great job! What would really help is if you would show and name the products you use. I have no idea what was in that metal can you were using while sanding? Then what else did you use? Please be more informative. Thanks
Are you talking about at 17:00? It’s Acetone. I did show the label (you could pause the video) and I did also say that it was Acetone. Sorry if it wasn’t clear.
Congratulations on 5K Robert!
🙏🏼 thank you!
Congratulations on reaching 5000 Bob!
Thank you so much for this very useful vid!
Just two questions, how long should I wait between each polish coat and then wax at the end?
And if the scuff goes over stitching, should I bother sanding down or just go straight to polish and wax?
You’re welcome! Great questions, but they’re kind of difficult to answer because it’s so subjective, depending on your shoes. The drier the air is, the less time you have to wait between coats. I’ll probably only leave at 5 - 10 mins between coats. If subsequent coats feel gummy/sticky, give it more time.
As far as scuffs going over stitching, I would definitely avoid sanding a stitch. Only sand as a last resort. If the scuff actually didn’t remove a significant amount of leather, you can often repair it with polish only. You’ll see in my other videos lots of examples of this.
I wonder if leather upholstery/car upholstery methods might work on certain repairs too?
There are many different ways to repair leather, this is just one. There are also fillers, so yes…
hi.. today i have sanded one boots. Tried to use Saphir color creme but the color did not fits well. Then I use Saphir neutral creme followed by hard wax. Do comments on the results for improvements. Thanks
My apologies for missing your comment! Getting the color right on mid brown or tan shoes is defitely the toughest part. I assume you're coloring with cream polish? Don't be afraid to mix a tan or light brown cream polish with another color like black to change it. Just err on the side of too light, as it's easier to darken leather than to strip off cream polish and start over. The cream polish does penetrate the surface to some degree, which is why I use it to re-color the leather afterwards. This is why I always warn people to test or try these things on cheaper shoes first before attacking your treasured or expensive shoes for the first time. I hope that helps?
Do you have any experience repairing (filling in) scuffs/gauges/cuts in shell cordovan? Supposedly you can use a wax crayon and the back of a spoon. Perhaps you can do a video of that one day....
Jack Toews - no, I don’t have any experience! I’ve handled and shined up probably 4 pairs of Shell Cordovan shoes, and none of them have had any cuts or scratches that couldn’t just be polished over.
Theres a ghost moving around at 2:22 behind you.
LOL I think it's a fly
Channels like this are neat
Hiya Mr.
Im Mike
I came across a great video of yours and you have great tips!
Any idea what kind of products i can use to do this but for a black gripfast steel toe?
Dinks DeLarge77 - I just looked it up... is Gripfast the brand? I have found black shoes to be easy to touch up. You could sand them like I did and re-dye the sanded area with even Kiwi edge dressing (it’s just black alcohol based dye). You could use black acrylic paint from Walmart too which would fill in and cover the scratch.
@@CobblerBob
Thanks alot Sir!
Can this method be repeated over again?
Lets say i scratch it again after curing it
@@dinksdelarge7790 - it depends... the main disadvantage to sanding down a scratch is the leather gets thinner. If you sand it a second time and sand through... you may ruin a pair of shoes! This is exactly why I learn (practice) on shoes that were thrifted, or are friend's shoes that they got cheap and they are not willing to pay a pro to fix. In other words, all of my early repairs were/are "everything to gain, nothing to loose" scenarios.
@@CobblerBob
Thanks alot for the tips!
Im thinking im going to wear them for a while longer with the scratch so i can learn how to prevent from scratching them more. And then i will fix it once i get the hang of wearing them in ( i scratched on 2nd day of breaking them in)
Awesome job, Bob. 👍 Glad I found your vid.
Thank you!
RUclips influencer for middle aged men who wear Allen Edmonds and Brooks Brothers!!!
Jon Walker I’m only 19 and these have been pretty useful since leather soled shoes are good for something like tango (not to mention that Allen Edmonds look nice imo) and it convinced me to look at a local thirft store and I found myself some Auburns
@@walkermorales337 19 tango hoo ha tango try twisting in them.none of you lot just go into a shop and buy a pair of brand new pair of Brouges,Shoes not salvation army or ebay sweaty halitosis diseased shoes dirty mingers get spruced up in top hat and tails in your tramp shoes and go for a slap up in dennys....nuggets
This is ART.
I misheard what you said @24:50 and thought you said 'unless you're a turtle your face is never going to be that close to the shoe' and now it's my new saying when cleaning my personal boots lol
Great job on the shoes. Dope outro music. Who did the track?
Thank you! 👊🏼 It’s “Straight Out Cold” by Noir Et Blanc Vie”. Almost all of my music is from RUclips free audio library because if you use anything else toy rub into copyright problems.
Im new to the boot game. Question: do you put cream before or after the conditioner? I've seen both ways.
I prefer to condition the leather first (my favorite nowadays is Pure Polish Products Cleaner Conditioner) then polish the shoes with cream polish after. I make sure to leave the shoes sit for at least an hour after applying the Cleaner Conditioner (per the directions), before brushing to allow the product to get into the leather.
Great video subbed
Thank you!
Thanks for this post, Robert! I saw in your background a checkerboard-nose P-51 with black and yellow; could that possibly be the P-51 named "Baby-Duck"?
LOL, it’s interesting what people notice! I actually had to walk over and check, she’s named “Kimberly Kaye”.
Good info here. Awesome work
hey Bob, why do you use the aceton? what is the purpose of aceton on the scuffing?
Zzakii18 - to remove the old polish around the repair area. If you notice in the video, the sandpaper starts to get gummed up with the polish.
@@CobblerBob okay, I get it now. Thanks alot for the response Bob :)
Any ideas on distressed leather boots? They are new and full grain leather but I don’t like the spots that are lighter and look like they’ve peeled (bed Stu distressed leather boots)
Gracie, sorry for missing your comment! Unfortunately, without seeing it, it's hard for me to say...
YOU'RE AWESOME. THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR WISDOM!
🙏🏼 Thank you!!
Using one of these 13 in a dozen nail polishing files (with 6 different grains) will have the leather almost shining before even the first treatment with any oil or cream.
...i was wondering if that would work. Havent tried it yet but might pick.up a set!
Great job, enjoying your youtube video's.👍🇬🇧
When you use leather dye, do you ever use an Acrylic Finisher? Fiebings has them, I‘ve used them on handbags, but so far never on shoes.
Friederike F - no, I haven’t. I have used acrylic paint on a couple pairs of black corrected grain leather shoes repairing cuts before though.
Robert Powers thank you! Did you use the acrylic paint to smoothen the area?
Can you do this with chrome tan leather that doesn't have an inherent colour. Cheers
I wouldn't see why not. The one I would be careful of is corrected grain leather, aka bookbinder leather or PU leather. It's coated with a polymer that would probably make a sanding repair not feasable. BTW I apologize for missing your comment!!
Excellent job
THANK you!!
I have a pair of Brown Learher Timberland Brogue Boots and they have a few scuffs on them can you tell me what I could use on them to get them out. I hope you can help me thanks.
It all depends on the material and how severe the scuffs are. I’m not up to speed on Timberlands, but first try shoe polish. If that doesn’t do it, then you might want to take them to a cobbler, or if you’re brave try the technique I’ve documented here. Be careful though, do not make your first attempt at repairing a bad scratch a $200 or $300 pair of boots. Practice on some shoes you can throw away if you mess up.
Ok thanks. They are not really that deep. I’m gonna try to find a cobbler cause They were like $300 a pair. The leather is really nice leather they used. Thanks for the replying back
So many polish and max...waaaa better but a new shoe☺️
is there any reason you didn't use the saphir renovating repair cream? that would have permanently filled in the scuffed area, after which you could have polished on top of it.
lullemans72 - i’ve never used it, and therefore maybe I am wrong, but I have read the directions for it. The directions say it will fill small scratches. Not to split hairs, but I would not call this a scuff, it’s a major gouge into the leather. I find it hard to believe that a cream from a tube will fill a large area like this, dry, and have any decent tensile strength. Have you personally used the it to fill a large deep area like this?
Incredible job, really impressive work!
Thank you!!
i wonder if after sanding and adding a dye to match the color if burnishing the leather with something like Tokonole would help seal and provide a smooth surface.
YES. I’ve burnished the repair on a few jobs since. Good call 👊🏼
Great repair, you cant even tell.
Love watching your videos-definitely subscribed
👊🏼
I wonder if they sell a sealant that is stronger than wax and permanent. Like what the manufacturers use.
The problem with that is it will not allow Leather to breathe. Check out a recent video I posted with Andy Vaughn from pure polish products, he talks about that specifically.
The big surprise here, for me at least, was the use of the black wax. It's a matter of experience, I guess - I would never dare do that to a brown shoe myself.
Could isopropyl alcohol work instead of acetone?
Yes. Try it first, as alcohol is not as strong as acetone.
Have you ever tried sealing the leather with something like a satin clearcoat? just wondering if that would work on my black Lucchese hand made roper boots?Thanks, BTW great video!
mike makuch thank you! Clear coat? Like paint? No, I’ve never heard of that.
@@CobblerBob I was wondering about leather studio acrylic leather repair. There is one video that uses it and it looks pretty good. The video is robert powers repairing a pair of black florsheim shoes with a scuff and door cut. Looks pretty good, I thought it might help you out. Good videos and repairs you do,interesting.
I have some boots that are not shine finished... how would I finish those off to match the natural (soft? not suede) finish around a scuff?
D K - just to make sure we are on the same page, you’re saying it is natural colored leather? In other words very very light tan leather? If that’s the case, maybe just a neutral polish?
Great job
Wait so can you paint them with leather paint or do you have to Polish them
A pair like this brown full grain leather pair of shoes I would NOT paint. You’ll never get the color to match. You CAN also dye a repaired area. When I do that, I typically would make the entire toe darker, blending it back into the rest of the shoe. I did a repair on a black pair of shoes. I have found that black is black. I mean, there aren’t really different shades of black. I did a repair that was filling a large scratch, I filled it with black acrylic paint.
Should this work for loafers? I don't know if it's real leather.
Steve, sorry for missing your comment! It's not dependent on the style of shoe, but on the quality of the leather. I would not try the sanding down method on corrected grain aka bookbinder aka PU leather aka genuine leather bc it has a polymer coating on it that you'll sand through.
great vid, out of intreast what car are you working on?is it something you are restoring or you daily driver
messylaura - I have kids now instead of a hot rod, LOL, but I used to be big into Oldsmobiles. The nicest one I had was a 1986 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme with a 1968 455 bored 0.030” over, Keith Black hypereutectic pistons, ported C code heads, Edelbrock Torker intake, 850CFM Quadrajet, in-tank electric fuel pump, custom home built headers, 2004R overdrive transmission with a 10.5” 3,000 stall lockup converter, 3.73 gears. It went 12.39 seconds in the quarter mile @ 110MPH on 235/60/R15 drag radials. Unfortunately in 2004 it got stolen! 😭
Will this work on a combat boot with safety toes?
The only leather I would not try this with is corrected grain leather aka bookbinder, PU leather, or genuine leather. It's coated with a polymer coating that you'll sand thruogh.
Concision. Editing. Please!
I’m not sure what concision is, I’ll have to look that up, but I’m getting better and better every day in every way, or at least that’s my goal.
I find blues and tans the hardest colors to match with leather paints. Just about any other color I can get to match with 3 colors. If I need more than 3 colors, one or more of the 3 colors is wrong.
Excellent video. Will definitely be thrifting to try some of these techniques. Subbed
Randy C thank you!
Sweet job man