[rsagona1]

I've used a whole tin can of Kiwi. Apparently there is a technique I'm not getting.

According to the 50 other people in my class, apparently it's supposed to look like glass at the TIP ONLY. So you're supposed to be able to see where it's shined and not shined.

I apply the polish heavily, wait fifteen minutes, and buff off with a t shirt.

No avail! I did pushups for it today

So then I tried a brush. All that did was make the boot look worn out!

Help me please!


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[CJStudent]

Add water (or a little spit; hence "spit-shined") to the polish as you're polishing it. Lots of little circles with the cloth. It takes time. You don't just "buff it off".

A good video on how this works:

How to Polish Your Boots - YouTube

How to Polish Your Boots - YouTube

[CanIhaveGasCash]

FYou need to apply the polish in small amounts while rubbing in circles, prior to buffing.

If you just lather on a bunch of polish, you won't get the desired effect.

Edit: saw a video was already posted

[RyanNREMTP]

Yep, use water.

Watch the video.

[Cav]

#1 Get leather boots, not nylon.

#2 Get Kiwi Parade Gloss or Lincoln stain wax in black.

#3 Set the can on fire, then drop the lid and put it out.

#4 Use a old cotten shirt, and just put a small amount of soft polish on the tip, and rub it in.

#5 Wait 3 min, not 2 min, not 4 min, but 3 min.

#6 Put a dap of water on the shirt and start to polish the area with polish on it, keep the circles small and light presure.

#7 Do this a few times, to build a base.

#8 Expand the area.

#9 Use a drop of rubbing alcohol with some polish on your final polish, then do a light buff and repeat the drop of alcohol with polish.

Or if that does not work, join the Military and they will teach you right.

[blueiron]

Did you strip the boots of their original finish?

[rsagona1]

I've actually done those exact steps. I must be doing something right since all the pores are indeed solid (you can see in the image below the difference). Does that glass shine that the person in the video has just come after time? I've done this for close to three hours.

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[rsagona1]

Originally Posted by Cav

#1 Get leather boots, not nylon.

#2 Get Kiwi Parade Gloss or Lincoln stain wax in black.

#3 Set the can on fire, then drop the lid and put it out.

#4 Use a old cotten shirt, and just put a small amount of soft polish on the tip, and rub it in.

#5 Wait 3 min, not 2 min, not 4 min, but 3 min.

#6 Put a dap of water on the shirt and start to polish the area with polish on it, keep the circles small and light presure.

#7 Do this a few times, to build a base.

#8 Expand the area.

#9 Use a drop of rubbing alcohol with some polish on your final polish, then do a light buff and repeat the drop of alcohol with polish.

Or if that does not work, join the Military and they will teach you right.

Didn't see this post. Thanks.


FYI: these are leather boots issued by the dept. cannot change.


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[razdog76]

Always Kiwi parade gloss, and a buffing brush.

[4949shooter]

Tip: Don't press too hard. Just lay the cotton ball or rag on the shoe and swirl it with no pressure. If you press too hard you may be rubbing the polish off as you try and apply it.

Don't ask me how I know.

[janice6]

First. Leather shoes.

Second, load them up with polish and take a bic lighter and melt it into the leather. while the shoe is still warm, work more polish into it.

Third, take a rag and dip a drop or two of water onto it then proceed to spit polish as stated above.

In a hurry, we used Polaroid picture coating liquid on the tips. Made them shine but stink.

Navy.

[blueiron]

Lincoln Stain Wax or Kiwi Parade. I only ever used Lincoln and it worked well enough to satisfy Drill Instructors and Officers.

Keep in mind that it will take many hours to build up a base over the entire boot/shoe. Three hours? Keep going and use light pressure.

[Cav]

Originally Posted by rsagona1

I've actually done those exact steps. I must be doing something right since all the pores are indeed solid (you can see in the image below the difference). Does that glass shine that the person in the video has just come after time? I've done this for close to three hours.

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That kid in the video cheated. Look at the boots before he started. They had polished toes that were just a little dirty, but the base was there.

You need to get small amounts of soft melted Kiwi into the leather, let it dry, polish with water, and build a base. Once the base is there, its easy to touch up/repolish.

Worn boots polish better. New boots will flake a little.

[IndyGunFreak]

This is what I love about working in Corrections:

Step 1: Drop boots off at boot shine station.
Step 2: Pick up boots at end of shift

Since we get 2 pair, it's a pretty easy process of rotating them.

[SAR]

One step that I think is important. Before I put any polish on my boots whatsoever, I started out with a good coat of black leather dye. Something about a base coat of black leather dye really helps. Then I started with layers of either Parade Gloss or Angels shoe polish. I cake on a good base layer of boot polish which I brush off first, then I start doing fine layers of polish and use a little dab of water or spit to really make the shine start.

But I can give you a pro-tip. When I was in the Academy, I had two identical pairs of shoes. One was my every day wear and my other was my inspection pair which I kept in my locker. I put an unbelievable shine on my inspection pair, then painted them with a thin layer of Future floor wax. I never had to polish those shoes again for the rest of the Academy. All I did was wipe the dust off with a pair of nylons. That really kept me from having to do extra push ups.

[GRIMLET]

Cav said it all!

Now don't be a pogue who only shines the toes. Do the whole shoe. At least get a nice brush shine on the top.

Shining only the toe is for jump boots which have a different cut of leather at the toe and heel. Don't be the lazy guy who does the bare minimum.

[ateamer]

Put the polish on so thin that it's just a haze that you can see through. Wait about 15 seconds, then spit on it and polish with a 100% cotton cloth using a ligh touch and high speed. And polish the whole boot. Disregard that advice from other recruits saying you should only get the toes to a mirror shine. If you can shine the whole boot, do it.

[packeagle]

Originally Posted by blueiron

Did you strip the boots of their original finish?

For new boots this is the key. I've taken a new boot to a mirror shine only to have it flake an chip off in an hour. I use saddle soap before the initial shine on new boots. Then I just use a new white t shirt, lincoln wax, and a mug of hot water. Wrap rag tight around one finger apply polish. Dip finger with rag in water lightly polish with small circles. Keep a few beads of water on the boot. Keep going until the polish is gone. Repeat until desired shininess.

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[copenhagen2001]

Lincoln Wax is the ticket. I have never had good results w/kiwi.
I apply the Lincoln wax, heat up w/heat gun, then use a stiff shoe brush, to shine out.
If we have a inspection, then I will shine them up Like glass!!!
If I'm making them like glass, I'll brush them out, then take a white cotton t-shirt, w/hot water to them.
Good wax is the key!!! IMO kiwi is garbage...compared to Lincoln wax.

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[Glockdude1]

http://www.galls.com/style-FW043-gen...ade-style-boot

[blueiron]

Those boots look like they belong on an adult film star.

[Nanuk]

Originally Posted by Cav

#1 Get leather boots, not nylon.

#2 Get Kiwi Parade Gloss or Lincoln stain wax in black.

#3 Set the can on fire, then drop the lid and put it out.

#4 Use a old cotten shirt, and just put a small amount of soft polish on the tip, and rub it in.

#5 Wait 3 min, not 2 min, not 4 min, but 3 min.

#6 Put a dap of water on the shirt and start to polish the area with polish on it, keep the circles small and light presure.

#7 Do this a few times, to build a base.

#8 Expand the area.

#9 Use a drop of rubbing alcohol with some polish on your final polish, then do a light buff and repeat the drop of alcohol with polish.

Or if that does not work, join the Military and they will teach you right.

+1

[Stang_Man]

I'm in the Academy now, so I know where you're coming from!

My tricks? No fire or anything like that is necessary. Cotton balls, polish, and water.

I'll use a damp cotton ball and polish and put it on lightly until it hazes. Then move on to the next shoe. Let it sit a few minutes, then go back with the cotton ball and in "little circles" start slowly polishing it off. I'll end up adding a little bit of water and a little bit more polish, so it's polish on polish. Slowly squeeze the cotton ball dry, buff a little, less water, polish more, etc etc. You'll get to a point where you start to see some shine, but you'll still have some small polish streaks.

Here is my best tip right here. Stop with the cotton ball at this point, and get some panty hose. New or used, any color, doesn't matter. Use this to buff the tips off, really put some grunt behind it, and this will be your final polish.

Once I get it to this point it only needs tobe touched up with a very light coat daily, finishing it off with the panty hose. I like to alternate between Kiwi black and the Kiwi Parade Gloss.

Good luck! The base coat is a pain in the butt, but you'll get there!

[ateamer]

Originally Posted by rsagona1

According to the 50 other people in my class, apparently it's supposed to look like glass at the TIP ONLY. So you're supposed to be able to see where it's shined and not shined.



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If those 50 people in your class are academy instructors, it might be worth listening to them. But they aren't, so don't let them lead you the wrong way. Make your uniform look as sharp as you can.

For that matter, try to excel at everything. The advice some people give to not be #1 and stay in the middle is weak. Deliberately not doing your best and striving for mediocrity is bad advice and a lousy way to live life. Yeah, the instructors might get on you more and maybe the rest of the class will feel some heat because they are lagging. So what? Keep excelling and always do your best. Someone has to be in front, might as well be you. What the heck, it might even be fun.

[razdog76]

If you set it afire, it will consume the lanolin and important stuff in the polish, but you can heat/melt it with the flame underneath when your can ends up with a bunch of pieces in the bottom.

When using an applicator brush on melted polish, it goes on way to thick, IMHO.