Spit Shining Boots...Calling all Military Personnel
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 23
From: Calgary
Spit Shining Boots...Calling all Military Personnel
Hey folks,
Okay...for all those experts in Spit Shining your boots, I need some tips, advice, suggestions etc. I just spent the better part of yesterday spit shining a pair of new marching boots issued to me. With the help of some water, a damp cloth, a horsehair brush, and of course my Kiwi black "parade gloss" the boots are starting to come up better than 5 coats of Zaino on my Spa Yellow S2000. What I need is a better shine. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for me? So far, I have approx 4 coats on each boot, and I'm not sure how much more to add. As an aside, the leather grain is still visible on the sides, and at the top of the boot. How does one eliminate this?
Perhaps I should have posted this in the "wash n wax" forum instead.
Thanks in advance.
Asif
Okay...for all those experts in Spit Shining your boots, I need some tips, advice, suggestions etc. I just spent the better part of yesterday spit shining a pair of new marching boots issued to me. With the help of some water, a damp cloth, a horsehair brush, and of course my Kiwi black "parade gloss" the boots are starting to come up better than 5 coats of Zaino on my Spa Yellow S2000. What I need is a better shine. Does anyone have any tips or suggestions for me? So far, I have approx 4 coats on each boot, and I'm not sure how much more to add. As an aside, the leather grain is still visible on the sides, and at the top of the boot. How does one eliminate this?
Perhaps I should have posted this in the "wash n wax" forum instead.
Thanks in advance.
Asif
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 37,305
Likes: 18
Ahhhh, those wonderful rookie days. How soon I've forgotten.
Putting extra coats of polish won't get them any shinier. This only helps to hide the deep scuff marks. Once you have a good polish base, you can start to "spit polish". Once you've applied the polish, use a shoe brush and brush the crap out of the shoe. Don't keep the brush on the shoe the whole time. Kinda take a flying pass at it with each stroke. You can then use a clean cloth held with one hand at opposite ends to buff the shoe's surface like you see shoe shine boys do it in the movies. Then you can actually spit on the shoe and using a cloth and a couple of fingers under the cloth, start rubbing the shoe (one area at a time) in a small circular motion till you've spit on and rubbed the whole shoe. Start on the inside of one shoe till you get the hang of it and figure out how it works. With us, we concentrate mostly on the toe part of the shoe as this is the part that sticks out the most when being inspected. Mostly Chiefs and Chief's drivers worry about shoe shines. The rest of us grunts in the trenches scuff our shoes up to quickly to worry about such things. Greetings to you during the holiday season, Asif.
Putting extra coats of polish won't get them any shinier. This only helps to hide the deep scuff marks. Once you have a good polish base, you can start to "spit polish". Once you've applied the polish, use a shoe brush and brush the crap out of the shoe. Don't keep the brush on the shoe the whole time. Kinda take a flying pass at it with each stroke. You can then use a clean cloth held with one hand at opposite ends to buff the shoe's surface like you see shoe shine boys do it in the movies. Then you can actually spit on the shoe and using a cloth and a couple of fingers under the cloth, start rubbing the shoe (one area at a time) in a small circular motion till you've spit on and rubbed the whole shoe. Start on the inside of one shoe till you get the hang of it and figure out how it works. With us, we concentrate mostly on the toe part of the shoe as this is the part that sticks out the most when being inspected. Mostly Chiefs and Chief's drivers worry about shoe shines. The rest of us grunts in the trenches scuff our shoes up to quickly to worry about such things. Greetings to you during the holiday season, Asif.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,446
Likes: 1
From: West Mids.
He he!! I personally hated this bullshit but xviper has pretty well described the technique. The toe caps end up looking like glass. What he hasn't told you about is that ten minutes before the inspection some a$$ole is guaranteed to stand on your toe, leaving a dull gouge in what is essentially a build up of solidified polish. 
Another time the guy standing next to me stamped his right foot as we came to attention to be inspected and the whole shell of polish built up over weeks of loving attention rolled of his right toe cap leaving a dull lifeless toe cap contrasting beautifully with his left mirror like one!
If you have any ex army guys with you they'll know how to remove imperfections in leather, and pimples like you get on some makes with the back of a heated dinner spoon.
Another time the guy standing next to me stamped his right foot as we came to attention to be inspected and the whole shell of polish built up over weeks of loving attention rolled of his right toe cap leaving a dull lifeless toe cap contrasting beautifully with his left mirror like one! If you have any ex army guys with you they'll know how to remove imperfections in leather, and pimples like you get on some makes with the back of a heated dinner spoon.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 23
From: Calgary
Cedric,
I hope that I will never have to personally relate to your story. We had our first inspection on Thursday, and I felt good about my boots which, subjectively speaking, were probably the shiniest of the group. Like you said, the toe cap and heel portions look like glass, its just the small "pimples" on the upper parts of the boot that I have to worry about. I will be sure to ask around about the "heated spoon" technique.
And what the heck..maybe I will take some pics later tonight and post em on here for all to see.
Asif
I hope that I will never have to personally relate to your story. We had our first inspection on Thursday, and I felt good about my boots which, subjectively speaking, were probably the shiniest of the group. Like you said, the toe cap and heel portions look like glass, its just the small "pimples" on the upper parts of the boot that I have to worry about. I will be sure to ask around about the "heated spoon" technique.
And what the heck..maybe I will take some pics later tonight and post em on here for all to see.
Asif
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,610
Likes: 0
From: Atlanta, GA
If you just can't get the toe to "smooth out" or you get some scuffs (you will)...try using a lighter to heat the polish before you buff it out. Just smear a bunch on there, heat it up and then work it in with a damp cloth like you normally would. I have also seen some poeple do this by melting the polish in the can.
Have fun.
Have fun.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
From: Richmond
Sorry guys, but this thread just sends shiver down my spine. Just when I thought I put all that behind me...
I suggest pretty much what everyone else said. Whatever you do, don't cheat and use any of that "instant shine" crap. It'll look good for about 5 minutes and will prevent you from being able to shine them again properly. Oh, and if you can wear jungles - do that. It's just a little less to polish.
I suggest pretty much what everyone else said. Whatever you do, don't cheat and use any of that "instant shine" crap. It'll look good for about 5 minutes and will prevent you from being able to shine them again properly. Oh, and if you can wear jungles - do that. It's just a little less to polish.