Spit-Shine Redo

Back at home where I can really focus and concentrate. The right and left boot is shown for a side by side comparison. At the time, I just finished the right side. I usually still hit it with the buff cloth at the very end even if the spit-shine came out semi-decent.

As of now, I've been using the buff cloth as a final treatment because I like using it and I'm trying to get good at that as well. I aim for the snapping sound when using the cloth. I do this by letting the cloth slack in the middle then moving the cloth side to side by moving either hand left or right depending on which direction I'm going. If I'm moving toward the left, then I'll move my left hand more than the right, and vice versa. When the slack is quickly picked up in the middle by the side to side hand movement, it creates the snapping sound.

I know I have a lot to learn and sometimes I get so frustrated. It's like I can never satisfy the worst critic, which is myself, and I'm constantly under the impression that I can still get it shinier. I just wish I could get it to reflect exactly like a mirror, or at least like "patent leather" shoes. I think I might be close to the look of patent leather though.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Boot
• Shining
• Polishing
• Kiwi

[bidrisen]

I want to be good at it, but I have to be in the mood and have a lot of patience at the time or I won't be able to do a good job. I'm always open to other ideas. One of the guys that worked with us for a short time was in the army, and he taught me how to spit-shine. That was about 5 or 6 months ago. But for the most part, I love trying my best to look sharp. The same goes for my uniform and well ironed creases.

[bidrisen]

I spit shined my boots once using Parade Gloss, and happened to be working in the sun all day. Somehow, the sun dulled the mirror shine I had. In other words, the heat ruined the shine. I don't know how that happened, but it was kind of like how your bathroom mirror looks after you take a hot shower. The shine was just blurry and clouded looking. Weird. I just hit it with the buff cloth, which restored some of the shine, but I ended up spit-shining another coat of polish on the boots.

[beggo321]

would u recomend lighting the kiwi polish?

[bidrisen]

You can if you want to, and I think that we've all tried that before. But it seems like you have to apply it on the boot quick because it just dries up and becomes hard again. So instead of trying to melt the polish, I think it would be better to find some way to soften the polish to a paste. Then it goes on smoother and can really get into the pores of the boot. I notice that Parade Gloss is a little softer than the standard Kiwi polish, but I don't really care for it.

[bidrisen]

Today at work, a rookie shows up with patent leather shoes. I said to him, "Wow, that must be nice... just Windex it periodically for a perfect shine." His reply to me was, "You have to join the Marines to get these." I wanted to say, "What's the problem, you don't know how to shine shoes?" LMAO. No, but I didn't say it.

[gfather2]

how long did that take you?

[bidrisen]

In this particular occasion, I spent a little over an hour on it. I can rush it, finish faster and still get a decent shine or I can take my time. I've spent three hours on one toe before.

Thanks for commenting. I need ideas on improving the shine. I'm never satisfied with it.

[WelshPheonix]

Ok, what exactly is spit shining?

Because all I do is melt the polish, pour it onto my boots and work it in and then shine it witha cloth and water.

[sparkz120]

parade gloss shine ruins you boots tho so...the standard kiwi from walmart whould be better i acually had to run to home hardware to buy some polish and it was like 7 dollars

[beggo321]

Yea I heard that using a lighter to melt parade gloss onto your boots gives it a good shine. The sun is nothing for me to worry about cause I live in Ireland lol.