Just another day

[rikibeth]

The old-style knives came back yesterday. My shoulder is much happier.

However, my right hip is jacked up, for no reason I can figure out. I need remedial standing lessons or something.

I finally have my purse organized in a really efficient way, including a Chico Bag clipped to the second key tether, so I'll always have a shopping bag with me whenever I've got my purse. Of course, I also just got a new, super-small wallet that I can keep in my back pocket, so I won't HAVE to take my purse with me every day to work -- phone and pens left pocket, keys right pocket, wallet back pocket -- so I won't have to worry about locking my purse in the car, because we don't have lockers. So I have to make sure to stash a shopping bag in the CAR, too.

I really wish I knew how often I need to put Wonder Balsam on my boots. I want this pair to last, because they're a made-in-England pair, and I paid under $50 for them on eBay, and while they're now MAKING select styles of Docs in England again, it's about $200 for a new pair, BEFORE shipping. I got four years out of my last pair, and I neglected them shamefully. I want these to do better.

Also, anyone who can teach me how to do a really good job of polishing them, I'd appreciate it. I'm following the instructions on the Kiwi tin, and I've got a dauber, and a brush, and flannel cloths, but I can't seem to get them very shiny.

Tired.

Comments

[kadath.livejournal.com]

Getting a spit-shine is not worth it, take it from me (or anyone who was ever in the military.)

[rikibeth.livejournal.com]

Spit, no, but I would like to be able to get them glossy when I want them that way. Besides, if *I* know how to get them shiny, I can then teach someone else.

[kadath.livejournal.com]

Okay, they probably have a protective coating applied. That interferes with the polish. Go over them with cotton balls dipped in rubbing alcohol to get it off. (You can hit it with a wire tire brush, but I DO NOT ENDORSE THIS. It will take you until the end of time to get the shine back up.)

Once you've got the coating off, to get any kind of high gloss, you need to fill the natural texture of the leather with polish to smooth out the surface.

Get a lighter. Put a small daub of polish wherever. Melt it with the lighter (won't hurt the leather if you don't sit there with it) and use a cloth to buff the melted polish in little circles to you hit the level of shine you want. You'll have to put some elbow grease into it.

Repeat until the whole boot is shiny or you get fed up and throw it at the wall.

[ap-aelfwine.livejournal.com]

Glad the knives are back, and I hope it stays that way. Sorry to hear about your hip, and I hope you're feeling better soon.

No useful advice about the boots, I'm afraid--I've never put a glossy polish on anything that didn't start out having that kind of shine to it.

Seek the expert!

[kebbykate.livejournal.com]

Visit a cobbler and ask for a lesson!

[fidelioscabinet.livejournal.com]

Another high-shine method: Apply a thin layer of polish, buff to make sure it is evenly distributed and at at least a satin gloss. Next, get a small dish of water and an old nylon stocking or pair of pantyhose. Apply a new layer of polish, dipping the cloth first into the polish and then into the water--use small amounts and recharge often, because you want to make sure there's water worked evenly into this. Once you have an even coat, buff again for evenness to a satin fisnish, and then buff with the nylon. It's just as tedious as the method described above, but at least it doesn't involve fire.

[kadath.livejournal.com]

at least it doesn't involve fire.

The fire's the best part!

[twice-immigrant.livejournal.com]

Rikibeth? I followed you home from the pub, just wanted to pass along Arkades' message that tea tree oil is VERY DANGEROUS FOR CATS! CHeck the pub, he posted all kinds of info. Hope this gets you in time.