Street cobbler ruins $240 boots

[Tasty Food]

This may be my own fault for being too lazy to polish my own shoes or for not using one of the trusted polish boys who you only ever see by luck as they are mobile, but I handed this Nana vendor my tan Loake Chelsea boots and he applied two liquids (rather clumsily and missing parts of the crevice between the leather and the sole) - the first was a foamy pinkish liquid, the second was a milky one and now they look like they glazed red clay.

I didn't complain, having faith that he was a professional but I have to say that a day later I hate the result and they look considerably cheapened.

What exactly have I done and are they ruined?

I fear that the cobbler may have applied something that is used for budget shoes.

I hate to sound like a snob but these were a pair I had treated myself to for my birthday earlier this year.

Pls advise.

[kannot]

I refuse to let any Thais near anything of any value here in Thailand.

All "knowledge" seems to be third fourth fifth hand and often wrong.

Mind you years ago a friend of mine burnt herself on a hot exhaust and I had a hell of a fight with her Mother to NOT put HOT water on the burn but cold.

[Tasty Food]

Usually the street polishers do an excellent job and I always tip.

I am amazed that a professional in the field of shoes would casually destroy a pair by varnishing them.

Is there anything I can do? I want to establish if the shoes are ruined and if the treatment is temporary.

They look like Kiwi wax would simply slide off and not penetrate the leather.

[arthurwait]

Mr stinky feet maybe you should have gone somewhere more professional.

[Jessi]

I refuse to let any Thais near anything of any value here in Thailand.

All "knowledge" seems to be third fourth fifth hand and often wrong.

Mind you years ago a friend of mine burnt herself on a hot exhaust and I had a hell of a fight with her Mother to NOT put HOT water on the burn but cold.

I am the same No where near anything of value.

[lazygourmet]

I never let any of our maids touching my vintage John Lobb and/or J.M. Weston shoes.

As for the last two decades I only wear them once or twice a year, I have plenty of time to care of them.

[Stradavarius37]

Please advise? Polish your own boots next time.... You just paid your "Stupid tax" for the month (or year depending on your brain capacity).

[Tasty Food]

So without being able to tell me directly, I'm having to assume the boots are now f***ed beyond repair?

Anything positive to add?

[NE1]

Tasty Food , sorry to hear of your dilemma.

By any chance did you happen to buy them in Thailand ?

[JingerBen]

So without being able to tell me directly, I'm having to assume the boots are now f***ed beyond repair?

Anything positive to add?

Yes...

Change your username immediately from Tasty Food to Tasty Foot.

Edited December 8, 2014 by JingerBen

[lumply]

So without being able to tell me directly, I'm having to assume the boots are now f***ed beyond repair?

Anything positive to add?

Why do you think they may be f'd beyond repair? If they are structurally OK then surely it's a re dye job that's required. An expert bookmaker should be able to restore them to their former glory.

[transam]

Depends what they used on the leather..........

What colour are your boots..?

[Tasty Food]

They are Loakes imported from the UK.

Regarding a re-dye job, I don't think it's possible to make shoes lighter in colour.

Is anyone familiar with the process which has been applied but the cobbler? It's easy to knee-jerk response in a negative way to the locals but maybe he did know what he was doing..

I can live with them being darker, but it seems the process has rendered Kiwi wax useless.

Perhaps it wears off... Perhaps it's good for the leather. I came here to find out from somebody who KNOWS from expperience.

[Tasty Food]

They were tan coloured, now they look like glossy teak.

Don't so much mind the colour. Hate the gloss.

[ATF]

Why do you think everyone wears flip flops?

[transam]

My trade for a couple of decades........So, sounds like your leather has been fugged with silicone........

[Tasty Food]

Oh shit.

[transam]

Oh shit.

Yep, you cannot get it out without chems, which will remove the dye.........

If you can find Kiwi wax or better still a shoe/leather cream the same colour, apply and work into the leather and hope for the best.....

[ExPratt]

I had a pair of Timberland suede desert boots , I gave them to a shoe cleaner in Malaysa to get them done properly and they came back Buck skin. Bought all the brushes and cleaner myself now, I take no chances with my shoes or my hair these days

[Rooo]

Moved to pub, for the love of God I can't see it being Thailand related.

[transam]

Moved to pub, for the love of God I can't see it being Thailand related.

We wear shoes here matey..................

[Tasty Food]

How is it not Thailand related?

That's cobblers.

[mogandave]

Try scrubbing an small area with a scrub brush & saddle soap.

If that doesn't work try scrubbing with a brush and a strong detergent.

If that doesn't work try acetone.

Let them dry and see how they look.

You may or may not have to dye them. If it looks like they'll need to by dyed, dye them before you wax them.

I hadn't let anyone polish my shoes for 10 years and a coworker talked me into it while we were in Mumbai. Big mistake,

[Thongkorn]

Nobody ever asks to clean my steel toecap flip flops,

[Thongkorn]

Nobody ever asks to clean my steel toecap flip flops,

[Tasty Food]

Why anybody would want to wear flip flops is beyond me.

[steven100]

So without being able to tell me directly, I'm having to assume the boots are now f***ed beyond repair?

Anything positive to add?

Edited December 9, 2014 by steven100

[steven100]

So without being able to tell me directly, I'm having to assume the boots are now f***ed beyond repair?

Anything positive to add?

Possibly you assume correct .... go buy some polish that looks a good colour and give em a shine ....

next time tell them ' sorry.. these are my already ruined $240 chelsea boots '

[Tasty Food]

Well thanks for that, you have been enormously helpful.

I'm sure the forum owners are proud to have the likes of you on board.

[SoiBiker]

You'd have thought a prominent shoe care forum like this would have been more helpful, wouldn't you?