Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post kannot Posted December 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arthurwait Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Mr stinky feet maybe you should have gone somewhere more professional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jessi Posted December 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lazygourmet Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Stradavarius37 Posted December 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2014 Please advise? Polish your own boots next time.... You just paid your "Stupid tax" for the month (or year depending on your brain capacity). 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 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? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE1 Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Tasty Food , sorry to hear of your dilemma. By any chance did you happen to buy them in Thailand ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JingerBen Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 (edited) 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 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumply Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Depends what they used on the leather.......... What colour are your boots..? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 They were tan coloured, now they look like glossy teak. Don't so much mind the colour. Hate the gloss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ATF Posted December 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2014 Why do you think everyone wears flip flops? 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 My trade for a couple of decades........So, sounds like your leather has been fugged with silicone........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 Oh shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
transam Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 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..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExPratt Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooo Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Moved to pub, for the love of God I can't see it being Thailand related. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post transam Posted December 8, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2014 Moved to pub, for the love of God I can't see it being Thailand related. We wear shoes here matey.................. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Popular Post Share Posted December 8, 2014 How is it not Thailand related? That's cobblers. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogandave Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 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, 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thongkorn Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Nobody ever asks to clean my steel toecap flip flops, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thongkorn Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 Nobody ever asks to clean my steel toecap flip flops, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 Why anybody would want to wear flip flops is beyond me. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 (edited) 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 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steven100 Posted December 9, 2014 Share Posted December 9, 2014 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 ' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tasty Food Posted December 9, 2014 Author Share Posted December 9, 2014 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. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SoiBiker Posted December 9, 2014 Popular Post Share Posted December 9, 2014 You'd have thought a prominent shoe care forum like this would have been more helpful, wouldn't you? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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