Making the toes of a pair of parade shoes shine?

rockape_2

Nikki wrote:

I used to be in the R.A.F and this is the method we used to bull our shoes as we found using dusters left scratches. 'Rockape' that's a word I haven't heard for a long time!!

yes, we are an endangered species now! :eek:

Mr_Proctalgia

rockape wrote:

yes, we are an endangered species now! :eek:

Ah Yes - But do you still get hassle of the Snowdrops??? As a "Brown Job" I certainly did, I was strange as I spent 9 years working for various GRF's and Electronic Wings on bases in Germany.

The good old days getting ratted in the NAAFI are a fond memory.

rockape_2

sure do, they love a bit of rockape! inferiority complex i think!!
they tend to get 'dropped' more though :rotfl:

totter50

im ATC and what i did is use parade gloss as the substantial base layer so about 30-45 layers of it on each shoe, dont use too much, also use one of those yellow duster cloths and wrap it round your index finger and run it in the parade gloss with a gentle force for about 2-3cm and then rub it in with small circles and after the 30-45 layers of parade gloss have been done use standard black KIWI polish to bull them by using a speck of it and rubbing it in gently accross the whole toecap.

Rosetta92

Also, the first time you polish is the hardest. After that, keep it topped up regularly and it won't take so long.

R

wondercollie

Think that's bad? Join the Mounties. They are given the boots at the start of training and they have to immaculate quickly. Yes, the knee high dress uniform boots.

Butterfly_Brain

wondercollie wrote: »

Think that's bad? Join the Mounties. They are given the boots at the start of training and they have to immaculate quickly. Yes, the knee high dress uniform boots.

Is your hubby a mountie by any chance WC ?

lushlifesaver

Don't use hairspray or anything else that could flake and crack!
My brother and his mates used to use hot spoons to melt off a few layers to get the caps smooth again if they got dented/chipped

We used to sit for hours and work on a few layers with Kiwi black - work with a damp yellow duster and small amount of polish (it will go further than you think) all over the cap in tiny circles and plenty of pressure. Then after 4/5 layers switch to damp cotton wool - not soaking, just damp - and Kiwi parade gloss and work a couple more layers in the smallest circles you can imagine again with plenty of pressure then spit shine. Just a little spit not masses.

You really don't need as much polish in each layer as you think, we used to see it as feeding the leather and worked on each layer until the duster/cotton wool came off the cap clean.

On the girls shoes we wore them for hours before our first parade night in them to get a nice crease across our natural toe line. Then we polished them up.

You can also try shining them up under a running tap but that can be very hit and miss!

Just don't let him neglect the rest of the shoes, they will need a thin layer of KIWI black every so often too.

The lads I know also swear by worn tights too (often to be found buffing their shoes on the back of my legs grr) and often acquired wrecked pairs to keep in their bull bags! More of a quick fix before inspection though than something to be relied on

Armymum

After 0ver 20years in the Army my tips are lots of kiwi black layers put on with dry finger in circular motions then leave over night the next day wash a silvette cloth in conditioner and rinse well ( May be spelt wrong but it's a really soft cloth especially for bulling). Once cloth is slightly damp cover bulling finger and add small/tiny amount of water/polish at finger tip small circular movements on shoe over and over and over, can add the odd layer of brown or cherry blossom and even parade gloss. Don't use klear floor polish, spray paints etc kinda defeats the object of personal pride, discipline etc plus a good instructor will know what's hard work and what's cheating. Not saying I never ever cheated but never made a habit of it. Tights are good for getting smears off and sorting very small scuffs but best for storing shoes in. x

wondercollie

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Is your hubby a mountie by any chance WC ?

Have two very good friends who are and a son who has applied.