Shoe-Polishing

[Logsdon]

So I just spent under 2 hours getting my very first coat of black shoe polish on my AFJROTC kicks, and they're STILL not perfect. I aim to have the best military bearing and image in my flight (class), being the flight commander and all, but I can't even get a good shine. Anyone out there who knows anything about polishing shoes have some advice?

Here's what they look like:

[Gooderham 1st MRB]

Constant polishing will help keep the shoes in best form. Also, invest in a pair of shoe trees. They will help keep the shoes from losing there form and will absorb moisture in the shoe from sweat. Have you googled for advice? Maybe try this.

[Avila 1st MRB]

Thanks not bad but you can use a lighter with the wax you are using. just the use the tip of the flame of the lighter. use a little water with the wax. you can make it look like glass it depend on how many layer.

[Avila 1st MRB]

i assume that you are in the air force and trying to be an officer. Rock that sh#t!!! Never forget your enlist, if you do right you never how to worry that you enlist have your back!!! I was a marine but i navy officer i love to death when i was in IRAQ. He took care of me and you got to believe i would take care of him, i would of take a bullet for that guy. Just don't let anyone blow your head up. Anyone man deserve your respect if he is willing to give it back!!!

[Cast 1st MRB]

For army cadets over here what we used to do was put abit of polish on then add a tiny bit of water, then more. Just keep doing that. Use a cloth to rub the wax in make sure to go in very small circles, then once your added aload on brush the boots lighty everywhere

[Logsdon]

i assume that you are in the air force and trying to be an officer. Rock that sh#t!!! Never forget your enlist, if you do right you never how to worry that you enlist have your back!!! I was a marine but i navy officer i love to death when i was in IRAQ. He took care of me and you got to believe i would take care of him, i would of take a bullet for that guy. Just don't let anyone blow your head up. Anyone man deserve your respect if he is willing to give it back!!!

I'm actually in high school, attending Air Force Junior ROTC. I plan on attending any college with NROTC afterwards and enlist as a 2ndLt. in the Marine Corps so I can command my own tank

For army cadets over here what we used to do was put abit of polish on then add a tiny bit of water, then more. Just keep doing that. Use a cloth to rub the wax in make sure to go in very small circles, then once your added aload on brush the boots lighty everywhere

I've been working on it since last night lol. Just adding thin layers, one by one.

Edited November 21, 2012 by Logsdon 1st MRB

[Avila 1st MRB]

No way Logsdon, you going to be an 2ndLT aka butterbars in the marine. man i have a lot of respect. thank you.

[Hall]

What you need:

Cotton Balls

Polish

Water

Lighter

Towel

Put water in the top of the polish can and make sure you have more water. Dab a small amount of water on a cotton ball, get polish on the ball and begin the apply to the first few inches of the toe of the shoes. (It will not matter to polish the rest of the shoe because it will just crack off due to walking and look like crap and you will see the natural line where your foot bends to walk.) When the polish is applied use a lighter over the polish on the shoe quick movements back and fourth and it will begin to shine. Then while you are doing this have a cotton ball in the water in the tin. When the you are done heating the shoe get the cotton ball that is in the water and begin to shine the shoe in small circles where the polish was heated. You will notice how the shoe polish begins to fog, this is good for it. You will want to make sure that there is a good amount of water on the top of the shoe so you do not start pulling the polish off or making lines with the fabric of the cotton ball. You will notice water just falling off the shoe just dab the cotton ball back in the water to get more, place a towel on the floor . Replace the water cotton ball as many times as needed because it will get some polish on it and start to wear. Repeat the steps as many times as necessary and stop at the water ball when you are finished. Hope this helps have to polish boots all the time. If you need any more help with uniforms or polishing let me know.

[S. Richards]

enlist as a 2ndLt. in the Marine Corps so I can command my own tank

Commisioned as a 2ndLt. As far as commanding your own tank I highly recommend you fail out of flight school first since 90% of the platoon commanders in Tank Bn's are flight school dropouts it seems. Atleast 3 out of 4 for me were. And familiarize yourself with land navigation, my last BLT almost got my tank section obliterated in an artillery exercise out at Mojave because he sent us to the wrong coordinates. Fucking butterbars.

[Logsdon]

What you need:

Cotton Balls

Polish

Water

Lighter

Towel

Put water in the top of the polish can and make sure you have more water. Dab a small amount of water on a cotton ball, get polish on the ball and begin the apply to the first few inches of the toe of the shoes. (It will not matter to polish the rest of the shoe because it will just crack off due to walking and look like crap and you will see the natural line where your foot bends to walk.) When the polish is applied use a lighter over the polish on the shoe quick movements back and fourth and it will begin to shine. Then while you are doing this have a cotton ball in the water in the tin. When the you are done heating the shoe get the cotton ball that is in the water and begin to shine the shoe in small circles where the polish was heated. You will notice how the shoe polish begins to fog, this is good for it. You will want to make sure that there is a good amount of water on the top of the shoe so you do not start pulling the polish off or making lines with the fabric of the cotton ball. You will notice water just falling off the shoe just dab the cotton ball back in the water to get more, place a towel on the floor . Replace the water cotton ball as many times as needed because it will get some polish on it and start to wear. Repeat the steps as many times as necessary and stop at the water ball when you are finished. Hope this helps have to polish boots all the time. If you need any more help with uniforms or polishing let me know.

I have the base coat down, I just need to keep adding layers of polish to get the level of shine I want. But thanks for the info, I'll keep that info in mind for the future

[Logsdon]

Commisioned as a 2ndLt. As far as commanding your own tank I highly recommend you fail out of flight school first since 90% of the platoon commanders in Tank Bn's are flight school dropouts it seems. Atleast 3 out of 4 for me were. And familiarize yourself with land navigation, my last BLT almost got my tank section obliterated in an artillery exercise out at Mojave because he sent us to the wrong coordinates. Fucking butterbars.

Commisioned*, sorry. I still have a lot of learning to do. I think I should be alright with Land NAV. I went to a Raider Team competition and my team scored highest in LandNAV comp and it was my first time using a compass. With AFJROTC and Raider and NROTC and OCS I think I should be pretty good.

I have no desire to be a pilot, so I'm not going to waste my time going to school for it. I want to drive, shoot, maintain, operate, and fucking live TANK

[Peaker]

The brushing is really the secret to a good shine. Also depends on the polish and wax you're using. I've not brushed my boots in forever though. As Cast said, you need to lightly brush everywhere, brush too strong and you'll get too much off.