Just used your method here to mirror shine a pair of black boots which are almost identical to the ones in this video, rubber sole though. Got the mirror shine and ready for that interview, thank you Mr Allison!
Well just finished my black shoes with the process in the video. I will say what a mirror shine, best shine I have ever been able to get on these shoes. i think I might have not waited enough time between applications of Mirror gloss but still came out with excellent results.
Very helpful video(s)! 🙏🏻Your tutorial takes this to the top level. I tried this first as a young teen. It got results with the nice comments from my young lady friend. I think it is natural and very positive when people take some care of all these sorts of things. It is positive, gratifying and good for a healthy self-esteem. 👍
I recently purchased the Pâte de Luxe and Medaille Dior clear polishes. I was wondering if you could illustrate the difference between using clear polishes vs. black polishes as it pertains to mirror shine?
I have watched several of your videos and I like the way you present all the information. I have been polishing my shoes like a "pro" for many, many years and since I started using Saphir I noticed that some whiteish color started to appear on certain spots, but only on non-black shoes, to which I don't apply Saphir but a cheaper brand. Here, you clearly explain the reason but the question remains, why isn't the issue present in my black shoes? Perhaps is because of the specific characteristics of the Saphir wax? Anyway, I solved the issue by applying the cream before the wax! I like your videos, I believe you do a good job!
Hi Kirby, I have followed the tip to mirror shine and it works extremely well. May I know how you can polish/take care a pair of bookbinder to keep it long lasting?
Kirby, Great Video. Missing...the clear coat. I have used Kiwi Neutral, or the Kiwi liquid neutral with just the lightest (one drop) layer to keep the mirror shine looking absolutely wet and high-definition reflective. Also, Meguar's Quick Mist will put a clear glaze on the shoe shine, but must be buffed to ensure the Carnauba does not bead up, dry white and look "chalky". A clear coat will add some protection and keep the waxes from oxidizing as quickly.
Found your videos and like them. They could be good for teaching military and police recruits to shine their boots. Would you ever do a pair of combat/ patrol boots because somethings they need some extra care due to wear and tear?
Saphir high gloss black wax polish just arrived in the post and I have to say it is fantastic. Thank you for introducing me to Saphir's line of products sir.
Hey Kirby, I have a question about the vedio. As we apply several layers of wax on the shoes, those wax may cause problems when we clean the shoes after several times of wearing, right? I mean, the renovator would have to penetrate those wax to condition the leather, and that just does not make sense tome. So my question is: would you use Reno Mat every time when you clean a pair of shoes that has been mirror polished? If not, when do you determine that it comes to the right moment to remove all the wax with Reno Mat, and re-do the whole process again? Thank you. You chanel have been really helpful and I absolutely enjoy them.
Hey Mr. Kirby, I just want to ask when is it better to use Mirror Gloss first and Pate de Luxe second, and when is it better to use Pate de Luxe first and Mirror Gloss second? Thank you
Hi; Great video. I have several cans of Allen Edmonds hard wax that have dried up and cracked inthe can. Is there a method or restoring the wax so it is not so hard and dry? Thanks.
Hey Kirby, love the videos and appreciate your responses. Here's another question/scenario: I wear a nice high shine pair to work. Mirror toes and heals, nice shine everywhere else. They hold up well, wear them again, get a couple scuffs in the mirror shine. Will the cream polish take off the mirror shine? Should I just add more mirror shine to the toes and heals? Trial and error never hurt, but was wondering about how to maintain the mirror once it's started.
Depending on how badly the mirror gloss is scuffed, you might have to strip all the wax off using the Saphir Reno'Mat and start over... part of the pain of maintaining a proper mirror shine! But, otherwise, I've seen people apply a little cream polish to clean the top few layers of wax off of the Mirror Gloss, then re-polish using the Mirror Gloss.
Please answer this question. I tried to follow this instructions using the mirrow gloss and the pate de lux,followed by the pate de lux, and I got a dull finished. I was told that it should be done the other way around. Thst I should do the pate de lux first, and then the mirrow gloss Second question :is this layering required every time I polish my shoes?
I have a question. I just bought a pair of Corcoran 1525 Leather Field Boots. I’ve not polished them yet. I was wondering if it would be acceptable or a good idea to apply a conditioner to the boot( minus toe cap and counters). Also since the boots are 10” in height what would you use as far as tree shoes for them?
Mr. Allison, for those of us that want to get one or the other which would you recommend? Black mirror or neutral. Logic would dictate neutral but I have heard that the black outperforms despite it being tinted. Respectfully,
One of my shoes already had a tip with an already lighter dark brown factory finish defect. While rubbing on cream polish the dark lightened further to a light brown. The other shoe stayed the same dark brown. How can I get this tip back to dark brown? Thanks in advance
In my opinion, using the pate de luxe first makes more sense in the long run, because the mirror gloss polish doesn't have the nourishing properties that the pate de luxe has, right?
Question for Kirby and all: I've applied the mirror glass product to two separate shoes now and it stripped the pigment from both shoes. Anyone have a suggestion or have run into this issue and solved it? Thank you!
NE2353 Try buffing with some Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish. The solvents should help repair cracking. If that doesn't work, you'll have to strip the he'd waxed off with the Saphir Reno'Mat and then start over.
Dear Mr. Allison, I have a problem with my mirror shine. Whenever I apply the Saphir mirror gloss wax and even after a nice mirror shine is created, as soon as I put another layer of mirror gloss wax on the shoe, the entire wax built up is almost completely removed. Do you have an idea, why after giving the wax even a day to dry, another application of wax is removing and not building up a stronger wax foundation?
Great demonstration, I'm slowly getting the hang of this. One question, though. Are the high shine chamois cloths washable? After several sessions I envision not being able to find a clean spot for buffing.
Thank you for your amazing videos. Can you explain the difference between saddle soaps that are presented on your site. And how to use them properly? What they actually can do and when to use them? Are they safe for a fine leather?
I.O. Thanks for the question! All of our Saphir products are safe for fine leather. The Leather Clean Soap is the most gentle. It is similar to a traditional Saddle Soap, but contains ingredients that help nourish the leather to counter the natural drying of the leather that occurs when soaps are used. I recommend using leather cleaning soaps anytime the leather visibly appears dirty. You shouldn't shampoo the leather every time you Polish - it would be too much and could unnecessarily dry the leather. Always condition afterwards with the Saphir Renovateur.
I have. To prevent that from happening I put on the first layers of mirror gloss with my fingers instead of a chamois, then let it dry, buff, and then you can use your chamois again without stripping patina off. It’s a technique I have seen in the shoe shine polish world championship on TH-cam.
With a layer of hard wax on the toe/heel counter, would those areas still benefit from the conditioning of the pommadier or the renovateur? Or would you have to use renomat on those areas for the conditioners to properly permeate the leather?
Best to occasionally use the Reno''Mat to pull off hard waxes so conditioners can penetrate into the leather. Something I would for sure do a few times a year, at least. But not necessary every time you polish your shoes. Because these areas will never flex, they are less prone to cracking.
So when you are finished with the tasks - then how does one maintain the shoes after that? Can you freshen the shoe up with the horse brush or do you need to something else? Thank you.
Stay tuned... we have a video coming out on the topic that we've already shot. The short, is that you definitely don't want to use a horsehair brush... instead, you want to rebuff using the same technique that the shine was created with originally.
phus2001 The Saphir Reno'Mat is best for removing old wax coatings. You can also use the Leather Cleaning Soap, but the Reno'Mat is better if just being used occasionally. It isn't something you'd use every time you Polish shoes. For routine polishing, just some Saphir Renovateur or neutral Saphir Pate de Luxe is enough to provide gentle cleaning.
Hi Kirby and thank you for your amazing videos! I get lots of compliments on shoes that are not even that expensive just because they are so shiny and dapper. My question to you is which order would you use the Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax polish, Saphir Beaute de Cuir Wax Polish, Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish? Is the purpose of Saphir Beaute de Cuir Wax Polish to protect mainly from water? Thank you!
A well-shined pair of shoes will definitely take you far! Thanks for sharing! In order: cream polish (for nourishment), Saphir Mirror Gloss (for hard wax foundation), then Saphir Pate de Luxe (for final buffing and polishing)
You mentioned at 0.46 Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish for cleaning? I thought it was for recoloring the leather - like other brands of shoe polish. I dont understand.
It is primarily for recoloring, but in the Mirror Shine application you are using the cream polish to very, very gently clean the topmost layer of hard waxes in the mirror shine. The solvents in the cream polish will remove the topmost layer without removing too much. It's a great way to renew your mirror shine.
Hi Kirby! Just wondering, I really love your black oxfords. I’m surprised no one has asked you what maker they are? Thanks for all your helpful videos!
I have the standard wax polish, clear, so that I can use it on all my shoes- I didn’t want to have to buy a cream and wax polish in every color that I have. Is it possible to achieve a mirror shine with only the standard wax? Obviously I wouldn’t expect it to be as good, but can it be done? Water or no water?
After establishing a mirror shine, would you only apply periodic conditioning to areas around the toe box and heel? And how would you maintain the mirror shine?
Bill - great question. This could be an entirely new video! First, you still want to condition and polish the rest of the shoe using a high-quality cream polish, like the Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish. As for maintaining the actual mirror gloss, it will need to be renewed quite often. A really nice mirror shine is actually difficult to maintain. You can gently buff the mirror gloss with a cream polish and then re-shine using the mirror gloss technique. This is what most people do. Then, every once and a while, the mirror gloss will just become so cracked that there isn't anything that can be done to salvage it. At this point, you'll have to use the Saphir Reno'Mat to pull off all of the hard waxes and start over. This is a good maintenance technique also.
The Hanger Project thanks so much! I love all your videos and it’s my after work indulgence to try out your techniques on my collection. Have just bought a bit of Saphir product from your site and am excited to start using some quality product. Please keep up the great work
I got a funny spot that had a different texture to it. It appeared on both shoes and I was able to polish it away on one shoe, but on the other it ended up looking like a water spot. At first the texture was more tacky. I figured that it was a build up of wax. Any tips to avoid this and to fix it?
Kirby, Thanks so much for you videos. One question. I assume that you do nothing more to the vamp of the shoe other than polish it. Is that correct? Thanks and keep up the great work.
I was always taught to use heat such as a heating gun lightly to melt the wax layers to help fill the pours to create the nice mirror....what are your thoughts on that?
I've heard of people doing this. Honestly not needed when using the Mirror Gloss. A blow dryer can also help accelerate the hardening of the waxes with the Pate de Luxe, which is a rather soft wax polish. But, again, I think better to avoid if not necessary.
I have seen some japanese shoe shine videos where they work a mirror shine with patte de luxe and whiskey!! What do you think about that combination, make any diference?
Im a young boy in the JROTC program, Ive been confortable shining shoes even before now, and shine all of my shoes, but now that I have attempted the mirror shine on my ROTC shoes I also need alittle shine on the rest of the shoe, would you recommend putting 1 layer of wax on the soft part of the shoe, maybe using a soft wax.
You can apply a wax polish to the entire shoe with one or two coats before you have to worry about cracking. If the polish does crack, it's not the end of the world -- just clean with some new polish.
so you get a high shine on the toe box and back. What are you doing to the other parts of the shoe? Just one round of wax on the other parts or what does that routine look like? Thank you
Ideally you use a cream polish on the other parts of the shoe, or maximum one or two applications of a hard wax polish. If you use too much, you'll end up with cracking across the vamp.
Take them for a walk, get the creases to crack well. Get home, brush them with a pig bristle brush on the cracked areas. Then apply cream polish and a coat of Pate De Luxe, leaving the mirror gloss for the hard countered areas like toebox and heel counters.
Patience is the key to a mirror shine. You can easily obtain a mirror shine by using kiwi polish, some water, and a T-shirt. You don’t need the stuff he says in the video, although I will say, I’m former military and used to use kiwi for all my boots. But for very nice leather dress shoes, in my opinion the shoe cream as a base layer and using high gloss polish(like Sapphir) is noticeably better to work with.
@@A_Marine_and_his_rifle that is what my late father who was in the Navy used to get a true mirror shine but im not that gifted and after many layers I just can't get these results. So i ordered these Saphir products...wish me luck!
again I assume using the Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish is the best for the "soft areas of the shoe. I put one layer but need to do more on those areas. Toe box and heel good incredible.
Yes. The Saphir Pate de Luxe Wax Polish is perfectly fine for the rest of the shoe, but you want to make sure that you do not apply more than one or two applications. Anything more with the hard wax polish will crack once you wear the shoe. You should still use a cream polish before the wax polish, though, because it does a much better job conditioning the leather.
Your videos are so comprehensive and helpful! I have been using High Gloss Pate de luxe. I was planning to order Saphir Mirror Gloss wax polish for my Caiman crocodile boots, but realized that the directions on the back says it's not for reptile. Is mirror gloss treatment not possible for my crocodile boots? Or shall I just stick with the high gloss pate de luxe treatment only?
Shin Aoki Thabks! That's our goal. Many more videos coming. Make sure you subscribe to receive notifications! I didn't see on the directions that it couldn't be used on reptile. I used it on my Crocodile shoes and was really happy with the results. Definitely better on reptile than standard Saphir Pate de Luxe wax polish because it contains less solvents. But, generally, best to not use calfskin polishes on exotics.
Hey kirby love your vids. I have been a devoted polisher since my teens and take great pride in mirror shining my footwear. Traditionally i used kiwi religiously but after seeing your vids have invested in saphir products. Unfortunately it appears i have a mix of products medal d'orm beaute de cuir and amiral . my question is can they be mixed. thanks again for your vids even if they are for gentlemen.
What should I do if my mirror shine shoes was under the rain ? It shows some white spots. Should I clean it using half-wet cloth ? How should I re-shine it ?
run a cold tap (faucet) and use a ball of cotton wool (wet), use circular motions whilst the toe of the shoe is under the tap and facing down at a 45 degree angle, stop using the cotton wool and gradually remove the shoe giving it a shake when completely removed, water should run off and not leave any water Marks. Have used this method of water bulling for 20 years + in the military.
I'm wondering. If I put some Saphir High Gloss black wax to deepen the color of my boots and THEN use neutral mirror gloss or if I put the Neutral Mirror Gloss and THEN the Saphir high gloss black afterward would it still work? I didn't have enough money to buy the Black and Neutral Mirror Gloss. Thx for the info!
If you are looking to deepen the color, I would use a black cream polish. It will be more effective than the black Mirror Gloss. I think you would be find to then just buy the neutral Mirror Gloss. You will be able to use it on any shoes to create the mirror gloss effect, regardless of the color.
What would everyone say to wear around London, Tweed suit with suede shoes or tweed shoes with brown Oxford brogues. I am also thinking a sharksin charcoal suit with black oxfords.
I suppose, however it would only be tweed blazer or jacket however I might add a double breasted jacket over the top of my charcoal suit and do you think brogueing would look nicer?
Edward Ashwell The black oxfords would look great with the charcoal suit. Would be fine to wear top coat. Both the Suede and brown Oxford brogues would work with the tweed jacket.
condensedmic They can absolutely be washed. You can also just reuse used areas. There isn’t a high enough pigment concentration in wax polish to really worry much about contamination. But if you want to wash your chamois, just do it by hand with warm water and light detergent.
Hi Kirby, I have 2 pairs of black dress shoes in calf plain leather. The toe box and heel are not of higher shine compared to the rest of the shoe. Will the products still able to create a mirror shine on my shoes?
Alea Han The Mirror Gloss is designed to create the high shine. Always starting from scratch at the beginning. Might take a little more time, but you'll certainly be able to do it following this method!
Can I achieve a high mirror shine on my dress shoe if the original leather wasn't shiny to begin with? If yes, what kind of products would i need to do that?
Absolutely! This video should show you exactly how to do that. You need to use the Saphir Pate de Luxe and Saphir Mirror Gloss - together, you should be able to create a beautiful mirror shine! Just be prepared for it to take some time the first time!
Any tips on mirror shining wholecuts? I know that on the toe you need to avoid straying too far towards the vamp, but do you try to keep a crisp delineation between where you mirror polish and where you don't (as if it had a cap) or do you favour a more blended fade from mirror to normal shine?
Stephen W The toe box on wholecuts still use a hard counter. You want to concentrate mirror gloss to this area, paying attention to the natural crease across the vamp. You’ll naturally fade the mirror gloss if there is no cap.
The Hanger Project tks for quick reply. Can you also give your opinion about putting shoes cream on the leather sole of the shoes, as C&J suggested that on their website. They say we also need to moisturize the sole, but does it means that it will be soften and easier to broken.
Check out their "Presidential Shoe Shine" video. It's a once or twice a year stripping down of all polishes, cleaning and reconditioning the leather, and then building up a new polish routine. More involved than this one and good for removing old polish.
Great video! Nearly the same process I used to shine my jump boots for inspection during my Army days. What's your recommended cleaning recommendation for your high shine chamois? I was looking at ordering some of the 180's.
Now I got bit confused, having a lot of wax on the chamois could be an issue when attempting to buff I suppose because at 9:34 cleaner areas of the chamois are important as you state, if one does not "wash" the cotton chamois then at some point in time it will have some wax build up.
Thank you for all your videos. Can you use neutral Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax Polish on black shoes? BTW, I followed this same procedure on my high quality handmade wallet with excellent results. I wasn't going for a mirror shine because it is flexible, but the creme polish followed by the wax polish and a layer of Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax Polish gave the leather a very rich, deep color and finish.
Kirby, Thanks for all you do. Two questions for you. Your thoughts on the laundry detergent you all sell. Also, who would you recommend for AFFORDABLE French cuff dress shirts? Thanks.
don't polish your shoes if you plan to wear a kilt
...and don't squat if you're wearing spurs!
Especially polish your shoes if you're wearing a kilt ..Chicks love it!
I was once asked what i was wearing under my kilt...my response, lipstick on a good day
😂
wow, coming back to this old video i can really see how much your video quality has improved over time. good work, and keep at it, kirby.
Thanks! Hopefully you'll say the same in another 6 months!
Just used your method here to mirror shine a pair of black boots which are almost identical to the ones in this video, rubber sole though. Got the mirror shine and ready for that interview, thank you Mr Allison!
Boy lookin like Mr. Rodgers still bringing us knowledge
I try my best...
I’m very happy to have found this channel and the website.
Well just finished my black shoes with the process in the video. I will say what a mirror shine, best shine I have ever been able to get on these shoes. i think I might have not waited enough time between applications of Mirror gloss but still came out with excellent results.
Doug slape awesome!! Thanks for sharing! If you are on Instagram, post a pic and tag @hangerproject and #shoeshinesunday
Very helpful video(s)! 🙏🏻Your tutorial takes this to the top level. I tried this first as a young teen. It got results with the nice comments from my young lady friend. I think it is natural and very positive when people take some care of all these sorts of things. It is positive, gratifying and good for a healthy self-esteem. 👍
I recently purchased the Pâte de Luxe and Medaille Dior clear polishes. I was wondering if you could illustrate the difference between using clear polishes vs. black polishes as it pertains to mirror shine?
The color
Could you please explain how to best care for patent leather? Does the renovateur help patent leather as well?
I have watched several of your videos and I like the way you present all the information. I have been polishing my shoes like a "pro" for many, many years and since I started using Saphir I noticed that some whiteish color started to appear on certain spots, but only on non-black shoes, to which I don't apply Saphir but a cheaper brand. Here, you clearly explain the reason but the question remains, why isn't the issue present in my black shoes? Perhaps is because of the specific characteristics of the Saphir wax? Anyway, I solved the issue by applying the cream before the wax! I like your videos, I believe you do a good job!
Hi Kirby, I have followed the tip to mirror shine and it works extremely well. May I know how you can polish/take care a pair of bookbinder to keep it long lasting?
Good job. Reminds me of the youtube channel where a guy in suit reviews fast food "The Report Of the Week"
Same
Kirby, Great Video. Missing...the clear coat. I have used Kiwi Neutral, or the Kiwi liquid neutral with just the lightest (one drop) layer to keep the mirror shine looking absolutely wet and high-definition reflective. Also, Meguar's Quick Mist will put a clear glaze on the shoe shine, but must be buffed to ensure the Carnauba does not bead up, dry white and look "chalky". A clear coat will add some protection and keep the waxes from oxidizing as quickly.
Do you recommend removing the old wax with stain remover before applying new cream and wax?
Only occasionally
Boss: Why are you late ?
Employee: Sir, I was polishing my shoes.
Boss: Good Lord !
Boss: Good Lord! Those are some shiny shoes!
*proceeds to give you a raise*
Found your videos and like them. They could be good for teaching military and police recruits to shine their boots. Would you ever do a pair of combat/ patrol boots because somethings they need some extra care due to wear and tear?
Saphir high gloss black wax polish just arrived in the post and I have to say it is fantastic. Thank you for introducing me to Saphir's line of products sir.
I'm super, super happy with the Mirror Gloss!
@kirby Allison is there any difference in the 2 mirror shines? I have one which is white, can that be used on black shoes?
Where do you buy saphir products in the US?
Hey Kirby, I have a question about the vedio. As we apply several layers of wax on the shoes, those wax may cause problems when we clean the shoes after several times of wearing, right? I mean, the renovator would have to penetrate those wax to condition the leather, and that just does not make sense tome. So my question is: would you use Reno Mat every time when you clean a pair of shoes that has been mirror polished? If not, when do you determine that it comes to the right moment to remove all the wax with Reno Mat, and re-do the whole process again? Thank you. You chanel have been really helpful and I absolutely enjoy them.
Hey Mr. Kirby, I just want to ask when is it better to use Mirror Gloss first and Pate de Luxe second, and when is it better to use Pate de Luxe first and Mirror Gloss second? Thank you
What is the best way to clean 'hi-shine' shoes - so not a patent leather but a more glossy finish?
I'm just curious if you could use pate deluxe first and the mirror gloss. I am just curious as that is how I was taught in basic training.
Hi; Great video. I have several cans of Allen Edmonds hard wax that have dried up and cracked inthe can. Is there a method or restoring the wax so it is not so hard and dry? Thanks.
How long does it typically take you to go from bare leather to mirror shine?
I use Pate de luxe and it takes me about 20 minutes per shoe.
Mr. Allison, can you shine black shoes/boots with the Saphir neutral mirror shine?
Hey Kirby, love the videos and appreciate your responses. Here's another question/scenario: I wear a nice high shine pair to work. Mirror toes and heals, nice shine everywhere else. They hold up well, wear them again, get a couple scuffs in the mirror shine. Will the cream polish take off the mirror shine? Should I just add more mirror shine to the toes and heals? Trial and error never hurt, but was wondering about how to maintain the mirror once it's started.
Depending on how badly the mirror gloss is scuffed, you might have to strip all the wax off using the Saphir Reno'Mat and start over... part of the pain of maintaining a proper mirror shine!
But, otherwise, I've seen people apply a little cream polish to clean the top few layers of wax off of the Mirror Gloss, then re-polish using the Mirror Gloss.
curious ... out of the 3-4 products ... what's the minimum one can get by for a solid polish? saphir cream and mirror gloss?
Please answer this question.
I tried to follow this instructions using the mirrow gloss and the pate de lux,followed by the pate de lux, and I got a dull finished. I was told that it should be done the other way around. Thst I should do the pate de lux first, and then the mirrow gloss
Second question :is this layering required every time I polish my shoes?
I have a question. I just bought a pair of Corcoran 1525 Leather Field Boots. I’ve not polished them yet. I was wondering if it would be acceptable or a good idea to apply a conditioner to the boot( minus toe cap and counters). Also since the boots are 10” in height what would you use as far as tree shoes for them?
Mr. Allison, for those of us that want to get one or the other which would you recommend? Black mirror or neutral. Logic would dictate neutral but I have heard that the black outperforms despite it being tinted.
Respectfully,
One of my shoes already had a tip with an already lighter dark brown factory finish defect. While rubbing on cream polish the dark lightened further to a light brown. The other shoe stayed the same dark brown. How can I get this tip back to dark brown? Thanks in advance
On your webpage for the mirror gloss, it says to use the pate de lux wax polish before the mirror gloss polish.
TheBooban I noticed the same thing!
In my opinion, using the pate de luxe first makes more sense in the long run, because the mirror gloss polish doesn't have the nourishing properties that the pate de luxe has, right?
How would you alter the steps if you were doing this on a brand new pair of shoes?
Kirby, do corrected/polished leather shoes lend themselves to a mirror shine or are they pretty much 'done' as they are? TQ.
Question for Kirby and all: I've applied the mirror glass product to two separate shoes now and it stripped the pigment from both shoes. Anyone have a suggestion or have run into this issue and solved it? Thank you!
Can use the yellow and blue pate de lux to finish
Thanks for introducing the mirror gloss. May I know what can I do if the build up of the mirror gloss cracked ?
NE2353 Try buffing with some Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish. The solvents should help repair cracking. If that doesn't work, you'll have to strip the he'd waxed off with the Saphir Reno'Mat and then start over.
Dear Mr. Allison, I have a problem with my mirror shine. Whenever I apply the Saphir mirror gloss wax and even after a nice mirror shine is created, as soon as I put another layer of mirror gloss wax on the shoe, the entire wax built up is almost completely removed. Do you have an idea, why after giving the wax even a day to dry, another application of wax is removing and not building up a stronger wax foundation?
Great demonstration, I'm slowly getting the hang of this. One question, though. Are the high shine chamois cloths washable? After several sessions I envision not being able to find a clean spot for buffing.
You can absolutely wash them. And they get better the more they are washed. You can hand wash with light detergent or some Reno'Mat.
Shoutout to this guy for getting me through inspection lol
Thank you for your amazing videos.
Can you explain the difference between saddle soaps that are presented on your site. And how to use them properly? What they actually can do and when to use them? Are they safe for a fine leather?
I.O. Thanks for the question! All of our Saphir products are safe for fine leather. The Leather Clean Soap is the most gentle. It is similar to a traditional Saddle Soap, but contains ingredients that help nourish the leather to counter the natural drying of the leather that occurs when soaps are used.
I recommend using leather cleaning soaps anytime the leather visibly appears dirty. You shouldn't shampoo the leather every time you Polish - it would be too much and could unnecessarily dry the leather. Always condition afterwards with the Saphir Renovateur.
Great Videos! I was just wondering have you ever encountered stripping off the patina off a shoes while doing the mirror gloss on the toebox?
I have. To prevent that from happening I put on the first layers of mirror gloss with my fingers instead of a chamois, then let it dry, buff, and then you can use your chamois again without stripping patina off.
It’s a technique I have seen in the shoe shine polish world championship on TH-cam.
Can i use transparent Gloss on diffrent colour of shoes?
Do you know the result if you just use Mirror Gloss after Saphir cream polish?
Great video! Thanks for posting, I’ve been doing the polish in the wrong order.
Wow man, i am so impressed about mirror gloss, thank you,,,,South Africa
With a layer of hard wax on the toe/heel counter, would those areas still benefit from the conditioning of the pommadier or the renovateur? Or would you have to use renomat on those areas for the conditioners to properly permeate the leather?
Best to occasionally use the Reno''Mat to pull off hard waxes so conditioners can penetrate into the leather. Something I would for sure do a few times a year, at least. But not necessary every time you polish your shoes. Because these areas will never flex, they are less prone to cracking.
So when you are finished with the tasks - then how does one maintain the shoes after that? Can you freshen the shoe up with the horse brush or do you need to something else? Thank you.
Stay tuned... we have a video coming out on the topic that we've already shot. The short, is that you definitely don't want to use a horsehair brush... instead, you want to rebuff using the same technique that the shine was created with originally.
what do you use to remove wax coating from shoes. Thank you for posting your videos!
phus2001 The Saphir Reno'Mat is best for removing old wax coatings. You can also use the Leather Cleaning Soap, but the Reno'Mat is better if just being used occasionally. It isn't something you'd use every time you Polish shoes.
For routine polishing, just some Saphir Renovateur or neutral Saphir Pate de Luxe is enough to provide gentle cleaning.
Thank you!!!👞👞💪💪
Which materials are you used
Give me details
Hi Kirby and thank you for your amazing videos! I get lots of compliments on shoes that are not even that expensive just because they are so shiny and dapper. My question to you is which order would you use the Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax polish, Saphir Beaute de Cuir Wax Polish, Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish? Is the purpose of Saphir Beaute de Cuir Wax Polish to protect mainly from water? Thank you!
A well-shined pair of shoes will definitely take you far! Thanks for sharing!
In order: cream polish (for nourishment), Saphir Mirror Gloss (for hard wax foundation), then Saphir Pate de Luxe (for final buffing and polishing)
6 years later; is this still the correct order? (In saphir’s own mirror gloss guide, they recommend pate de luxe first, then mirror gloss second.
what's the difference of buffing with a brush as opposed to buffing with a shammy?
You mentioned at 0.46 Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish for cleaning? I thought it was for recoloring the leather - like other brands of shoe polish. I dont understand.
It is primarily for recoloring, but in the Mirror Shine application you are using the cream polish to very, very gently clean the topmost layer of hard waxes in the mirror shine. The solvents in the cream polish will remove the topmost layer without removing too much. It's a great way to renew your mirror shine.
Hi Kirby! Just wondering, I really love your black oxfords. I’m surprised no one has asked you what maker they are? Thanks for all your helpful videos!
He said it was custom made by George Cleverly
Will you offer a promo code for Veterans? I have over $300 in my cart and hoping for a little break.
Where can I find a cardigan like yours? It looks fantastic!
I have the standard wax polish, clear, so that I can use it on all my shoes- I didn’t want to have to buy a cream and wax polish in every color that I have. Is it possible to achieve a mirror shine with only the standard wax? Obviously I wouldn’t expect it to be as good, but can it be done? Water or no water?
After establishing a mirror shine, would you only apply periodic conditioning to areas around the toe box and heel? And how would you maintain the mirror shine?
Bill - great question. This could be an entirely new video!
First, you still want to condition and polish the rest of the shoe using a high-quality cream polish, like the Saphir Pommadier Cream Polish. As for maintaining the actual mirror gloss, it will need to be renewed quite often. A really nice mirror shine is actually difficult to maintain. You can gently buff the mirror gloss with a cream polish and then re-shine using the mirror gloss technique. This is what most people do.
Then, every once and a while, the mirror gloss will just become so cracked that there isn't anything that can be done to salvage it. At this point, you'll have to use the Saphir Reno'Mat to pull off all of the hard waxes and start over. This is a good maintenance technique also.
The Hanger Project thanks so much! I love all your videos and it’s my after work indulgence to try out your techniques on my collection. Have just bought a bit of Saphir product from your site and am excited to start using some quality product. Please keep up the great work
Bill Chung Thanks! We’ll post a video sometime in December on mirror gloss maintenance
I got a funny spot that had a different texture to it. It appeared on both shoes and I was able to polish it away on one shoe, but on the other it ended up looking like a water spot. At first the texture was more tacky. I figured that it was a build up of wax. Any tips to avoid this and to fix it?
Kirby, Thanks so much for you videos. One question. I assume that you do nothing more to the vamp of the shoe other than polish it. Is that correct? Thanks and keep up the great work.
Love your channel. Very informative and good demonstration.
hi Kirby, I would like to know what kind of saphir shoe polish would I use on burgundy shoes? thank you
Would I have to do it every time I use the shoes? I mean, they get dirty at the end of the day..?
I was always taught to use heat such as a heating gun lightly to melt the wax layers to help fill the pours to create the nice mirror....what are your thoughts on that?
I've heard of people doing this. Honestly not needed when using the Mirror Gloss. A blow dryer can also help accelerate the hardening of the waxes with the Pate de Luxe, which is a rather soft wax polish. But, again, I think better to avoid if not necessary.
better to use some form of steam heat if anything
Kirby - do you recommend putting any wax polish on the soles to protect from scratches and dents from forming due to pebbles, rocks, glass, etc.?
You shine them a little, but keep in mind you may slip more
I have seen some japanese shoe shine videos where they work a mirror shine with patte de luxe and whiskey!! What do you think about that combination, make any diference?
Im a young boy in the JROTC program, Ive been confortable shining shoes even before now, and shine all of my shoes, but now that I have attempted the mirror shine on my ROTC shoes I also need alittle shine on the rest of the shoe, would you recommend putting 1 layer of wax on the soft part of the shoe, maybe using a soft wax.
You can apply a wax polish to the entire shoe with one or two coats before you have to worry about cracking. If the polish does crack, it's not the end of the world -- just clean with some new polish.
so you get a high shine on the toe box and back. What are you doing to the other parts of the shoe? Just one round of wax on the other parts or what does that routine look like? Thank you
Ideally you use a cream polish on the other parts of the shoe, or maximum one or two applications of a hard wax polish. If you use too much, you'll end up with cracking across the vamp.
Can you polish a pair of white leather dress sneakers?
What's best to do if you wind up with cracking wax on the vamp? I've gone too far with the wax and definitely have this going on with two pairs.
Take them for a walk, get the creases to crack well. Get home, brush them with a pig bristle brush on the cracked areas. Then apply cream polish and a coat of Pate De Luxe, leaving the mirror gloss for the hard countered areas like toebox and heel counters.
I already get a mirror shine but I know if I purchased all this fancy stuff I'd get too attached to my cadet boots
angel wong what do u do to get the mirror shine, I’m a jrotc Cadet and it’s difficult
@@BobSmith-wq8mx I use black kiwi and isopropyl alcohol
Patience is the key to a mirror shine. You can easily obtain a mirror shine by using kiwi polish, some water, and a T-shirt. You don’t need the stuff he says in the video, although I will say, I’m former military and used to use kiwi for all my boots. But for very nice leather dress shoes, in my opinion the shoe cream as a base layer and using high gloss polish(like Sapphir) is noticeably better to work with.
Thank you
@@A_Marine_and_his_rifle that is what my late father who was in the Navy used to get a true mirror shine but im not that gifted and after many layers I just can't get these results. So i ordered these Saphir products...wish me luck!
How do you clean those fine woven shammys?
By hand or even a washing machine
Thank you for these very helpful videos. Precise, concise, accurate! (The foundational pillars of Pulitzer reporting)
Razvan Neagu Hardly Pulitzer level, but certainly fun! More great videos to come! Make sure you subscribe! 😎🙏
again I assume using the Saphir Pate De Luxe Wax Shoe Polish is the best for the "soft areas of the shoe. I put one layer but need to do more on those areas. Toe box and heel good incredible.
Yes. The Saphir Pate de Luxe Wax Polish is perfectly fine for the rest of the shoe, but you want to make sure that you do not apply more than one or two applications. Anything more with the hard wax polish will crack once you wear the shoe.
You should still use a cream polish before the wax polish, though, because it does a much better job conditioning the leather.
Your videos are so comprehensive and helpful! I have been using High Gloss Pate de luxe. I was planning to order Saphir Mirror Gloss wax polish for my Caiman crocodile boots, but realized that the directions on the back says it's not for reptile. Is mirror gloss treatment not possible for my crocodile boots? Or shall I just stick with the high gloss pate de luxe treatment only?
Shin Aoki Thabks! That's our goal. Many more videos coming. Make sure you subscribe to receive notifications!
I didn't see on the directions that it couldn't be used on reptile. I used it on my Crocodile shoes and was really happy with the results. Definitely better on reptile than standard Saphir Pate de Luxe wax polish because it contains less solvents. But, generally, best to not use calfskin polishes on exotics.
That's very assuring to hear from you. I'll definitely try! Thank you so much!
Hey kirby love your vids. I have been a devoted polisher since my teens and take great pride in mirror shining my footwear. Traditionally i used kiwi religiously but after seeing your vids have invested in saphir products. Unfortunately it appears i have a mix of products medal d'orm beaute de cuir and amiral . my question is can they be mixed. thanks again for your vids even if they are for gentlemen.
Nothing to say that a lady can't polish her shoes 😉
I lve been trying to find this saphir mirror gloss and its difficult stuff to find, im in the uk do you have any ideas?
What should I do if my mirror shine shoes was under the rain ? It shows some white spots. Should I clean it using half-wet cloth ? How should I re-shine it ?
run a cold tap (faucet) and use a ball of cotton wool (wet), use circular motions whilst the toe of the shoe is under the tap and facing down at a 45 degree angle, stop using the cotton wool and gradually remove the shoe giving it a shake when completely removed, water should run off and not leave any water Marks. Have used this method of water bulling for 20 years + in the military.
Is the colorless medal d’or wax the same as the colored ones ? Because i have a black and a darkbrown pair so i can use it for both ?
Other than the pigments (or lack thereof), it's the same.
Would this spit shine process work on Kangaroo leather?
Excellent video, thank you.
I'm wondering. If I put some Saphir High Gloss black wax to deepen the color of my boots and THEN use neutral mirror gloss or if I put the Neutral Mirror Gloss and THEN the Saphir high gloss black afterward would it still work? I didn't have enough money to buy the Black and Neutral Mirror Gloss. Thx for the info!
If you are looking to deepen the color, I would use a black cream polish. It will be more effective than the black Mirror Gloss. I think you would be find to then just buy the neutral Mirror Gloss. You will be able to use it on any shoes to create the mirror gloss effect, regardless of the color.
Ah, interesting then I should concentrate on using cream of my choise then mirror gloss. Thank you for the info!
What would everyone say to wear around London, Tweed suit with suede shoes or tweed shoes with brown Oxford brogues. I am also thinking a sharksin charcoal suit with black oxfords.
Edward Ashwell You'd certainly look slightly lost in a tweed suit. 😉
Charcoal suit with black oxfords 😍
I suppose, however it would only be tweed blazer or jacket however I might add a double breasted jacket over the top of my charcoal suit and do you think brogueing would look nicer?
Edward Ashwell The black oxfords would look great with the charcoal suit. Would be fine to wear top coat. Both the Suede and brown Oxford brogues would work with the tweed jacket.
Can wear a tweed suit in London but it suits day wear better than evening!
Is it possible to mirror shine shell cordovan?
Can I mirror shine gold heels?
My shoes crease right on the cap. What do I do?
Can you clean your shirting chamois, or should one just throw away once you've used it too many times?
condensedmic They can absolutely be washed. You can also just reuse used areas. There isn’t a high enough pigment concentration in wax polish to really worry much about contamination. But if you want to wash your chamois, just do it by hand with warm water and light detergent.
Hi Kirby, I have 2 pairs of black dress shoes in calf plain leather. The toe box and heel are not of higher shine compared to the rest of the shoe. Will the products still able to create a mirror shine on my shoes?
Alea Han The Mirror Gloss is designed to create the high shine. Always starting from scratch at the beginning. Might take a little more time, but you'll certainly be able to do it following this method!
Thank you for your response, great to know!
Can I achieve a high mirror shine on my dress shoe if the original leather wasn't shiny to begin with? If yes, what kind of products would i need to do that?
Absolutely! This video should show you exactly how to do that. You need to use the Saphir Pate de Luxe and Saphir Mirror Gloss - together, you should be able to create a beautiful mirror shine! Just be prepared for it to take some time the first time!
Any tips on mirror shining wholecuts? I know that on the toe you need to avoid straying too far towards the vamp, but do you try to keep a crisp delineation between where you mirror polish and where you don't (as if it had a cap) or do you favour a more blended fade from mirror to normal shine?
Stephen W The toe box on wholecuts still use a hard counter. You want to concentrate mirror gloss to this area, paying attention to the natural crease across the vamp. You’ll naturally fade the mirror gloss if there is no cap.
Will the neutral mirror gloss with black pate de luxe work? Will the colour of my shoes be the same? Thanks
Đức Anh Trần Absolutely. Might get the neural mirror gloss tin a little dirty, but nothing to worry about.
The Hanger Project tks for quick reply. Can you also give your opinion about putting shoes cream on the leather sole of the shoes, as C&J suggested that on their website. They say we also need to moisturize the sole, but does it means that it will be soften and easier to broken.
How would you go about removing all the polish from a shoe if the polish were to crack?
Check out their "Presidential Shoe Shine" video. It's a once or twice a year stripping down of all polishes, cleaning and reconditioning the leather, and then building up a new polish routine. More involved than this one and good for removing old polish.
Hi Kirby, how do I strip the build up wax so I can start over with a bare leather surface?
Best way is with the Saphir Reno'Mat: www.hangerproject.com/saphir-reno-mat-cleaner.html
The Hanger Project thank you for your reply. Really appreciate it
How many coats of polish would i generally need for a full mirror shine? And how long should i wait between each coat before buffing?
You can see it. Just keep adding layers until you feel satisfied with the mirror shine. If you're starting from scratch, start with 10 layers.
Great video! Nearly the same process I used to shine my jump boots for inspection during my Army days. What's your recommended cleaning recommendation for your high shine chamois? I was looking at ordering some of the 180's.
Wow, thank you! Didn't know that!
Now I got bit confused, having a lot of wax on the chamois could be an issue when attempting to buff I suppose because at 9:34 cleaner areas of the chamois are important as you state, if one does not "wash" the cotton chamois then at some point in time it will have some wax build up.
Thank you for all your videos. Can you use neutral Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax Polish on black shoes? BTW, I followed this same procedure on my high quality handmade wallet with excellent results. I wasn't going for a mirror shine because it is flexible, but the creme polish followed by the wax polish and a layer of Saphir Mirror Gloss Wax Polish gave the leather a very rich, deep color and finish.
Absolutely. I use the neutral Saphir Mirror Gloss for most of my shoes.
Can I also use the underside of an old t-shirt to polish shoes ?
Absolutely.
Kirby,
Thanks for all you do.
Two questions for you.
Your thoughts on the laundry detergent you all sell.
Also, who would you recommend for AFFORDABLE French cuff dress shirts?
Thanks.