@@tavotagami931 May be a little late, but you can really use any cloth. Just depends how much longer it will take, I use a regular Tea towel, and I get a good mirror shine on mine
@@how2cadet500 theirs is a LOT better and lasts longer without maintenance, but yours is definitely enough for cadets since it don't need to be that extreme for cadets
Former cadet here. This is a good vid. One thing I'd add is while using a cloth can help produce an excellent shine, I've found that using a wet cotton ball can make your boot more shiny than a mirror. Just be sure to do it on a towel or water resistant surface, and to keep a little water in your polish lid to dip your cotton ball into occasionally. Happy shining and semper vigilans.
I apply the polish by hand while wearing a rubber glove. It uses a lot less polish because it doesn't just soak into the rag. I do the same with conditioner for the same reason. Though with conditioner I just use my bare hand.
I polished my wife's boots while she was in the Sheriff's Academy for 6 month. It took 3 o 4 weeks to get the mirror finish. it takes hours of work. The one thing not mentioned in the video was the cloth. I eventually found that a woman's nylon stocking worked best. Good luck even finding one today!
My dad was a Corporal, he taught me the way of just stuffing the boot with polish, letting it sit in the hot sun and then rubbing the polish even more with a brush, then taking a lighter and seering the toes a little and using a cloth to finish it off...can literally see your reflection in it
Good man. I hope that you are pursuing your career in the cadets or even proceeding to adult service whether regular or reserve/territorial. When I was a cadet (this would have been about 1979) I was commended for my bulled boots by an inspecting general, but in truth the boots I was wearing were my father's, who had been a national serviceman in the mid 1950s. and I had only brush polished them over the top of hours of spit and polish. aka British Army speak, "bulling". A few years later, after university and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I was invited to spend many happy hours of the evening on this activity. It seems we had the wrong polish - we were all using Kiwi! I do hope that you will spend at least a few years in uniform - best wishes to you either way.
I was a recruit did my studying and went to boot camp, earned my title as a cadet. Did more studying and training and became a seamen apprentice 3rd class,considering it's still a low class, but I achieved at the age of 14😎 💪
Hey, as a retired air cadet myself you did a good job however you missed out a few things. 1: The base coat and glossing shining process is supposed to be done for your whole boot and as your commander might ask you to pull up your pants to see if the whole boot is shined. 2: Most people forget to do this but stuffing the inside of your boot with clothing helps as it doesn't Bend when your polishing.
@@Anonymous-DoGooder i know it sounds cringe however it's true. Once cadets reach the age of 18+. Cadets either age out or leave due to post secondary studies. So it's easier for cadets to say retired lol. I did do 6 years tho
@@Anonymous-DoGooder I don't understand how this is cringe, they are saying they're a retired air cadet meaning that they aged out of cadets. Here is the definition of retired since you don't seem to know: "having left one's job and ceased to work."
Some suggestions I’d make. After a good brush with a pig bristle brush, the first thing you really want to do is moisturize the leather. You are spot on with Saphir products. So you’ll want to start with Saphir Medaille d'Or Renovator. Let that sit like 5 min and then brush again. Now for your “base layer” you’ll want to use Saphir’s Pommadier Cream. Again, let us sit 5 min to overnight and give a good brush. Now for the mirror finish, get yourself some Saphir Medaille d’Or Pate De Luxe Navy Blue. I know the boots are black but the navy blue will really work well. Just use your fingers with the wax and work on about 7 or 8 thin layers of wax on the toe. At this point a cotton rag, an ice cube and a water bottle with about an inch of isopropyl alcohol and the rest water will irk the rest. Put just a couple drops of the alcohol mix on the rag and tap the counter so the rag isn’t to wet and start rubbing. Every so often lightly tap the wax or ice cube and work the toe. Don’t use too much water!! Little tiny drops. You’ll get a crazy mirror shine. Just make sure you only stick to the toe and not try to mirror shine your whole boot. It’ll just crack and look like crap. Keep up the good work!
Wow this is allot of really great information. The reason why I didn't add this in my tutorial is most of my viewers have limited resources and don't have the expertise to get this deep into it, but you obviously know your stuff.
I’ve burnt my boots before and they don’t polish as well now, even after brushing off all the previous polish. Would I be better getting new boots? Or keep attempting to polish them?
I would attempt to strip them. You can do this by getting a hair dryer and heating up the boot, then wiping all the polish of with a paper towel or something like that. The goal is to get down to just the leather. Then you can start polishing again. Hope this helps and good luck!
here are some things NOT to do as told from these happening to people in my squadron: 1. putting your boots in the oven, i don't know why anyone would do this but DO NOT put your boots in the oven. 2. using a lighter, this will ruin your boots and you will smell like a burning dead animal. 3. spit shine, does not work, also kinda gross 4. not shining your boots , why :(
I just have a question for the cadets I'l be joining soon #1 do the cadets provide boot polish or does it have to be purchased privately #2 At military surplus stores do they give a cadet discount and finally can you apply for a CANEX card when your in the cadets. Thanks!
1. I'm a air cadet and no they do not provide polish, you'll have to get your own cloth and polish or ask a friend who has polish. 2. I'm unsure about the surplus stores but yes you can apply for the CANEX card, I've gotten a digital copy of my card but have been waiting on my physical card for some time.
no. it'll still be a shine assuming you're polishing normally with a horsehair brush. if you just apply the polish and leave it, it'll be matte but it'll also rub off on everything. if you want your shoes to be matte just don't shine them, instead use oils like mink oil. god bless and stay safe.
and then u go out into the field and if u ever need to check your hair or something, u can do that with your shoe's mirror. i have to do this too but i don't see the point in making it like mirror like polished
In days past leather was softened and waterproofed for practical purposes and not to make them shine. As the quality of waxes and leather goods improved, so too did the desire to shine leather materials such as boots. Now it's just a tradition.
This is dogmatic thinking. I used Kiwi for years, and yes, with the right skill it works. But Saphir is a superior product that is easier to work and is objectively better.
Hi, I really need help. In the video you start from a brand new pair and get mirror shine in 4 minutes. I've been literally trying for so long but I haven't achieved this. One of my friends said it took him two hours to get a mirror shine. If you could offer me some advice that would be great
How long have you been doing that? Because from what I have heard in the long run it really dries out you shoes. That also depends if the shoes are made out of real or synthetic leather.
@@how2cadet500 I've been doing it on two pairs of shoes now for probably close to 20 years,they look like the day I bought them.Ive also used tire shine.The masses are right tho Armorall ruins everything you use it on.I imagine my shoes have held up because I only wear them every once in a while ,and it's not the only thing I use on them ,but in a pinch it does in fact make them look good.
During training I wear my boots at least twice a week for the year so I have to be really careful what I use on them. Anything other than the best and they will fall apart lol
I spent many hours polishing boots while I did national service back in '91. And I've hardly polished shoes or boots ever since.... 🤣 Dont even own a pair of leather shoes anymore.
Hey hopefully you see this and reply but I’m having trouble with my boots at the moment with it cracking in certain places. What do I do for this as it’s shiny in some places and not in the cracks. Please help
Sorry for the late reply. Sounds like you could have boot cancer in which case you would need to strip your boots and restart. That being said cracks in the creases of your boots are perfectly normal.
@@claytonjones5441 can't give you advice on that but i would recommend using a shoe tree. it'll minimize cracking and deformities from regular wear and tear
Technically you could use any cloth, but a polishing cloth will leave the best shine. If you have nothing else, try something like flannel and make sure it isn't shedding lint or it will mix with the polish.
If it’s a brand new boot there is a protective coating on it that makes it stain proof, use some soap and water to take off the protective coating, then polish it.
Yes, you can use water during the fine polishing stage, though sometimes I just breathe on the boot and that adds condensation. You don't want to use a lot otherwise the water will dry and leave little water drop marks on the Polish. Hope that helps!
By melting the polish with a hairdryer or heat gun just be very careful not to burn the leather underneath. Then use a paper towel to wipe off the melted polish and voila! I would put some boot cream on the leather before you start polishing again. Hope that helps : )
If you have any questions, please post below.
Can you name steps plz on comment
Do you have to use the kiwi cloth cloth or can you use any cloth?
@@tavotagami931 May be a little late, but you can really use any cloth. Just depends how much longer it will take, I use a regular Tea towel, and I get a good mirror shine on mine
please can i have the links of both the polishes (kiwi and saphir)
Did you use kiwi or Saphir to polish ur boots? Can i still polish if my kiwi polish is dry and broke?
This seems WAY better than the British army way, what with them stuffing sand in the boot, applying hot beeswax, then blowtorching it.
Yeah, seems a little excessive doesn't it?
@@how2cadet500 theirs is a LOT better and lasts longer without maintenance, but yours is definitely enough for cadets since it don't need to be that extreme for cadets
@@onyxchidorii4540 It really isn't
@@RealAugustusAutumn yes it is lmao, I got personally told it was the best way when I met the RQSM of the irish guards lol.
@@onyxchidorii4540 he said that because it's how they do it there. Doesn't mean it's the best way.
Former cadet here.
This is a good vid. One thing I'd add is while using a cloth can help produce an excellent shine, I've found that using a wet cotton ball can make your boot more shiny than a mirror. Just be sure to do it on a towel or water resistant surface, and to keep a little water in your polish lid to dip your cotton ball into occasionally. Happy shining and semper vigilans.
Great tips!
Former danish royal life guard here, the cotton ball is the way to go
Current cadet here, a Q-tip works as well not quite as good but if you don’t have cotton balls it is a good enough alternative.
Good videos I like them@@how2cadet500
What about cotton pads?
NOBODY has ever told me about fine polishing before, so my boots would never be up to par. Thank you.
I apply the polish by hand while wearing a rubber glove. It uses a lot less polish because it doesn't just soak into the rag.
I do the same with conditioner for the same reason. Though with conditioner I just use my bare hand.
Good advice!
I polished my wife's boots while she was in the Sheriff's Academy for 6 month. It took 3 o 4 weeks to get the mirror finish. it takes hours of work. The one thing not mentioned in the video was the cloth. I eventually found that a woman's nylon stocking worked best. Good luck even finding one today!
As an airforce cadet in australia this was really helpful, thankyou
you are welcome!!!!
7 wing by any chance?
My dad was a Corporal, he taught me the way of just stuffing the boot with polish, letting it sit in the hot sun and then rubbing the polish even more with a brush, then taking a lighter and seering the toes a little and using a cloth to finish it off...can literally see your reflection in it
you can’t use fire inside the army building. Risk of fire, and the polish can easily start a fire
Nobody gave me clear instructions on how to polish my boots you did a good job explaining thank you!
Thanks for the video, I’m a level 5 and honestly forgot how to polish boots, thanks for the refresher!
No worries!
is bro cooked?
As a cadet, I've been trying to find lots of ways to shine my boots, this is by far the best method I've found. Nice video.
Hello from New Zealand 🇳🇿
Good man. I hope that you are pursuing your career in the cadets or even proceeding to adult service whether regular or reserve/territorial. When I was a cadet (this would have been about 1979) I was commended for my bulled boots by an inspecting general, but in truth the boots I was wearing were my father's, who had been a national serviceman in the mid 1950s. and I had only brush polished them over the top of hours of spit and polish. aka British Army speak, "bulling". A few years later, after university and at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, I was invited to spend many happy hours of the evening on this activity. It seems we had the wrong polish - we were all using Kiwi! I do hope that you will spend at least a few years in uniform - best wishes to you either way.
Thank you! I'm an AFJROTC cadet and I need to learn how to shine my shoes! Thank you!
RAF Cadet here, you guys know your stuff, my shoes better than ever, thanks a bunch!
Thanks mate I’m from 2500 air cadets and I’m now a first class cadet and I beardy get by on inspection especially flight sergeant does it
I was a recruit did my studying and went to boot camp, earned my title as a cadet. Did more studying and training and became a seamen apprentice 3rd class,considering it's still a low class, but I achieved at the age of 14😎 💪
12yrs in the navy I was never told to stop applying the polish at some point.
Hey, as a retired air cadet myself you did a good job however you missed out a few things.
1: The base coat and glossing shining process is supposed to be done for your whole boot and as your commander might ask you to pull up your pants to see if the whole boot is shined.
2: Most people forget to do this but stuffing the inside of your boot with clothing helps as it doesn't Bend when your polishing.
Those are great tips!
Dawg a retired air cadet? You even hear yourself rn? Sounds so cringe.
@@Anonymous-DoGooder i know it sounds cringe however it's true. Once cadets reach the age of 18+. Cadets either age out or leave due to post secondary studies. So it's easier for cadets to say retired lol. I did do 6 years tho
@@williamlockheart2798 pal. 6 years of being in a kids program.
@@Anonymous-DoGooder I don't understand how this is cringe, they are saying they're a retired air cadet meaning that they aged out of cadets.
Here is the definition of retired since you don't seem to know: "having left one's job and ceased to work."
Thank you! Am in JROTC and I really needed this 👍
Some suggestions I’d make. After a good brush with a pig bristle brush, the first thing you really want to do is moisturize the leather. You are spot on with Saphir products. So you’ll want to start with Saphir Medaille d'Or Renovator. Let that sit like 5 min and then brush again. Now for your “base layer” you’ll want to use Saphir’s Pommadier Cream. Again, let us sit 5 min to overnight and give a good brush. Now for the mirror finish, get yourself some Saphir Medaille d’Or Pate De Luxe Navy Blue. I know the boots are black but the navy blue will really work well. Just use your fingers with the wax and work on about 7 or 8 thin layers of wax on the toe. At this point a cotton rag, an ice cube and a water bottle with about an inch of isopropyl alcohol and the rest water will irk the rest. Put just a couple drops of the alcohol mix on the rag and tap the counter so the rag isn’t to wet and start rubbing. Every so often lightly tap the wax or ice cube and work the toe. Don’t use too much water!! Little tiny drops. You’ll get a crazy mirror shine. Just make sure you only stick to the toe and not try to mirror shine your whole boot. It’ll just crack and look like crap. Keep up the good work!
Wow this is allot of really great information. The reason why I didn't add this in my tutorial is most of my viewers have limited resources and don't have the expertise to get this deep into it, but you obviously know your stuff.
I am Chief Petty Officer and I hope young cadets will polish these shoos good.
Ty so much you helped me pass my 2 star drill and turnout
This helps me out becuase i am in cadets i am in air cadets and it has been like 5 months since i did my boots because of COVID-19
Posh boy
I am from Bangladesh cadet college. Cadet Mahmud. Salute for you..,,
Thank you!
you know this kid is good when he whips out the saphir
Great video!!! Nice and professional.
Thank you very much!
Thank you man really appreciate it, helping me pass the unit inspection for JROTC. 👍
Great video teaching us how to shine boots!!!
I spent way too much money on saphir parade gloss but this looks just as good
Thanks
Thank you! im not in air cadets but this is rly useful
Thank you! Very clear and helpful
Canadian Air Cadet here this was helpful
Cheers mate. Ive been trying to get a mirror shine this reely helped.
I’ve burnt my boots before and they don’t polish as well now, even after brushing off all the previous polish. Would I be better getting new boots? Or keep attempting to polish them?
I would attempt to strip them. You can do this by getting a hair dryer and heating up the boot, then wiping all the polish of with a paper towel or something like that. The goal is to get down to just the leather. Then you can start polishing again. Hope this helps and good luck!
"a liitle bit of water"
*The jug* -🦆
Thank you because i have a drill comp tomorrow for jrotc this really hellped
here are some things NOT to do as told from these happening to people in my squadron:
1. putting your boots in the oven, i don't know why anyone would do this but DO NOT put your boots in the oven.
2. using a lighter, this will ruin your boots and you will smell like a burning dead animal.
3. spit shine, does not work, also kinda gross
4. not shining your boots , why :(
Facts just strait facts.
I just have a question for the cadets I'l be joining soon #1 do the cadets provide boot polish or does it have to be purchased privately #2 At military surplus stores do they give a cadet discount and finally can you apply for a CANEX card when your in the cadets. Thanks!
I'm in the sea cadets and they don't provide polish for us although I couldn't be sure on other cadet forces
@@meganheath1215 Thanks!
1. I'm a air cadet and no they do not provide polish, you'll have to get your own cloth and polish or ask a friend who has polish. 2. I'm unsure about the surplus stores but yes you can apply for the CANEX card, I've gotten a digital copy of my card but have been waiting on my physical card for some time.
@@tahu033 thanks I am in cadets now have a good one.
Thank you for this video helped me so much
Glad it helped!
If you don't use water will the shine be like a matt finish
Correct!
no. it'll still be a shine assuming you're polishing normally with a horsehair brush. if you just apply the polish and leave it, it'll be matte but it'll also rub off on everything. if you want your shoes to be matte just don't shine them, instead use oils like mink oil. god bless and stay safe.
These comments are so wholesome. God bless you all
Thank you
"Hey Tallahassee Kid, you can shine the shoes, make some money !"
Thankyou so much. This really helped me 🙏
You’re welcome 😊
Wow! Once it was a part of my daily life. I was an Army cadet(Territorial Forces). I am ex now.
Nice bit of nostalgia then?
@@how2cadet500 yeah man. I miss those days very much.
and then u go out into the field and if u ever need to check your hair or something, u can do that with your shoe's mirror. i have to do this too but i don't see the point in making it like mirror like polished
In days past leather was softened and waterproofed for practical purposes and not to make them shine. As the quality of waxes and leather goods improved, so too did the desire to shine leather materials such as boots. Now it's just a tradition.
@@how2cadet500 ahh ok, i have to do this too cause im a cadet and i was a bit confused. thank you
This works so well!!!!
Ngl, it's considered blasphemy in my squadron to use anything other than kiwi, so imma stick with that lol
This is dogmatic thinking. I used Kiwi for years, and yes, with the right skill it works. But Saphir is a superior product that is easier to work and is objectively better.
@@TheeYellowDart oh damn, then I might have to switch to that
Good video Comrade!
Glad you enjoyed it
We used to have to polish the part of the sole that didn’t touch the ground
Crazy. This shit is a skill fr.
I want to ask you that i like the smell of polish so it's good or not please reply
if it's saphhir you'll be fine. if it's kiwi prob stop.
Can you tell me step by step on fine polishing as in the video its a little confusing
Hi, I really need help. In the video you start from a brand new pair and get mirror shine in 4 minutes. I've been literally trying for so long but I haven't achieved this. One of my friends said it took him two hours to get a mirror shine. If you could offer me some advice that would be great
Thank you it helped so much
Glad it helped!
No lie,anytime I need shiny shoes I spritz them with Armor all,wipe em with a cloth and 30 seconds later I have shiny shoes again
How long have you been doing that? Because from what I have heard in the long run it really dries out you shoes. That also depends if the shoes are made out of real or synthetic leather.
@@how2cadet500 I've been doing it on two pairs of shoes now for probably close to 20 years,they look like the day I bought them.Ive also used tire shine.The masses are right tho Armorall ruins everything you use it on.I imagine my shoes have held up because I only wear them every once in a while ,and it's not the only thing I use on them ,but in a pinch it does in fact make them look good.
During training I wear my boots at least twice a week for the year so I have to be really careful what I use on them. Anything other than the best and they will fall apart lol
I spent many hours polishing boots while I did national service back in '91. And I've hardly polished shoes or boots ever since.... 🤣 Dont even own a pair of leather shoes anymore.
These Canadians know something us Brits don’t,
I guess we do : )
Currently in the raf trying different billing techniques 😂
good luck! : )
Great video, they need morello boot polish morelloman on them boots!
I use my boots too frequently to use that product as it will crack off after a few uses. But morello does make your shoes really shiny.
So, I am joing the RCAC (Air), and I am wondering if the parade shine from kiwi is any better than the kiwi stuff he showed here?
fine polishing still unclear. did u add water or polish before rubbing?
The order doesn't matter.
Ayeee it works, thanks a lot!
Enjoy
Nice Boot!
Thanks!
Should I gloss my Police boots or is this not a good idea
What kind of boots are those? They almost look like British DMS boots, but without the toe cap.
My name is Thomas to
Great name right!😄
Thank you 🥰
You’re welcome
will this work with female boots? cuz usually female boots are harder to polish 😅
ummmm 🤣
Hey hopefully you see this and reply but I’m having trouble with my boots at the moment with it cracking in certain places. What do I do for this as it’s shiny in some places and not in the cracks. Please help
Sorry for the late reply. Sounds like you could have boot cancer in which case you would need to strip your boots and restart. That being said cracks in the creases of your boots are perfectly normal.
Do you have a good strategy to take all the polish off without damaging the boot? And Any good tips to shine them up again nice and quick
@@claytonjones5441 can't give you advice on that but i would recommend using a shoe tree. it'll minimize cracking and deformities from regular wear and tear
A Question, what if you dont have a polishing cloth? Is there an alternative?
Technically you could use any cloth, but a polishing cloth will leave the best shine. If you have nothing else, try something like flannel and make sure it isn't shedding lint or it will mix with the polish.
Cotton balls work wonders my friend
Does this work with Brown Boots?
yeah, just replace black polish with brown polish. brown doesn't shine as well as black so you won't get the same results.
Are we only supposed to polish the front part of the boot or the hole thing?
You should be polishing the whole thing though the toe is usually the highlight.
Am I supposed to do that to the entire boot, or just the toes?
Should you just apply one fine coat or multiple?
Do you have a video that talks more about "boot cancer"? I looked but didnt find any
how do i get liquid shine off my boots
What kind of boots are those because they look nice and I would like to pick A pair up ?
These are cadet issued boots, and aren’t sold anywhere as far as I’m aware.
Yang mana Anak Askar & Polis tolonglah belajar benda ni.
Can you do the same thing to parade shoes
yo this is so helpfull but ive saved cuz i still cant get the stupid shoe polish open its so hard to get open
The can should have a metal piece you twist to pop the lid off.
@@how2cadet500 oh i didnt notice that thx i can finally open it
What kind of boots are these and where can I get some?
Someone else asked that and he replied "I got them at a surplus store.(Biltrite is the brand)"
Thanks for answering that one.
I didn’t see any bulling of the polish within the video, can you just leave the polish unbulled?
Also, can you use Kiwi for fine polishing
That is correct. Though I prefer the other one because it is a lot thinner
@@how2cadet500 oh, ok then.
i have done this three times but my boots are not even close to shine
No matter what I do my boots aren’t shining… what should I do?
If it’s a brand new boot there is a protective coating on it that makes it stain proof, use some soap and water to take off the protective coating, then polish it.
How do you tell if your boots have wax on them?
Do you need to wet the cloth when fine polishing it?
Yes, you can use water during the fine polishing stage, though sometimes I just breathe on the boot and that adds condensation. You don't want to use a lot otherwise the water will dry and leave little water drop marks on the Polish. Hope that helps!
What model boot are these? Thank you
is there any way to remove old polish coats on my boot ?
By melting the polish with a hairdryer or heat gun just be very careful not to burn the leather underneath. Then use a paper towel to wipe off the melted polish and voila! I would put some boot cream on the leather before you start polishing again. Hope that helps : )
Where can I find Saphir shoe polish???
Tip: use cotton ball
True!
I want to buy that shoes from where I can buy that
You might be able to get a pair from a military surplus store. No guarantee though.
I am doing what you told me to do but it is not wrking
Anyone know if these applications and process work the same with shark skin leather? Sorry I’m not a soldier, unless you count the drug war.
Thanks from 632 Phoenix Sq!
You bet!
Does this method work for brown boots
It should.
@@how2cadet500 ok thanks
Btw your have to do everywhere not just the toe
What about brown boots Cus that’s what I use
replace black polish with brown polish, it won't be as good of a shine because black shines better than brown.
Ye jute kaha milta hai sir mujhe lena hai
main nahin samajh sakata
which cadets do u go to
Air cadets (525 Pathfinder)
USNSCC Here.
What cadets do you and what country are you from
Royal Canada Air Cadets
@@how2cadet500 nice fire cadet
cool
I’m St. John ambulance cadet uk :)
I am NJROTC from US