I had this problem with the same pair of shoes. I'm not sure how long it took you, but I added the a couple of layers of the cream polish first. I'm thinking it filled in the pores a little easier; although, I pretty much followed every step you did after the cream. I would say to strip both toe caps, use a few coats of cream, and then do everything that you did. It's also helpful to mix the different polishes with the spit, from my experience. I love that you're an amateur cobbler. You've motivated me to add taps and possibly rubber to my own shoes, even though there is a great cobbler near me.
I have a pair of shoes which gave me the same problem, there was a spot which would not shine or take colour. I used acetone to strip the toe cap back to the bare leather. Then added Saphir shoe cream, brushed, then added again, then renavateur and brushed, not vice versa. Once I was happy with the colour, Saphir mirror gloss, let that sit and really dry out, then the normal Saphir coloured wax. It took me a couple of hours to get the foundation right. Use the standard water drops to wax on shoe polishing technique. Took a while but the result is worthwhile. Now I can maintain the mirror shine with 5 minutes per shoe.
I know this comment is kinda late. But if it help anyone, that shoe is over conditioned. The toe cap is saturated with moisture and it’s replying the wax. That is why it’s darker too. By carefully applying heat with a hair dryer or heat-gun at low you can fix the issue easier. Elegant Oxford has a video explaining it. The. Reno mat that you used helped drying the leather slightly I think.
I don’t believe the owner added any conditioner to them. I could be wrong as I’m going by memory, but I assumed it was basically the same thing as you say, but from the tanning process?
Had the same thing with a pair of Loake wensums. Same dry looking spot. I did the blow-dryer method that I'd heard suggested for a quick mirror shine and it worked perfectly.
This is quite interesting to me, as I had the exact same problem with a pair of First Quality Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue in Oxblood, (Burgundy) color. One of the shoes had a blemish similar to Hayden’s issue with one of his shoes. It looked as if the original dye put on by Allen Edmonds did not ‘take’ when applied. I discovered the problem after applying some Venetian Shoe Cream which made the discoloration quite visible. I wish I would have discovered this video prior to spending hours of applying darker shades of shoe polish. I eventually used some black polish before finishing up with some Oxblood/Merlot/Burgundy polish. In my opinion, Hayden’s shoe discoloration issue, (as well as mine), should have been detected during AE’s quality control procedures. I’ve personally had a few quality issues recently with AE First Quality Shoes. I hear similar comments from others. I hope that this isn’t a trend within AE. Anyway, you did a really nice job smoothing out the color in Hayden’s shoe. Good work!
I like your videos and I always learn a lot. One small critique…your lighting is too poor to see the problem. One tip is to take the shoes outside on a cloudy day for filming ….the light will be perfectly diffused and you can see every detail very clearly.
Duke Robinson maybe I’ll install an overhead can light.. my later videos I have a lamp on the camera stand... I’m learning as I go! As far as these particular pair o found it very difficult to show the problem on video. I don’t think it was so much a lighting issue as just a limitation on my camera (iPhone).
@@CobblerBob Definitely yuo need more light for the camera. Videos have very poor quality beacuse of the lighting. They look like if they are from the 90's. Talking about the issue, I had the same problem with a G&G St. James II model. After removing and waxing the shoes again and again severa times for 2 days, I relaize that was an issue with something, the wax or the solvents, were not dry. I put several layers of wax without using water. Just in the last two I did it and it made the tirck,
I have always used Kiwi. I bought a new pair of boots the other night that just won’t shine, so I’m going to try something different. I used saddle soap to remove the polish, but all of my tricks with Kiwi are not working. Thanks for the tips.
Was the pair of shoes ever exposed to rain before? I had this pair of dress shoes that developed lumps (or divots as you mentioned in the video) after walking in the rain. I did some research and found out that basically the surface of the leather expands when it’s wet, but the layer of polish on top prevents it from expanding so it ends up in the distorted shape of divots.
Sunny Mok I understand what you’re saying, but there was something different about that 1” spot different than all of the surrounding leather. It was only that area that wouldn’t take polish. I believe it’s some oil or other substance left over from the tanning process in that area.
Robert Powers, has to be something solvent based or a bad part of the finish. To my knowledge those are the only things that stop polish from being applied. I used to moonlight as a shoe shine while in the Army and I would have to do some pretty extensive work to the mechanics boots to get them to accept polish. They would only do a small layer and brush shine it and the oils and solvents would eat through that lite layer and get into the leather. I usually used acetone in those cases and was careful. Used dye afterwards if necessary. Then condition, shine the next morning
well done! the final result is good. I have a similar issue may be worse than yours. My AE has an exact spot doesnt take wax at all. The first 2-3 layers of wax seem OK, but as I am building up layers, the wax from that spot starting rubbed off with color fading as well that makes that spot like a bald. I am not sure if there is an oil stain underneath that spot which makes it not taking wax. Could you share how I can restore that spot? thanks.
Just bought brand new pair of Carmina oxfords and they hard-core have this problem after their first conditioning and polishing. Huge spot right in the middle of left toe cap .. Thanks for guidance. Really frustrating, I hope I can figure it out
Help!! I discovered a flat spot on the toe of my new AE Park Avenues. I thought I saw it when I got them, but after working on a mirror shine last night I noticed this morning the spot seemed flatter and wax is cracked in the area. I did not drop them. I removed old wax with hair dryer and not sure if I pressed too hard. I can feel it from the inside a little as well. I can't find anything concerning this problem.
Great job, Bob! My first instinct was that the spot might have been caused by salt. It looked like a very mild salt stain but of course there's no way for me to know for sure. Also, I'd prefer to first strip everything down using Renomat and then give it 2-3 rounds of conditioning to make sure that leather is in good condition to take the wax. Applying wax directly after Renomat would mean sealing the leather in a relatively drier state. What do you think?
Sidharth Panwar I could be wrong, but I wasn’t worried about these shoes being dry because they were purchased new from Allen Edmonds recently. The leather seemed well nourished to me. I don’t think it was anything to do with salt because the owner has been careful with the shoes, and because salt stains have a white appearance, and usually appears round the bottoms of the uppers close to the soles. Also, he’s had this problem since he got the shoes.
Great Job Bob, you are a good friend and it also helps that you have a passion for Great quality shoes, That particular pair might have been a pair of seconds that came like that from the factory maybe?
Bernardo Pena great point, but they are1st quality because they don’t have the foot shaped stamp on the sole, and he paid full price for them. Also, thank you for the compliment!
Yep, this is why folks are getting upset with AE. My Strands looked a little skunk striped and my St Johns were so moist, too moist, I swear they just finished making them. Haven't got the courage to try the shoe bank...yet
It might be a factory problem, lets say they do the dying starting at the heel area, doing the toe area last, but there holding the toe area with thumb and finger and slightly pivoting, small amounts of contamination of sweat oils and salt are leaching into the pours of the shoe where the thumb and finger area are being applied, could be the gloves there using etc.. A factory setting may not catch it due to lighting etc.. I would contact Allen Edmonds and make an inquiry into this as many are having the same issue. Might be just a simple issue that could be corrected.
@@CobblerBob Will have to send them napkins, perhaps some wet one's with lemon. I have a passion for Oxford leather shoes ever since being in the military, quite particular about them esp. the toe area - Of all the places the toe area - Really!! lol right from the factory - Good Grief!
@robertbslee at what price point is cow skin premium for you. Considering most people buy $100 shoes this shoe falls in that premium level in my opinion
Saphir renomat only removes shoe polish and wax nothing else I been using it on my shoes it does not remove any stains or anything else I bought the other liquid from Hanger Project from Kirby to remove stains it ruined my beautiful Hugo Boss shoes it removed the color of the shoes
Robert I think you came up short on the explanation as to why the problem exist in the first place. Is it the leather and it’s natural defect ? Is it that the polish was applied unevenly and that’s why you strip the shoe? You seemed to be dumbfounded as to the cause. As to the explanation of the attempted repair you are all over the place. You used this wax but then you used the other wax you use one cloth then you used the other cloth you did not use alcohol maybe you should have used alcohol but you were afraid to. Then you suggest that you fixed the problem but then you seem to suggest it’s not quite fixed, Phew! Your all over the place. I do agree with you that apply light pressure to the affected area is probably a sound idea. I know you have no obligation to the public but since you threw yourself out there I think you need to do some research and get it right. What is the cause and what is the solution. I enjoy your videos and appreciate your effort but this video was a disappointment. Forgive me for being some what blunt. I wish you the best.
Ronny R, although we're both speculating, I find it unlikely they're using corrected grain leather. Their website currently says "Lined premium calfskin leather upper" and "The Park Avenue is made with only the highest quality calfskin leather" - corrected grain is well known to be a lower grade of leather. I find it more feasible that their quality control in hyde selection was off in this case, or that their choice of tanneries from which they are purchasing leather is to blame, etc, than they would outright lie by using corrected grain leather. It just seemed to me like there was something IN the leather on that area that was preventing easy adhesion of the wax, like oil or something left over from the tanning process coming out of the leather.Again, that's just my guess. Do you have any insight to them using corrected grain vs full grain aniline leather?
@@CobblerBob polished black or cobbler leather is corrected grain. I have burgundy mcalister and they are corrected grain and dont take pigment from wax. Its coated leather and scuffs are hard to fix.
Had exactly the same problem with a pair of AE Park Ave in brown. Finally managed to solve it with the hair dryer method: ua-cam.com/video/W-rsGbN3qTU/v-deo.html
So basically you cannot figure out the problem and you revert to that's normal and they both should not be even?? Its apparent Robert that what you know about shoe leather and shining ect you learned on the internet and maybe by shining your own shoes.....the problem is easily fixed and common, get the idea that the most expensive polish and wax must be the best....
Remoc Delgado that’s not what I said, and it wasn’t that easy to fix. I’m sorry if the video disappointed you. And what I was trying to say is SOME minor variation IS normal. Sometimes when you get to hyper focused on one pair of shoes, the flaws seen magnified.
If he has lived in the US for a while he might have picked up some American pronunciation and cadence. This may cause him to sound like an American attempting an English accent.
I've seen this problem before but never knew the solution. Now I know! Thanks!!
I had this problem with the same pair of shoes. I'm not sure how long it took you, but I added the a couple of layers of the cream polish first. I'm thinking it filled in the pores a little easier; although, I pretty much followed every step you did after the cream. I would say to strip both toe caps, use a few coats of cream, and then do everything that you did. It's also helpful to mix the different polishes with the spit, from my experience. I love that you're an amateur cobbler. You've motivated me to add taps and possibly rubber to my own shoes, even though there is a great cobbler near me.
I had a same problem with my shoes .... now they are perfect .. thanks for your video...
I wish i had a nephew like you sir
I have a pair of shoes which gave me the same problem, there was a spot which would not shine or take colour. I used acetone to strip the toe cap back to the bare leather. Then added Saphir shoe cream, brushed, then added again, then renavateur and brushed, not vice versa. Once I was happy with the colour, Saphir mirror gloss, let that sit and really dry out, then the normal Saphir coloured wax. It took me a couple of hours to get the foundation right. Use the standard water drops to wax on shoe polishing technique. Took a while but the result is worthwhile. Now I can maintain the mirror shine with 5 minutes per shoe.
I know this comment is kinda late. But if it help anyone, that shoe is over conditioned. The toe cap is saturated with moisture and it’s replying the wax. That is why it’s darker too. By carefully applying heat with a hair dryer or heat-gun at low you can fix the issue easier. Elegant Oxford has a video explaining it. The. Reno mat that you used helped drying the leather slightly I think.
I don’t believe the owner added any conditioner to them. I could be wrong as I’m going by memory, but I assumed it was basically the same thing as you say, but from the tanning process?
Very similar, almost identical , problem occurred with my AE Sullivan Street boots in the same color.
Had the same thing with a pair of Loake wensums. Same dry looking spot. I did the blow-dryer method that I'd heard suggested for a quick mirror shine and it worked perfectly.
This is quite interesting to me, as I had the exact same problem with a pair of First Quality Allen Edmonds Fifth Avenue in Oxblood, (Burgundy) color. One of the shoes had a blemish similar to Hayden’s issue with one of his shoes. It looked as if the original dye put on by Allen Edmonds did not ‘take’ when applied. I discovered the problem after applying some Venetian Shoe Cream which made the discoloration quite visible. I wish I would have discovered this video prior to spending hours of applying darker shades of shoe polish. I eventually used some black polish before finishing up with some Oxblood/Merlot/Burgundy polish. In my opinion, Hayden’s shoe discoloration issue, (as well as mine), should have been detected during AE’s quality control procedures. I’ve personally had a few quality issues recently with AE First Quality Shoes. I hear similar comments from others. I hope that this isn’t a trend within AE. Anyway, you did a really nice job smoothing out the color in Hayden’s shoe. Good work!
I like your videos and I always learn a lot. One small critique…your lighting is too poor to see the problem. One tip is to take the shoes outside on a cloudy day for filming ….the light will be perfectly diffused and you can see every detail very clearly.
Duke Robinson maybe I’ll install an overhead can light.. my later videos I have a lamp on the camera stand... I’m learning as I go! As far as these particular pair o found it very difficult to show the problem on video. I don’t think it was so much a lighting issue as just a limitation on my camera (iPhone).
@@CobblerBob Definitely yuo need more light for the camera. Videos have very poor quality beacuse of the lighting. They look like if they are from the 90's. Talking about the issue, I had the same problem with a G&G St. James II model. After removing and waxing the shoes again and again severa times for 2 days, I relaize that was an issue with something, the wax or the solvents, were not dry. I put several layers of wax without using water. Just in the last two I did it and it made the tirck,
Dry spot caused by excess moisture? I used blow dryer on my shoes and I was able to polish to shine.
I don’t know 100% for sure, but I believe it’s excess oils in the leather, not moisture as in water.
I wish I had a friend like you!
I have always used Kiwi. I bought a new pair of boots the other night that just won’t shine, so I’m going to try something different. I used saddle soap to remove the polish, but all of my tricks with Kiwi are not working. Thanks for the tips.
You're welcome!
how do i get rid of it? i also use kiwi
Pretty good job.
Thank you
OMG i have the exact same problem and the exact location!
Was the pair of shoes ever exposed to rain before? I had this pair of dress shoes that developed lumps (or divots as you mentioned in the video) after walking in the rain. I did some research and found out that basically the surface of the leather expands when it’s wet, but the layer of polish on top prevents it from expanding so it ends up in the distorted shape of divots.
Conan Chi I don’t know for sure but o don’t think so. I think the owner had this problem out of the box.
The reason is the solvent in the wax havent dry yet. It need to be dry so the waxes wouldnt move around while your polishing motion.
Sunny Mok I understand what you’re saying, but there was something different about that 1” spot different than all of the surrounding leather. It was only that area that wouldn’t take polish. I believe it’s some oil or other substance left over from the tanning process in that area.
Robert Powers, has to be something solvent based or a bad part of the finish. To my knowledge those are the only things that stop polish from being applied. I used to moonlight as a shoe shine while in the Army and I would have to do some pretty extensive work to the mechanics boots to get them to accept polish. They would only do a small layer and brush shine it and the oils and solvents would eat through that lite layer and get into the leather. I usually used acetone in those cases and was careful. Used dye afterwards if necessary. Then condition, shine the next morning
well done! the final result is good. I have a similar issue may be worse than yours. My AE has an exact spot doesnt take wax at all. The first 2-3 layers of wax seem OK, but as I am building up layers, the wax from that spot starting rubbed off with color fading as well that makes that spot like a bald. I am not sure if there is an oil stain underneath that spot which makes it not taking wax. Could you share how I can restore that spot? thanks.
Great job, Robert. I have a pair of 5th Aves with that problem so your video gives me hope!
Just bought brand new pair of Carmina oxfords and they hard-core have this problem after their first conditioning and polishing. Huge spot right in the middle of left toe cap .. Thanks for guidance. Really frustrating, I hope I can figure it out
Good luck! The key is the base of cream polish and letting it set up and dry. Go slow.
Help!! I discovered a flat spot on the toe of my new AE Park Avenues. I thought I saw it when I got them, but after working on a mirror shine last night I noticed this morning the spot seemed flatter and wax is cracked in the area. I did not drop them. I removed old wax with hair dryer and not sure if I pressed too hard. I can feel it from the inside a little as well. I can't find anything concerning this problem.
Feel free to email me at robertpowers1972@gmail dot com with pictures if possible! I’d like to make sure I understand the problem better.
I have the exact same problem with a pair of Edmonds... thanks
M P 👊🏼
Great job, Bob! My first instinct was that the spot might have been caused by salt. It looked like a very mild salt stain but of course there's no way for me to know for sure. Also, I'd prefer to first strip everything down using Renomat and then give it 2-3 rounds of conditioning to make sure that leather is in good condition to take the wax. Applying wax directly after Renomat would mean sealing the leather in a relatively drier state. What do you think?
Sidharth Panwar I could be wrong, but I wasn’t worried about these shoes being dry because they were purchased new from Allen Edmonds recently. The leather seemed well nourished to me. I don’t think it was anything to do with salt because the owner has been careful with the shoes, and because salt stains have a white appearance, and usually appears round the bottoms of the uppers close to the soles. Also, he’s had this problem since he got the shoes.
Great Job Bob, you are a good friend and it also helps that you have a passion for Great quality shoes, That particular pair might have been a pair of seconds that came like that from the factory maybe?
Bernardo Pena great point, but they are1st quality because they don’t have the foot shaped stamp on the sole, and he paid full price for them. Also, thank you for the compliment!
I have 1st quality Allen Edmonds that aren't as good as 2nds. A little Saphir changes everything. Should finish with a nylon for that extra shine.
I confirmed with him... he paid full price at the AE store.
Yep, this is why folks are getting upset with AE. My Strands looked a little skunk striped and my St Johns were so moist, too moist, I swear they just finished making them. Haven't got the courage to try the shoe bank...yet
It might be a factory problem, lets say they do the dying starting at the heel area, doing the toe area last, but there holding the toe area with thumb and finger and slightly pivoting, small amounts of contamination of sweat oils and salt are leaching into the pours of the shoe where the thumb and finger area are being applied, could be the gloves there using etc.. A factory setting may not catch it due to lighting etc.. I would contact Allen Edmonds and make an inquiry into this as many are having the same issue. Might be just a simple issue that could be corrected.
rodney johnson you’re right... maybe the person just ate a cheeseburger & had grease on their thumb?
@@CobblerBob Will have to send them napkins, perhaps some wet one's with lemon. I have a passion for Oxford leather shoes ever since being in the military, quite particular about them esp. the toe area - Of all the places the toe area - Really!! lol right from the factory - Good Grief!
Try with acetone to take more deep polish layers then do the new polish layers
Great job!
I have a similar problem with a pair of boots
Nah man that big dark spot is a defect. 400 dollars should have such spots.
Maybe if it was factory seconds.
@robertbslee at what price point is cow skin premium for you. Considering most people buy $100 shoes this shoe falls in that premium level in my opinion
Saphir renomat only removes shoe polish and wax nothing else I been using it on my shoes it does not remove any stains or anything else I bought the other liquid from Hanger Project from Kirby to remove stains it ruined my beautiful Hugo Boss shoes it removed the color of the shoes
Lucky Strike 😲 the Renomat, or the the other stuff removed color from your Hugo Boss shoes? What was the other product?
Robert I think you came up short on the explanation as to why the problem exist in the first place. Is it the leather and it’s natural defect ? Is it that the polish was applied unevenly and that’s why you strip the shoe? You seemed to be dumbfounded as to the cause. As to the explanation of the attempted repair you are all over the place. You used this wax but then you used the other wax you use one cloth then you used the other cloth you did not use alcohol maybe you should have used alcohol but you were afraid to. Then you suggest that you fixed the problem but then you seem to suggest it’s not quite fixed, Phew! Your all over the place. I do agree with you that apply light pressure to the affected area is probably a sound idea. I know you have no obligation to the public but since you threw yourself out there I think you need to do some research and get it right. What is the cause and what is the solution. I enjoy your videos and appreciate your effort but this video was a disappointment. Forgive me for being some what blunt. I wish you the best.
Probably corrected leather. Allen Edmonds really tries to cut the costs...
Ronny R, although we're both speculating, I find it unlikely they're using corrected grain leather. Their website currently says "Lined premium calfskin leather upper" and "The Park Avenue is made with only the highest quality calfskin leather" - corrected grain is well known to be a lower grade of leather. I find it more feasible that their quality control in hyde selection was off in this case, or that their choice of tanneries from which they are purchasing leather is to blame, etc, than they would outright lie by using corrected grain leather. It just seemed to me like there was something IN the leather on that area that was preventing easy adhesion of the wax, like oil or something left over from the tanning process coming out of the leather.Again, that's just my guess. Do you have any insight to them using corrected grain vs full grain aniline leather?
@@CobblerBob polished black or cobbler leather is corrected grain. I have burgundy mcalister and they are corrected grain and dont take pigment from wax. Its coated leather and scuffs are hard to fix.
checkout Kirby Allisson
Had exactly the same problem with a pair of AE Park Ave in brown. Finally managed to solve it with the hair dryer method: ua-cam.com/video/W-rsGbN3qTU/v-deo.html
So basically you cannot figure out the problem and you revert to that's normal and they both should not be even?? Its apparent Robert that what you know about shoe leather and shining ect you learned on the internet and maybe by shining your own shoes.....the problem is easily fixed and common, get the idea that the most expensive polish and wax must be the best....
Remoc Delgado that’s not what I said, and it wasn’t that easy to fix. I’m sorry if the video disappointed you. And what I was trying to say is SOME minor variation IS normal. Sometimes when you get to hyper focused on one pair of shoes, the flaws seen magnified.
Why does your friend sound like he’s copying a brit accent terribly? Lol. Sounds like geoffrey from fresh prince
e usana he’s actually English.
If he has lived in the US for a while he might have picked up some American pronunciation and cadence. This may cause him to sound like an American attempting an English accent.
smakfu I asked him where he’s from... you’re SPOT on! 👊🏼