I was polishing my boots for work in the morning and thought about all the military guys on the site. What are some of your techniques for getting a mirror like shine? I brush the polish on then burn it with a lighter. Then elbow grease to get the shine. Any other techniques?
DT
Always put the polish on hot. Listerene of all things to speed up the shine process. Once it shines a few drops of water and cotton cloth for that deep mirrored finish.
I know for my class A’s they gave me a really slick set of shoes that I can clean with windex and they sparkle like new. I couldn’t tell you what they’re made out of anymore though. I never had to shine my boots and yes I consider myself lucky for it. Now cleaning a weapon, that’s a different story.
When I was in the Army (22 years ago). I always used a little rubbing alcohol to start with on an infant diarper, the washable type. Then I would polish with a different diaper and finally use a little more rubbing alcohol. I have used the flame from a lighter, but I always had better luck with the rubbing alcohol.
I know what boots your talking about, but they scratch easily. These are my everyday duty boots. I will try the listerene trick.
DT
It’s a lot of work,
but brush on with applicator and let it dry, then brush it to a luster, better is done twice.
then put a heavy layer on the toe and front half of boot of shoe, then light it up. After the flame goes out, brush lightly to even it out. Let it dry, then use a cotton ball, slightly wet, dab it in the shoe polish and work it in a circular motion. Keep using the cotton ball, water and polish, you will be able to see yourself in the leather.
That was the only way to get through formation in the mornings during Flight School. Then that night do it all over again.
Fun times for sure.
Jack 
Quote:
It’s a lot of work, The cotton ball and water or spit will make a mirror finish.
but brush on with applicator and let it dry, then brush it to a luster, better is done twice.
then put a heavy layer on the toe and front half of boot of shoe, then light it up. After the flame goes out, brush lightly to even it out. Let it dry, then use a cotton ball, slightly wet, dab it in the shoe polish and work it in a circular motion. Keep using the cotton ball, water and polish, you will be able to see yourself in the leather.That was the only way to get through formation in the mornings during Flight School. Then that night do it all over again.
Fun times for sure.
Jack
As a former Drill Sergeant I can say I’m a bit of an expert at boot polishing. The first thing you have to do is rub down new boots with rubbing alcohol to remove the preservative on the leather. Saddle soap also works good for that or use both. Insert shoe trees to stretch the leather and then Kiwi and water using 100 percent cotton balls. When you are done you will never hear anyone say “yo douch bag what did shine those boots with a freaking Hershy bar”. Now days they have those brown boots that don’t require polishing and everyone looks like a rag bag now. 
Quote:
I never had to shine my boots and yes I consider myself lucky for it. Now cleaning a weapon, that’s a different story.
What the HECK!! Kids these days, you just don’t know how good you got it. 
I hate to think about the amount of hours I put into shining boots in my short stint in the guards. 
Who in their right mind polishes work boots ?????? 
Good looking Police Officers… 
DT
Quote:
It’s a lot of work,
but brush on with applicator and let it dry, then brush it to a luster, better is done twice.
then put a heavy layer on the toe and front half of boot of shoe, then light it up. After the flame goes out, brush lightly to even it out. Let it dry, then use a cotton ball, slightly wet, dab it in the shoe polish and work it in a circular motion. Keep using the cotton ball, water and polish, you will be able to see yourself in the leather.That was the only way to get through formation in the mornings during Flight School. Then that night do it all over again.
Fun times for sure.
Jack
this is how I rolled…. although I burned the polish in the tin… then applied and subbed spit for water. 
I passed more inspections than I failed, so it works pretty good. towards the end of basic, I could do both boots in 2 cigs
It’s amazing how careful you can be with your boots, when you know you gotta make em look new at the end of everyday 
Isopropyl alcohol istead of water, time and some elbow grease.
Once you apply the polish let it sit on the boot 5 mins before polishing it in.
OR
Patent Leather if you want to dress to impress.
Yes DRILL SERGEANT! That’s the way I did it 44 years ago. Water and cotton balls. 
Are you the “good looking” police officer or are we refering to the female perswaysion(s.p.)?/
wisker said it right. We’ve got these nice brown boots now that don’t require any polishing, but they do have to be cleaned now and then. We spend all our time on our weapons now. I challenge anyone to find a spec of carbon after I’m done with my weapon though. Unless its the .50 cal M2 they fire better dirty…
The best thing for the. 50 was the solvent tank back at the armory. Way easier to clean than the 60 too! I miss shooting a fully auto .50. Now I’m sad…. 
I remember my DI would gig you if the soles of the boots weren’t polished and edge dressed. If I was the officer asking the question I’d get a pair of Corcran II jumpers. comfortable as tennis shoes and the heel and toe polish up really nice. If you can count your teeth in your reflection you are half done.
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