What is a good way of getting a nice polish on the toe-cap of army boots/parade shoes?

I have army boots and parade shoes. Is there a particularly easy and effective way of making them shine well? I’ve heard of using a flame to melt the polish but im not sure what that entails. pls enlighten.

I know its a bit lazy but Klear floor polish works a treat – get if from Asda. Only problem is it cracks if a particularly suspicous member of drill staff decides to stamp on your toecap.

12 Responses

  1. migdalski Says:

    I used to spit in the polish tin and spread the spitty polish on before buff brushing. Finish of with soft cloth. Sounds icky, but it worked.
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  2. ElectronProbabilityCloud Says:

    Polish is flammable. Open the tin and shove a lit cigarette lighter over the top of the polish. The surface will ignite and quickly turn to liquid. Dip your rag into the liquid and rub it thoroughly into your boot. Buff it up with a soft brush then finish off with a clean rag.
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  3. concede Says:

    easy way is to bull them.

    Use brown shoe polish not black in very small circles occasioanlly dipping the duster in clean water (not spit thats just a myth) very small circles done very patiently with brown shoe polish.

    obviously you need a layer of black on first

    if using brouges with pimples you will have to burn them down first
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    me too many show parades after boxing or other bits of fun

  4. Alan C Says:

    This was an old technique known as "boning" melt the polish apply, use the back of a toothbrush or small flat bone to bring to a shine,finish off with very soft cloth like a duster.
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  5. Sunny Day Says:

    The quick fix would be high gloss black spray car paint.
    But I right way is hard work of spit and polish. Not sure the spit is any good.
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  6. The Mechanic Says:

    From and old soldier it is an art to get the required gloss you are trying to achieve but her goes . heat the handle of a spoon only till hot not cherry red rub over the cap flattening all the raised bumps on the leather keep heating the spoon and carry on until the cap is smooth then dipping the hot spoon handle in to the polish work it over the cap in circles reapplying polish all the time when you have a good coat on the caps , using spit only get a soft rag dip into polish and get a small wad of polish on rag using your finger inside the rag buff the polish into the cap with a small circular motion spitting on it every now and again when there is a good thick coat of polish on the cap using a soft clean rag buff the cap up . done properly the cap will look like glass and you will be able to see your face in it .
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  7. kitty Says:

    WHAT YOU NEED IS ABOUT 40 LAYERS OF POLISH ON YOUR TOE CAP, SOUNDS ALOT BUT GREAT RESULTS AT THE END. USE LOTS OF WATER AN SLIGHT POLISH ON A PIECE OF COTTEN WOOL AN JUST BUFF IT TILL ITS LIKE A MIRROR.
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  8. urbanspaceman Says:

    heated polish and a warmed spoon pal-worked in my day!
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  9. keith d Says:

    I know its a bit lazy but Klear floor polish works a treat – get if from Asda. Only problem is it cracks if a particularly suspicous member of drill staff decides to stamp on your toecap.
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  10. Helicreature Says:

    My husband makes a well in the shoe polish container, pours water into it and mixes it with the polish to get the best shine. He then buffs with a cloth for ages!
    References :
    wife of British Army Officer.

  11. Answer Me! Says:

    See my answer here:
    http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=ArthLOGw3SkyOxgo.30C6nQhBgx.;_ylv=3?qid=20080701112047AAYJQtl&show=7#profile-info-0CWJjN0iaa
    References :
    9 yrs Officer RN

  12. nosdda Says:

    A good shortcut to a beautiful shine is to paint clear nail varnish over the toe caps.
    References :
    EX Army.

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