Maintenance: leather soles

[Guest]

Dear all,

As the soles of my shoes are made of leather, I think it is not far fetched to assume that they too need maintenance (in addition to the uppers). A few questions:

1. Which product(s) are suitable to achieve this?
2. How often is the product applied? I shine my shoes once a week, should I maintain the soles more often (as they are in contact with the pavement)? Or is once a week enough?

I have searched the forum but to no avail.

Thanks in advance.

[Guest]

Hi!

Laslo Vassin his book, "Custom made shoes for Men" does not mention any product for maintaining the soles. It seems that when the sole is worn and scuffed, it is replaced.

GB

[Guest]

I own a leather oil bought at the Eduard Meier shop in Munich. I apply some of it now and then on the soles but am not sure about any positive effects.

I think the most important thing with leahther soles is not wearing them in wet conditions when they are new.

Richard.

[Guest]

Tapir Ledersohlenpflege


100-ml-Flasche.



Menge
Bestellnummer:
Einzelpreis:












Sohlen fetten.
Unbehandelte Ledersohlen sind nach einem Fehltritt ins Nasse empfindlich und jedem Steinchen schutzlos ausgeliefert. Eine Imprägnierung der Sohle mit mit Pflegeöl verhindert dies. Hergestellt aus Leinöl, Orangenöl und Branntweinessig.

Tapir.
Tapir Wachswaren in Dassel bei Einbeck stellt seit 1983 in eigener Produktion Lederpflegeprodukte aus natürlichen Bestandteilen her. Dabei kommen viele Rohstoffe zum Einsatz, die fast in Vergessenheit geraten sind: Carnaubawachs aus Brasilien, Schellackwachs aus Indien, Jojobaöl aus Nordamerika sind darunter - ebenso Lanolin (Schafwollfett), Balsamterpentinöl, Rizinusöl, Rapsöl, Kokosfett und Bienenwachs. Alle Produkte von Tapir sind volldeklariert.

Lederfette und -öle.
Leder lebt. Durch die Behandlung mit fettenden Pflegemitteln wird es nicht nur schöner, sondern bekommt innerlich jenes Fluidum zurück, das im Fasergefüge seines Materialaufbaus dafür sorgt, daß Reibung und Verschleiß vermindert und hinausgezögert werden. Kurzum: Das Leder wird weicher, elastischer und anschmiegsamer.

[Guest]

Dear all,
to translate and sum up the above:

I use cooked linseed oil for my soles. It's the main ingridient in most sole-oils and can be traced back for that purpose to medieval times (I'm a medieval reenactor, that's where I've got it from). You can get it at every Do-it-yourself store for a few bucks.
You have to be careful when you apply it, though, because if you get some on the uppers it will leave marks and can damage the leather.
The first time you use it (after you walked the shoe for a few times) you have to put on several "Layers" until the leather is soaked and then leave it to dry for two days.
Then you just have to repeat an oiling every few month (2-3 times a year).
The linseed oil will make the leather hydrophobic, which means it will repell water and will still be breathable. And it hardens the lether and protects the seam, so your soles will last longer The downside is, when it gets very cold it can turn stiff a little.
I prepare all my leather soles (Loake, Church's and Dinkelacker) in this manner and it worked fine for me.
More knowledge can be found here (in German, unfortunately):
http://www.dailyshoes.de or on askandy.

Pangur (first post, juchuu)

[Guest]

JM Weston sells a cream for the soles. I have used these successfully for more than 8 years on my leather soles, and they do seem to rejunevate the soles, and I find them useful to add an additional level of water resistance to the shoe. Apply only to the sole, and let it soak in. No polishing.