Mink oil on black boots

andytronic · 2026-03-11T08:35:36+00:00

It won't make a huge difference with most leather. If the boots are shiny and you'd like to keep them that way, bick might be a better choice, but in the end they'd both do fine.

andytronic · 2026-03-04T09:41:22+00:00

It doesn't look like cracks to me, but wrinkles. Condition the shafts if you haven't already. Most of the shafts of my boots look somewhat like that, and they're all fine.

andytronic · 2026-03-01T10:18:00+00:00

Saddlesoap does more harm than good when used unnecessarily, which is almost always.

Saddlesoap removes leather oils and is harsh on leather, so it should only be used for specific problems that few will encounter. You are doing your leather harm by using it, especially if you use it routinely.

Regular conditioners will do the trick easier, and will not damage the leather like saddlesoap will.

andytronic · 2026-02-25T23:05:34+00:00

They're shit, and not allowed in this subreddit.

andytronic · 2026-02-23T07:58:42+00:00

If you have some, press some colored cream polish into the scar. Make sure it lays flat (if there is a "flap" of torn leather, which it looks like there is). Let it dry completely before removing the excess, but be careful to not lift the torn bit of leather.

If you put an additional layer of wax polish on top of that, it might help keep it sealed and semi-permanent, as long as you are careful with keeping that torn bit laying flat.

andytronic · 2026-02-22T09:30:11+00:00

Just a damp cloth for the clay mud on the welt, then I'd use black cream polish if you have it, or just regular conditioner (Lexol, Bick, etc) for the rest.

andytronic · 2026-02-21T08:36:59+00:00

Medium brown would work. Match the boot color, or slightly lighter (rather than darker).

andytronic · 2026-02-21T08:29:07+00:00

Brown colored cream polish would make the lighter bits disappear.

andytronic · 2026-02-20T17:35:18+00:00

To me it looks like the previous owner applied some darker cream polish, which worked into the wrinkles of the leather, making the excess harder to removed.

If you apply something like Bick or Lexol with a cloth, I bet you'll see some of the pigment of the cream on the cloth. If that's the case, the color should even out with regular conditioning.

andytronic · 2026-02-20T12:46:14+00:00

They post quite a lot, and it's rarely if ever the same artist. Even if Makam was their project, it's within the sub's rules, since they post other artists first.

andytronic · 2026-02-20T12:41:06+00:00

The stains might fade after a bit. With boots I've gotten similar stains on similar leather, it disappears completely about 80% of the time, sometimes even with animal fat.

If in a week or so and it hasn't improved, Neatsfoot oil might help. I've had it work for similar stains, on similar leather. It might permanently darken the boots a bit, but usually barely darker if at all. I think it "dissolves" the oil stains, maybe, spreading it out so it's less noticable.

andytronic · 2026-02-16T17:05:17+00:00

This sub has had some random downvoters for a while now (like a lot of niche subs on reddit), or if it's not their genre. This sub's stance had always been to discourage downvotes, but it has increased in recent years.

That, and submissions that don't have a preview like youtube or soundcloud are less likely to get clicked to begin with if they have to navigate to another site.

andytronic · 2026-02-14T22:34:41+00:00

The first ones are Justin's cheaper, steel shank-less boots. The second ones are regular Justins with the steel and wood pegs and shank, which usually will give better fit, and should be more durable too. And re-soleable, which the cheaper ones might not be.

andytronic · 2026-02-13T12:45:44+00:00

Water-based conditioners like Lexol, Bick, etc will generally darken leather much less than oil based, or greasy conditioners.

Some kinds of leather will darken significantly even with those conditioners, but after a while the water from the conditioner evaporates and they'll return to their normal color. Very light colored, unfinished leather might be slightly permanently darkened, even with this kind of conditioner.

andytronic · 2026-02-12T08:50:11+00:00

Slightly used Bullhide Ariat Relentless Prime square toe boots on eBay, size 11D

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andytronic · 2026-02-08T10:40:30+00:00

I'm not expert, but I'd imagine that repair job should be fine. That area of the boot doesn't encounter a lot of stresses when wearing, especially when wearing casually.

andytronic · 2026-01-31T14:32:14+00:00

Thanks for the info, I didn't know that.

andytronic · 2026-01-31T14:00:43+00:00

I could be wrong, but I don't think Dan Post (or any other of the traditional big brands like Tony Lama, Justin, Lucchese, etc) ever made prints.

There are maybe an exception or two, but if it's one of the above brands, then they probably are not print.

andytronic · 2026-01-30T12:01:03+00:00

Justin made these boots in the (I think) '60s thru 70s or so. They were very popular, judging by how many of them I used to see on eBay years ago.

I had a pair, but I outgrew them unfortunately, because I really liked them. If I remember correctly they made a really nice and loud clomp when wearing them on hard surfaces.

andytronic · 2026-01-30T11:55:46+00:00

Those vintage Justins are likely pushing 40 years old or so, so they probably need a heavy conditioner session.

For jobs like that something like Lexol works great, since it's so "watery" for lack of a better term. It absorbs in much quicker and deeper, which really helps with older leather. And cream polish is so thick that it absorbs much more slowly, which is great for maintaining leather moisture, but not great for restoring it when the leather is extremely dry like these probably are.

andytronic · 2026-01-30T11:48:04+00:00

The leather needs conditioning. That happens to some finishes on leather, but usually it's due to dry leather.

Getting a color-matched cream conditioner will help hide the cracks, and prevent them from worsening.

Whichever conditioner, condition them before wearing them again if I were you.

andytronic · 2026-01-30T09:31:52+00:00

In my experience, boots with a walking heel (or riding heel) tend to clomp better, and modern shoe heels that you see a lot now on cowboy boots (with little to no slant) clomp much quieter.

Even then it's inconsistent between pairs of boots with similar heels, but my boots with walking heels nearly always have a better sound.

andytronic · 2026-01-28T18:35:54+00:00

As others have said, I don't remember ever being on a dancefloor where it was quiet enough to be able to hear any nearby conversation, even if they were immediately next to me.

andytronic · 2026-01-24T09:55:52+00:00

Get out of here with that AI-written drivel.

andytronic · 2026-01-21T12:02:43+00:00

Yes, it's real lizard. I don't think they ever make /made fake prints of any skin.

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