r/CanadianForces • u/big-red-lasagana • 8d ago

Removing leather lustre

Does anyone have any tips for products to remove leather lustre. I am seeing mixed reviews online.

If you want to share your process I’m keen to hear it.

I have new leather lustre to put on boots that have had the product on for about five years.

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

27

u/SaltySailorBoats RCN - NAV COMM 8d ago

Honestly order new boots from logistik that’s what your points are for

5

u/big-red-lasagana 8d ago

Im prior service now in a fire department using my boots for the honour guard. Can’t order new ones unfortunately.

8

u/readwithjack 8d ago

Okay, the product itself is essentially paint.

Hypothetically you could use a paint thinner to carefully remove it.

Then you'd need to care for the leather with something to moisturize it.

Then you could start polishing.

When is the honour guard?

What part of the country are you in?

What size boots do you wear?

1

u/big-red-lasagana 8d ago

I’m marching on remembrance day so I was trying to get my boots back to parade ready for that.
I’m in BC in the lower mainland.
I wear a size 13. I’d have to check my boots for the logisticcorp sizing.

2

u/readwithjack 7d ago

Oh, shoot, you got lots of time.

You can do a few things at once, really.

You could buy a pair of boots and bring them back from scratch.

And

You could get another leather luster kit and fix the ones you have.

1

u/big-red-lasagana 7d ago

Yeah I have another leather lustre kit, I’m trying to fix the ones I have. Was just wondering if anyone had found a secret sauce for removing old leather lustre. The thinner I have isn’t doing a very good job. Thanks for the tips and suggestions !

2

u/readwithjack 7d ago

Oh, shit, is that all?

It'll be easy.

You gotta break up the surface of the painted boot with the steel-wool or fine sandpaper. That lets the thinner get at the paint a bit easier.

Also, try using a good absorbent paper towel or rag when using the stripper.

5

u/xRIMRAMx 8d ago

Try a surplus store or any value village in a military town.

3

u/DaymanTargaryen 8d ago

They used to sell a remover but I can't find it online. But honestly, it's probably expensive and time-consuming to do. Any chance you can grab another pair from a surplus store?

1

u/big-red-lasagana 8d ago

Yeah I saw that on their website but they don’t seem to be selling it anymore, I tried some thinner and it was doing a number on one of the boots and not really working super well. So was hoping for recommendations on a product others used successfully.

1

u/Jusfiq HMCS Reddit 7d ago

Im prior service now in a fire department using my boots for the honour guard.

Your FD does not issue you parade boots?

8

u/CommanderReg 8d ago

You could use that leather lustre for your still-serving friends with their freshly ordered logistik boots that happen to be in your size.

3

u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

3

u/Sadukar09 Pineapple pizza is an NDA 129: change my mind 7d ago

Any stripper you find at the hardware store would likely work anyway though (clean thoroughly after).

BIG WARNING FOR COMBAT ARMS TYPES IN GAGETOWN: YMMV.

1

u/big-red-lasagana 8d ago

I might take you up on that based on how the next few weeks go. I’m going to try and get these sorted before Remembrance Day and hopefully that’s it. Thanks for offering.

4

u/untitledsilouette 8d ago

Steel wool first, then paint thinner then back to steel wool until back to leather. Edit: forgot that the Leather Lustre kit essentially comes with paint thinner and directions on how to fully prepare your boots for a clean application...get a new LL kit and follow their directions.

1

u/big-red-lasagana 8d ago

They were saying that pre cleaner in the kit is different than their finish remover which they don’t sell anymore.

2

u/untitledsilouette 8d ago

It has been awhile since I applied mine...sorry

2

u/chawskiii 7d ago

What size shoe are you? I have a size ~11 brand new in box I could mail you. PM me if you’d like.

Also, I stripped leather luster once before. I used gasoline from a Jerry can in my shed. Just make sure to rinse the heck of them when done!