How do i bull my boots?

Answer 1

first of all what you want to do is get a cloth. Personally, I use a cloth I bought from Amazon called a Selvyt Cloth. You don't need it, but I prefer it. Make sure if you use a yellow duster, it's a thick one, because otherwise they come apart and scuff the polish. So get the duster and apply a small dot of polish using either Kiwi polish or Kiwi Prestige. It doesn't matter which, but they're my preferences. Some people say Cherry Blossom is better, but what ever you like is fine. With the small amount of polish on the cloth (make sure you use the pad of your finger not the tip), add some water. Personally, I dab it on my tongue, but some people say it's disgusting and there is actually a warning on the tin; so, either spit in the lid of your tin or put water in it. Make sure that if you use water the duster hasn't got water dripping off it. Start working it into the boot with small circles round and round, and make sure you don't put tape over the cap of your boot because otherwise the rest of the boot looks like crap, and if you don't polish the whole boot, it looks stupid. So keep working in polish here at the tip when your doing circles if you feel it becoming rough the add some more water untill it apears that all the polish is gone then add more and keep repeating. You'll notice a difference. After half and hour or so, you'll notice a smooth feel this means you have built up more layers and layers are great. After you are in the smooth state, get only a tiny dot of polish to keep going on to make it have a mirror shine and after only a short time you'll be certainly happy. Keep going until you're happy with it and your done. Some people say to rub the boot with a cloth to buff it, but if you haven't finished a layer properly, it will probably create lines. Also, if you don't finish each layer correctly, then you will probably see little swirls.

Another perspective:

I was uncertain what was meant by "bull" until I read the previous answer. Now it is perfectly clear.

Application: nothing beats the human finger for applying polish. Dab your index and second finger onto the polish and begin rubbing in circles. You will get a feel for this the first time. Continue to wet you fingers in water (some swore by distilled water, some by club soda--I used both and found no difference). The water just helps to lubricate and acts as an indicator for the next stage. As you rub, you will notice that the feel changes. The polish being a wax melts with the heat of your finger and friction, it fills the pores and scratches, and becomes smooth. At this point, if you did not have water on your finger, you would begin to rub off the polish. the surface of the leather will begin to feel slippery, but more like wet glass than ice. You will notice a slight squeak as you continue to move your finger. At this point stop, and add another layer of polish. This is where you can change things up with the buff.

Some people apply polish to the whole boot, shining only the toe, or the toe and heal. Corcoran Jump Boots lend themselves to this application because of the stitching over the toe and the heal sections. But you still need to polish the whole boot. Focus on the toe and heal for the high gloss shine, but if you do not apply this to the whole boot, it will be glaringly obvious.

The buff: The change up--this is a personal preference, but there is a purpose behind both methods. The first method is to layer and buff. Between each layer, buff the boot out--this is the method I chose. To buff the toe, either shove your hand into the boot to the toe, and with the other hand buff in a scuffing motion, smooth and consistent; or, place the boot between your knees at the heal and grasping the buff rag at both ends pull it back and forth in a classic shoe polishing motion. It's much easier to do this if someone else is wearing the boot, so consider cooperating with a buddy you trust.

The secret of the buff is more the rag. There are hundreds of different products on the market. You will find most of them in the PX/BX. Avoid them. There are only two types of material that work well: a cloth diaper (pure, smooth cotton), or a silk nylon. The reason is the smoothness of both. I preferred the cotton diaper because it absorbed excess water, and silk will burn a shine if you are not careful.

The final secret is have a pair of inspection boots that gets this treatment once, perhaps twice, or learn to strip your boots. If you continue to put these layers of polish on your boots, it will build up and eventually you will have cracks in the leather that no amount of polish will fill. Keep your inspection boots in a wool or felt sack (I used felt Christmas stockings because they were big enough not to bind on the boot. I knew other guys who covered only the toe with Crown Royal bags. Both work fine).

A word on brushing. Never do it! Brushing your boots only creates scratches you will have to repair. And, repaired scratches make the boot never look the same. Keep your inspection boots covered and brushing never becomes an issue. Professional boot and shoe polishers use the brush to apply and work the polish into the leather. If you want the same results laid out above, take your boots to a shoe polisher; this way you don't pay in time and effort, you pay in coin.