You might try using cordovan/burgundy shoe wax in that area. May take a few coats.

 

I have a pair of the burgundy Sebago Cayman IIs and they have a couple scuffs on the inside from rubbing against my clutch. I haven't been able to find anything that helps either. I'm beginning to think we are SOL with fixing the scuff. Only thing I can think of is maybe a skilled cobbler knows of a way to refinish them, but at the price I got the shoes its not worth it to me.

 

I was looking around for an answer to a similar problem with patent leather (AE Copley) and ran across a website that suggested using a soft cloth with acetone on it. I have never tried this (and don't know if I plan to) but I would guess the object is to slightly soften/melt/distort the surrounding finish to fill in the blemishes. If you do try this let us know what happens!

 

Its not ideal, but a wax would probably be best to cover up the scuff.

As for patent leather, try Windex for something small. If that doesn't do it...you're SOL.

 

I've used Kiwi's Smooth Leather Renovating Polish to sort out scuffs on a wide range of shoes, including some finished in Church's bookbinder.

 

Essentially, you have the equivalent of a varnished wood tabletop that has been scratched deeply enough to penetrate the varnish. So your choices are to inconspicuously replace the damaged varnish (very difficult), or strip the finish entirely and apply a new finish (easier).

I have found over the past ten years that most corrected grain shoes can be stripped of their corrective layer with acetone and paper towels, then refinished with polish, greatly improving their appearance. I've done this with Bostonians, Bass corrected grain Weejuns, and a number of pairs of contemporary Cole-Haans and Florsheims.

The process is straightforward: saturate a paper towel, rub the shoes until the finish turns dull, and discard the now-colored paper towel. Rinse, lather, repeat, using a soft toothbrush dipped in acetone to reach tight spaces. Avoid non-nylon toothbrushes, since the acetone dissolves them.

Once you have a uniformly dull shoe, apply a first layer of meltonian cream polish in a shade lighter than the original shoe, as a base color, then switch to darker Kiwi wax polish for subsequent layers. You'll probably apply and buff out 3-4 layers all told.

Someone in the back will of course shout out "but won't removing the corrective grain reveal hideous flawed leather beneath?" My experience is that it will not. Shoe companies seem to apply corrective graining over a generally smooth surface, in order to achieve a plasticky shine that draws the rubes. The worst I've ever found beneath a graining layer was minor creasing that actually added a nice character line after a few coats of polish.

 

to achieve a plasticky shine that draws the rubes.

My thoughts exactly when it comes to patent leather. The "rubes" are duped into buying shoes with an artificial plastic shine to wear with their tuxedos unlike the more sophisticated guys who shine their own shoes. :icon_smile_big:

Cruiser

 

My thoughts exactly when it comes to patent leather. The "rubes" are duped into buying shoes with an artificial plastic shine to wear with their tuxedos

Hmmm... I thought it was traditional and correct to wear patent leather with tuxedos.

Don

 

Hmmm... I thought it was traditional and correct to wear patent leather with tuxedos.

I was being sarcastic; however, the fact remains that today's patent leather is no less artificial and plasticky than the corrected grain shoes worn by the "rubes." :icon_smile:

Cruiser