excellent tutorial ! You did a great job explaining how and why Alden adds the acrylic. Also, the process to remove is very straightforward, and within the scope of just about anyone who wants to try this. I do like the finished product as well !
WOW! What a great tutorial! Thanks for this information. I never knew Alden did this...and yes...I am going to do this as well. I is puzzling as to why Alden does this. Anyway...thanks for posting.
I always felt weird about this "plastic-like", fake looking shine on my wing-tip shell colour 8 boots. I tried on a small piece of the shell and you can literally see the plastic layer on the edges of where I used isoprop. This was super informative and a great video. Thanks so much!
@@Shellvedge Did my wing-tip shell boots entirely with isoprop yesterday evening and conditioned them this morning. It makes a fine but (to me) important difference: Now the shell looks more like the organic material it is, has more depth and life in it. It is obviously less shiny, which i strongly prefer. Thanks again. Very valuable knowledge that you shared.
I got two pairs of Yanko shell cordovan from Maryam tannery. One was coated with a thick plastic finish that accepted no conditioning and looked ugly orange. The "burgundy" version had a thinner plastic paint that, once splashed with droplets or scratched, allowed no rubbing out of the blemishes. I needed a couple hours of scouring with a rough cloth and acetone to remove the paint from the pairs. The stripping revealed a good quality, pliant and smooth shell underneath that retained faint aniline coloring. With the application of pro dye and neat's foot oil, the boots were salvaged and now perform as shell should, revealing patina and hiding blemishes with rubbing and brushing. Alden looks a bit plasticky but at least I can rub out scratches on my shell boots, despite the finish. That wasn't the case with Yanko's Maryam product.
@@Shellvedge The orange shell was coated before the boot was made, for sure. I think Yanko sprayed the burgundy after lasting, since the upper stitching was burgundy on the outside but brown on reverse side.
I owe you a beer. I have a pair of #8 cap toe brogues that has a strange cloudy streaking that no amount of brushing, for a couple years now, will remove, and listening to this, they must have screwed up whatever is on top of the shell. That must be it. I will comment back as let you and anyone else know if it works.
@@Shellvedge it worked! Obviously I need to condition them tomorrow but you just salvaged my most hated pair of boots, my only real bitter experience in the journey. 👍
Thanks for your shell videos. Do you feel that shell is less breathable than leather? Some reports claim that they can make feet hot etc. I was wondering before I purchase my first pair.
Those boots look great. I wish I knew this a few years ago. I had an Alden color 8 wingtips a few years ago that would develop a white waxy film at all the flex points that was difficult to remove. Using a spoon helped slightly, but the white haze would come right back after walking. But What kind of potential damage could the alcohol do to the cordovan leather?
Yeah it sounds like it could be a combination of bloom and the finish breaking down. Basically, either over saturating the leather, or drying out the leather too much. If you take your time, and do it in a well light area, you should be able to tell when it’s come off. Honestly, if you’re just hacking away at it, I’m sure there’s a whole host of issues you could create, but alcohol and shell itself, won’t cause permanent damage.
I suspect that maybe Crown Northampton does this as well. My bourbon shell hand stitched (same as yours) wouldn’t really accept saphir cordovan cream polish and has a similar perfectly even finish too. What do you think?
How long would it take for the acrylic finish to be gone if left on it's own. Are we talking about years 2 or 5 or just depends on where you where them?
There’s no way to estimate that. I’ve heard some have it flake off after a week and others never have it break down. I honestly wouldn’t worry about it too much. It’s either leave and enjoy them, or just bite the bullet and remove it and enjoy them. That way you can get to the part where you enjoy them! 😄
@@Shellvedge oh yea i totally agree with you on doing this. I can't believe Alden does this to their shell footwear. I'm all for its most natural state to let it breathe.
It is not. Any variation is the natural variation in the shell. As explained, Alden plasters the boots to create the uniform plastic finish. Shell is not inherently uniform in color.
@@1k1ngst0n yeah unfortunately I don’t have any experience with it. I’d assume on calfskin you’re going to require some redyeing which isn’t needed for shell
Gonna be honest, the way alden ships out the shell makes it look like nike's disgusting plastic covered "leather". Looks about 100000000x better after you remove it.
excellent tutorial ! You did a great job explaining how and why Alden adds the acrylic. Also, the process to remove is very straightforward, and within the scope of just about anyone who wants to try this. I do like the finished product as well !
Thank you! It really isn’t very difficult. It’s more scary than it looks.
WOW! What a great tutorial! Thanks for this information. I never knew Alden did this...and yes...I am going to do this as well. I is puzzling as to why Alden does this. Anyway...thanks for posting.
Very well done, you actually improved the looks.
I always felt weird about this "plastic-like", fake looking shine on my wing-tip shell colour 8 boots. I tried on a small piece of the shell and you can literally see the plastic layer on the edges of where I used isoprop.
This was super informative and a great video. Thanks so much!
Glad to be of help!
@@Shellvedge Did my wing-tip shell boots entirely with isoprop yesterday evening and conditioned them this morning. It makes a fine but (to me) important difference: Now the shell looks more like the organic material it is, has more depth and life in it. It is obviously less shiny, which i strongly prefer. Thanks again. Very valuable knowledge that you shared.
Thank you for much for this, I never knew we could remove that annoying plastic texture layer in such an easy way
Yeah it is a unfortunate way to finish it but they do their own thing
Glad I found this video prior to buying a pair of Black Shell Cordovan from eBay! I’ll be doing this before even wearing them. Thanks!
I got two pairs of Yanko shell cordovan from Maryam tannery. One was coated with a thick plastic finish that accepted no conditioning and looked ugly orange. The "burgundy" version had a thinner plastic paint that, once splashed with droplets or scratched, allowed no rubbing out of the blemishes. I needed a couple hours of scouring with a rough cloth and acetone to remove the paint from the pairs. The stripping revealed a good quality, pliant and smooth shell underneath that retained faint aniline coloring. With the application of pro dye and neat's foot oil, the boots were salvaged and now perform as shell should, revealing patina and hiding blemishes with rubbing and brushing. Alden looks a bit plasticky but at least I can rub out scratches on my shell boots, despite the finish. That wasn't the case with Yanko's Maryam product.
Yea, this is why I don’t like shell from Italy, I think that’s how it’s tanned and finished from the tannery.
@@Shellvedge The orange shell was coated before the boot was made, for sure. I think Yanko sprayed the burgundy after lasting, since the upper stitching was burgundy on the outside but brown on reverse side.
I owe you a beer. I have a pair of #8 cap toe brogues that has a strange cloudy streaking that no amount of brushing, for a couple years now, will remove, and listening to this, they must have screwed up whatever is on top of the shell. That must be it. I will comment back as let you and anyone else know if it works.
Possibly! Just go slow and start with a small area if you choose to do it.
@@Shellvedge it worked! Obviously I need to condition them tomorrow but you just salvaged my most hated pair of boots, my only real bitter experience in the journey. 👍
Great idea for a video.
Looks great the way you did it! I wish you put them side by side to show the difference
I thought I did, but I will try to make a short for ya!
Can I remove this acrylic layer from older shoes?
Thanks for your shell videos. Do you feel that shell is less breathable than leather? Some reports claim that they can make feet hot etc. I was wondering before I purchase my first pair.
Those boots look great. I wish I knew this a few years ago. I had an Alden color 8 wingtips a few years ago that would develop a white waxy film at all the flex points that was difficult to remove. Using a spoon helped slightly, but the white haze would come right back after walking.
But What kind of potential damage could the alcohol do to the cordovan leather?
Yeah it sounds like it could be a combination of bloom and the finish breaking down. Basically, either over saturating the leather, or drying out the leather too much. If you take your time, and do it in a well light area, you should be able to tell when it’s come off.
Honestly, if you’re just hacking away at it, I’m sure there’s a whole host of issues you could create, but alcohol and shell itself, won’t cause permanent damage.
Ive also used acetone to great effect!
@@JJ-rr7pc I didn't see any damage from using acetone, but just in case, I put light neats foot oil coating on the shell after stripping completed.
Well done video, and my thoughts exactly with Alden's finish. And is that boot in #4? The shade is gorgeous.
Absolutely beautiful caramel shell boots. I’m guessing ravello? Looks a bit dark for whiskey. EDIT: Just saw it’s ravello in the description.
Thanks brother! Yeah it’s a great shade of shell
I suspect that maybe Crown Northampton does this as well. My bourbon shell hand stitched (same as yours) wouldn’t really accept saphir cordovan cream polish and has a similar perfectly even finish too. What do you think?
My pair definitely does not. ASMR - leather shoe care
czcams.com/video/vvrdLkEtstU/video.html
You can see it here. Pretty natural finishing
What laces did you use ?
Thanks for this information. Do you know whether Allen Edmonds does acrylic coating on their shell cordovans?
I don’t but most factories apply something to be able to recreate the consistent colors.
How long would it take for the acrylic finish to be gone if left on it's own. Are we talking about years 2 or 5 or just depends on where you where them?
There’s no way to estimate that. I’ve heard some have it flake off after a week and others never have it break down. I honestly wouldn’t worry about it too much. It’s either leave and enjoy them, or just bite the bullet and remove it and enjoy them. That way you can get to the part where you enjoy them! 😄
@@Shellvedge oh yea i totally agree with you on doing this. I can't believe Alden does this to their shell footwear. I'm all for its most natural state to let it breathe.
It still looks like your shoes have some small blotches or color blotches that look like the conditioner did not treat or correct. Is this accurate?
It is not. Any variation is the natural variation in the shell. As explained, Alden plasters the boots to create the uniform plastic finish. Shell is not inherently uniform in color.
have you removed the paint/glaze on their regular boots too? I'm disappointed with my 405 indy boots.
I have not. What kind of finish are you trying to remoce
@@Shellvedge seems like the regular indy brown indy boot has leather that is covered with paint
@@1k1ngst0n yeah unfortunately I don’t have any experience with it. I’d assume on calfskin you’re going to require some redyeing which isn’t needed for shell
Do you think saphir renomat would work as well?
It would not. Renomat is not very potent. Rubbing alcohol is stronger than renomat and rubbing alcohol is not always strong enough
Yeah, I want my leather shoes to look like leather, not paint.
Gonna be honest, the way alden ships out the shell makes it look like nike's disgusting plastic covered "leather". Looks about 100000000x better after you remove it.
Thanks Ethan, 100% agree and appreciate your support!
@Shellvedge tbh this video makes me wanna try to snag a pair next time grant stone does a pre-order for some shell.
It’s just a shoe, you make it so complicated.
This is a horror show. Make it stop.
I hate to be the voice of reason, but you can make it stop any time you’d like! 🤣
@@Shellvedge 😛
@@darqentries now I want to know what happened that had you hiding under the covers