Getting Ready

[121Traffic]

So little by little, I am getting my uniform ready for this Tuesday night. I got my nametag today, and it is like a mirror! :eek: Uniforms around here are pretty subdued for a tactical consideration...even our badges have a non-glinting finish on them. So when I went to the regional cop shop to pick my nametag up, it surprised me. I must have gotten the right style, as it was ordered and charged to the dept per specs kept on file. This nametag worries me in that it is basically polished to mirror shine. Should I be worried about this? I think of it along the same vein as having a squeaky duty belt, or a uniform full of shiny buttons and insignia--neither of which I am a fan of in any tactical terms. Is there anything I can do?

Hmm, let's see what else. Ironed a fresh shirt out, reironed all the creases in, and perfectly aligned my nametag centered over my right pocket, exactly 1/8 inch above the pocket. Put a thick piece of cardboard backing behind the nameplate in order to keep it flat up against the shirt. Little tips and tricks from wearing a military uniform for 6 years out of my life. Put fresh creases into some pants as well.

Then I picked up shoe polish for the first time in about 3 years, lol. My boots needed some work! For now I will just be wearing my old jump boots, til I can afford a new pair of duty boots. They are comfortable, tough, relatively light, and I can (and definitely have) run in them. I got the original flat dress soles replaces with a heavy-duty but flexible Matterhorn sole back in the day. Man were they in rough shape! So I got the polish out, the spoon, lighter, a cup of water, and an old tshirt out and went to work. 3 hours later, and two black fingers later, the right boot is done. The left will have to wait, lol. When it comes to shining shoes, I can be a fanatic. I don't own any that require regular shining now, but when I do get to work on a pair that does, I go nuts. I used to hate seeing guys who would polish the toetips of their oxfords, and leaves the sides unshined and edges undressed. Same with boots. So, I didn't touch the other one until I have another couple hours to work on them. Tell me what you think!

First pic is of the two in comparison. The front boot is still untouched, ravaged by weather, roadsalt, and with deep gouges and scuffs all over. It took a lot of boneshining to get those gouges and scuffs looking presentable again. The newly renewed boot is behind it in that pic, and by itself in the second. I think they are turning out okay!

[Darin]

I think I need to send you my boots. WHat kind of polish do you use? Lookin nice 121!

[dwf]

I shine my boots religiously, I'm already laughing to myself about the look on your face when you drag the toe across the door jam of the car leaving a great big scrape across all those hours of shining. Been there...done that...still doing it.

I wouldn't worry too much about the shiney parts of the uniform. Hell, my coveralls and raincoat have POLICE in great big reflective letters and my duty belt squeaks.

[richjorg]

In the second pic, it looks like you sprayed them with a high gloss paint.

[Jynkxxie]

I hope you don't slip Traffic. :D

[futurecop90]

Very shiny boot. Nice job.

[steelcityk9cop]

We have an x-marine on my shift who forgot that he got discharged 10 years ago.... he still climbs up on the bench in the locker room to put on his pants. He spends an hour each night working on his boots. I have taught my dog to lean into his legs for a behind the ear scratch whenever I say, "go see Dave". I love the look on his face when he sees a nice muddy dog print on his boot toe.

I've always believed that how you start the shift is important as far as looks go.... but NEVER get so anal about your uniform that you hesitate about rolling around in the mud.

[121Traffic]

Darin, I just use regular old Kiwi wax in a can. I've tried other stuff, but I always come back to regular Kiwi. Oh, but stay away from Parade Gloss expecially! That stuff flakes off SO fast, and it is impossible to keep a good base coat. It just takes time and a litle experience at getting good at shining. I went to a military school for 4 years, then was on a NROTC scholarship and in the Reserves for a couple years in college before having to quit when I had to take care of a sick family member. PM me if you want to know exactly how I do it.

And thanks so much DWF lol. We had to wear boots on snowy winter days at school I used to hate it because my position as both a battalion commander and company commander required me to conduct daily personnel inspections, so I couldn't slack in personal appearance. Then I would have to go outside and wade through a winter wonderland. :rolleyes: I plan on keeping them shiny, but THIS shiny is reserved for the ceremony haha.

[darrell]

I can't stand a sloppy uniform at all. Sloppy is unprofessional. I always polish my brass, iron my shirt, shine my boots, and blet, and whipe down my leather rig if needed.

[Strijder]

So I got the polish out, the spoon, lighter, a cup of water, and an old tshirt out

Okay, I'll bite. Is this an ancient family recipe, or could you share it? :D

[MORA Ranger]

I was always getting pushups for my boots when I was at the academy. "Recruit ____! Is that best you can do?" And then invariably they'd find a hair or piece of lint on my uniform. I did a lot of push ups. Never could get those boots looking shiny enough for them. Yours look amazing 121!

[steelcityk9cop]

Strijder....... He's referring to spit shining your boots. There are a bunch of ways to do it but in general you put a heavy first layer of polish on your boot, take a piece of t-shirt to wrap around your index finger and dip it in the water. You keep rubbing in a circle and re-dipping in the water untill you fill all the pores in the leather with polish. Thats how you get the spit shine look.

[greenlead]

Gee thanks, now you've inspired me. :( My nice spitshine from last night's c-shift ride isn't as nice anymore.

I'll probably post a pic of the boots and supplies later on.

[andytelford]

yoo hoo 121, did I hear you mention subdued patches ??? hint hint hint !!

[121Traffic]

Haha, I will try andy. My dept counts patches like it's their kids or something lol. I had to get the old patches removed, and get the new style put on, an they made me account for the old one! :eek:

And steelcity is right on. I soak a cloth covered finger (usually an old white tshirt) in water, rub polish on with it, sweep it with the lighter to open the leather's pores, then use the same spot on the tshirt to polish the coat off.

Also, the spoon is for a technique called "boneshining" taught to me by my old Tac Officer at school (MSgt, USMC). If you have REALLY deep scuffs and gouges (like in the unshined boot pictured), you CAKE polish onto these areas, and ground the polish into the area with the back of a spoon. It's called "boneshining" because the old spoons that were utilized used to have a bone handle (or so the Tac said).