Removing Patent leather shine?

[tiny73]

It's a bit of a reverse to the usual shoe polishing questions but is there a way of losing the patent shine from a pair of shoes? I have a pair of semi-brogues from Herring shoes and whilst I love the style and shape I'm not so keen on the shine coming from the patent leather. Is there a way to remove this finish?

I've heard that using acetone or Saphir renomat would possibly work but I don't fancy trying this until I know it will work. Has anyone tried it with (or without) success?

cheers
Tim

[100thmonkey]

I'm not so keen on the shine coming from the patent leather. Is there a way to remove this finish?


cheers
Tim

Just give them to any child of school age to wear for a week!

[Geralt]

I'm no expert, but thought that patent leather has a (plastic?) coating. Someone will be along shortly to prove me wrong, but I very much doubt you'd be able to remove it with anything that won't destroy the leather/shoes in the process.

[Steve27752]

Not possible.

[Wolfie]

I did it with slowly working around with a fine grade wire wool…. And then built up some matte cream polish…. Worked fine

[Kingstepper]

I did it with slowly working around with a fine grade wire wool…. And then built up some matte cream polish…. Worked fine

Never tried, but I was going to suggest wire wool or even kitchen scourer.

Edit:- Or sand blasting!

[paulpsz008]

I once did it using Acetone on a pair of cheap Chelsea boots.
It seemed to work OK, however, I'm not sure I'd want to try it on anything more expensive than £50.

Brogues could be harder too due to the detail.

[Pyr0]

I used some micromesh to scuff up a leather watch strap

[Der Amf]

This thread finally goaded me into learning how patent leather is made. This was the best page I found

http://www.madehow.com/Volume-6/Patent-Leather.html

Getting the multiple layers of varnish off high quality patent leather....are you sure it'll be worth the bother?

[Phil Lee]

Just give them to any child of school age to wear for a week!

You’d be surprised. Patent leather holds up really well. Much better than matt leather.

[tiny73]

Just updating this following a little e pertinent with acetone based nail varnish remover. Job done, the shiny shine is gone and following a saphir renovateur, herring black shoe cream and final polish with saphir clear polish they look, well, like a pair of black shoes.

The patent shine is mostly gone, the smoothness of the leather still gives it a glossy look but it’s more like a well polished pair of shoes than a patent shine. Beware though if you try this, it does strip some colour from the shoe, not lots but enough to make you pause.

[Steve27752]

Well done, I have learnt something new.