I started to spit shine my boots using the Parade Kiwi wax, I was wondering if I had to only do the tip or all the boot. I got a jarhead telling me I have to do the whole but it's impossible because it's going to crack. All I do is the tips and it looks awesome, sure it took 1.5 hours for each boot, but it's worth it.

 

If you can do it, the whole boot needs to be done. However, I've found that there seems to be folks who get spit shining, and those who don't. Two people (or Marines) can sit down next to one another with the same products and same instruction, and in five minutes one will have a nice smooth shine, and the other one will have a piece of glass in their hands. I never figured out how to get the glass myself.

If you can get the glass look and you do your whole boot, imagine the pride you'll have standing next to some schmuck who only took the time to do his toe and heel. Toe and heel don't get noticed, the whole boot will.

Post pictures when your done!

 

Once you have a base coat of polish you will be able to get the whole boot shined in 5 minutes. You will need a soft diaper, empty margarine container (or small bowl), rubbing alcohol, black and neutral polish and patience. Fill the bowl with warm water and add a cap full of alcohol, twist the diaper abound your middle and index fingers and dip them in the water solution. Next rub the diaper in the polish and using circular movement rub the polish into the leather. Do a small area at a time and rub the boot until the haze smooths out and dull shine appears. Repeat until you develope a nice shine. After the boot is completley shined do one coat of the neutral in the same manner as before. It will take practice the time spent will be worth the effort. As I said before a base coat is key, and will gloss up with one coat of black and neutral.

 

I just use water, normal kiwi wax and a bag of cotton *****. If I have a lot of scuffs I plaster on the wax, take a lighter and melt it down. Continue that till I get a fairly level surface then brush it off. Once I get the luster coming in I hit it hard with a wet cotton ball with a blob of wax. Rub circular like hades till the wax starts to dry out but keep rubbing. It'll shine up fast that way. The flexible parts of the boot I just hit with a couple coats but just brush them till they look good. I don't go for a shine there since I will scuff the sides up almost instantly.