Wax on wax off
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,474
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 260 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4294 Post(s)
Liked 5,737 Times
in
3,343 Posts
Wax on wax off
@orcas island asked about his Unicator saddle that was scuffed and worn. I have used regular shoe polish to great effect on these.
Used somewhat sparingly and working it into the bad spots can vastly improve the condition.
Here's a couple of examples.
Before,





Used somewhat sparingly and working it into the bad spots can vastly improve the condition.
Here's a couple of examples.
Before,






#2
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,474
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 260 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4294 Post(s)
Liked 5,737 Times
in
3,343 Posts
After,













#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,474
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 260 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4294 Post(s)
Liked 5,737 Times
in
3,343 Posts
And a Unicantor, after only,







The buffing is critical to to keeping the polish off shorts, horsehair brush and a few drops of water makes it very shiney and hard, probably still need to stick with black.
They look pretty good from a few feet and they will mainly be for show, you can see how bad some of the scuffs and scrapes were but can be greatly diminished with spit, polish and elbow grease.







The buffing is critical to to keeping the polish off shorts, horsehair brush and a few drops of water makes it very shiney and hard, probably still need to stick with black.
They look pretty good from a few feet and they will mainly be for show, you can see how bad some of the scuffs and scrapes were but can be greatly diminished with spit, polish and elbow grease.

#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Soviet of Oregon or the NW Florida Redoubt
Posts: 5,295
Bikes: Still have a few left!
Mentioned: 48 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 453 Post(s)
Liked 442 Times
in
234 Posts
I get extremely good results using "Kiwi Scuff Cover" as 1st step for renovating old leather saddles after a saddle soap clean. Also works on the thin leather covering of modern saddles if not scuffed clear thru. I follow up with Proofide. Recently tried a Kiwi leather restorer product resembling Proofide. Only been a few months, so no long term results. I had been using a large tin of proofide substitute Purchased years ago from a Tack shop in Utah, but no longer available. Don
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Oakland, CA
Posts: 3,290
Bikes: '82 Univega Competizione, '72 Motobecane Grand Record, '83 Mercian KOM Touring, '85 Univega Alpina Uno, '76 Eisentraut Limited
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1088 Post(s)
Liked 1,203 Times
in
699 Posts
I almost wish I had seen this before I decided to recover my Fujita Seamless, but mine was in far worse shape. Great looking saddles!
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,474
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 260 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4294 Post(s)
Liked 5,737 Times
in
3,343 Posts
Tx everyone, the post by @noobinsf about his Seamless was what motivated me to wind this up. Then when Tim posed a nice Seamless that he had, I got it from him and cleaned it up to what you see here. The Unicantor has been here for awhile and was a deal from efbay for $30 so well worth the effort.
No miracles being worked here but very presentable. Many saddles like these would still be in much better shape if they got this kind of love before they are beat up and dried out.
This also works very well on Brooks as you would imagine.
No miracles being worked here but very presentable. Many saddles like these would still be in much better shape if they got this kind of love before they are beat up and dried out.

This also works very well on Brooks as you would imagine.
#9
Catching Smallmouth
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: In a boat
Posts: 583
Bikes: 1990 Specialized Sirrus Triple, 1985 Trek 460, 2005 Lemond Tourmalet, 1984 Schwinn LeTour 'Luxe, 1988 Trek 400T, 1985 Trek 450, 1997 Lemond Zurich, 1993 Diamond Back Apex, 1988 Schwinn Circuit, 1988 Schwinn Prologue, 1978 Trek TX700, Sannino
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Liked 124 Times
in
73 Posts
I brought many pairs of black combat boots back from the dead with black kiwi shoe polish. I've done the same with rough saddles.
I use neutral kiwi polish on my leather bicycle saddles for regular maintenance. Neutral won't stain my shorts. After a wet ride or every year or so.
I use neutral kiwi polish on my leather bicycle saddles for regular maintenance. Neutral won't stain my shorts. After a wet ride or every year or so.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: PDX
Posts: 13,474
Bikes: Merz x 5 + Specialized Merz Allez x 2, Strawberry/Newlands/DiNucci/Ti x3, Gordon, Fuso/Moulton x2, Bornstein, Paisley,1958-74 Paramounts x3, 3rensho, 74 Moto TC, 73-78 Raleigh Pro's x5, Marinoni x2, 1960 Cinelli SC, 1980 Bianchi SC, PX-10 X 2
Mentioned: 260 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4294 Post(s)
Liked 5,737 Times
in
3,343 Posts
Awesome, @merziac. Any worry of the shoe polish getting on your pants?
Also as I eluded to, these are mainly for display so proceed with caution, YMMV.
