[TheForge] Work Boots and Shoes

[Stephen McGehee]

I have worn Red Wings for 25 years in the construction industry.  The
post about having boots last 2 years is pretty amazing as one of my
boots is 13 years old and the other pair is 9+...   I alternate every
day generally, slather on neats foot oil once a year, and use shoe trees
that I have had since the Air Force in '72.  They all would have lasted
even longer with more oil.   And none of these steps has been followed
religiously.  My shoe repair guy is amazed at the life I have gotten by
simple care.   I use an big oval sardine can and a cheap 1-1/2" paint
brush to apply the oil, let them soak on a newspaper overnight, relace
and go.  The shoe trees stretch the leather back to the original shape
while drying, avoiding the toes curling.

 My boots have outlasted several relationships but I'd better be careful
there...maybe if I had switched between 2 girlfriends every day or so
and oiled them up occasionally, and, and I better quit this track...
And then there is the issue of abuse to all those little Neats having
their feets squeezed to make the oil, probably some animal rights
activists concerned about their welfare...
Check out the link below, Dave Mudge has put quite a bit of effort into
this latest evolution of my web presence.
 Stephen McGehee
 Publisher of
 Irony, the sketchbook of an apprentice blacksmith
 P. O. Box 9822  Pine Bluff, AR 71611
 irony@epowerc.net
 (870) 540-0142
 (479) 643-3299 (farm)
 You can see a sample of IRONY magazine here:

  http://lametalsmiths.org/news/page4.htm  )