Making Aldens Darker

Indycire · Post by **Indycire** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:09 pm

Hi, I've already started darkening my boots with the Pecards Waterproof Dressing that also has brown in it. They have darkened a bit but still have that red look although darker. I heard of people using melatonin (sp?). So i stopped in the shoe repair store and they do have it but i wasnt sure if i should get Brown or Dark Brown. The funny thing is and even the lady there said it was that the dark brown was much lighter in the jar then the Brown. Any one reccomend which one will darken them up the best? Should i keep using the melatonin until im satisfied with the color? I dont want to dye them or ill end up dyeing everything within 5 feet. Dye and I dont mix.

So far i used the Pecards 3 maybe 4 times and they seem not to be getting darker, should i keep trying? Thanks for any help.

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:14 pm

People seem to have great success with the Pecards with the brown colouring, but I've got to say that everything I've touched with it so far hasn't really stained very dark at all. It looks so nice and chocolate brown in the pot, but as you'd know, when you start rubbing it in, it's more like a dark honey or golden syrup kind of colour, rather than brown.

My advice is this: It's hard to mess up making a boot a darker brown. Experiment

The more you stain it, and darken it, the better. So it's really hard to mess up, I would imagine.

Indycire · Post by **Indycire** » Mon Sep 27, 2004 10:19 pm

The Pecards did help. They arent as red since it darkened a little bit. Now it seems if i use it again it doesnt do anything. The melatonin is for darkening isnt it? Seeing the darker brown being lighter then brown in the jar was odd. So i didnt get it yet.

Indiana Joe · Post by **Indiana Joe** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:26 am

I can't recall if this has been covered before. Since Alden doesn't make the 405s just for us gearheads, why do they produce these boots in brick red and pumpkin orange and God-only-knows what other color is coming down the pike?
I mean, why didn't they just stick with brown? I know you can pay $75 to special order them brown from the factory but why not just produce the 405s in brown?

Does anyone know?

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:28 am

It's a mystery to me... I mean, brown is a far more common colour than the freakazoid colours they offer as standards. Maybe someone in their factory is colourblind, or just has appallingly bad taste, who knows?

Scandinavia Jones · Post by **Scandinavia Jones** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:30 am

Indiana Joe wrote:I can't recall if this has been covered before. Since Alden doesn't make the 405s just for us gearheads, why do they produce these boots in brick red and pumpkin orange and God-only-knows what other color is coming down the pike?
I mean, why didn't they just stick with brown? I know you can pay $75 to special order them brown from the factory but why not just produce the 405s in brown?
Does anyone know?

Depends on what leather they stock. The current color is brown, like shoe-brown kinda brown. When I was about to order mine, I specifically asked them about the color - me no wanna orange shoe - and they assured me that the pumpkin boots were history. I didn't buy any him, however - the waiting time was something like 314 years and I found a nice pair in Classifieds instead. The Brick Red color is actually not Santa's preferred color - it's more like a reddish brown.

When was the last time someone bought a new pair of pumpkin Aldens, btw? Interesting to know how long they offered that very strange color...

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:38 am

INDIANAMIKEY wrote:Actually , Melatonin ,,, is a natural sleeping aid,,,,MELTONIAN, is a shoe polish .

later,Mike

Hey, guys! Check out my... newww... Ald..enszzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

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Minnesota Jones · Post by **Minnesota Jones** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 10:19 am

I used Febring's (spelling?) leather dye on my Aldens. Used the deglazer first to remove any polish, then applied the dye. I used medium brown. I did about 2 coats. Then when all dried, they looked bad. But once I applied the Pecards, the color blended evenly and they looked great. Funny thing, I've seen other Aldens that used the brown pecards and shoe polish method and after they did that awhile, the color was extremely close to what I did. So you can follow me on the quick and easy path as Vader (oops, wrong forum.... ) and dye them, or use the brown pecards method and shoe polish, and take your time. Both will turn out almost identical. Here's a pic of my shoes "post dyeing" with a pair before being dyed to show you the difference.

binkmeisterRick · Post by **binkmeisterRick** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 11:14 am

zzznKXZort--huh?

Yeah, I thought the idea of using sleep medication on your shoes was pretty funny, too! If your feet fall asleep easily, maybe you're using the wrong pollish!

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