Shoe Polish Applicator Brush with Light Natural Bristles for Dubbin
This applicator brush works dubbin into sturdy smooth leather: onto hiking boots, hunting boots, work boots and anything worn off the beaten track. Its light, stiff natural bristles are firmer than horsehair and press the heavy paste right where it needs to go, into the grain, the flex creases and the seam where the upper meets the sole. Made in Germany.
Why stiff natural bristles rather than horsehair
Horsehair is soft and fine, exactly right for emulsion creams on smooth calf leather, which is what our horsehair cream brush is for. Dubbin behaves differently. It is thicker and waxier, and a soft brush struggles to spread it evenly. Rugged leather calls for firm natural bristles: stiff enough to work the paste in, yet gentler than synthetic fibres, whose hard tips can scratch a finer upper.
An applicator brush is simply the cleanest, most even way to put care products onto leather. It comes into its own on grained leather and around the welt, precisely where hiking and work boots draw in moisture. The light bristles have a practical side too: you can see how much grease the brush is holding and dose it sparingly. If you use coloured dubbin, keep a separate brush for each shade so the pigments do not mix.
Made in Germany
A wooden body with a firmly set head of light natural bristles, made in Germany. Overall length approx. 15 cm, bristle length approx. 1.8 cm, bristle head approx. 3.5 cm across. Brushes built this way last for many years with proper use. A new brush shedding the odd loose bristle in its first few uses is normal, not a fault.
How to use it
- Remove the laces and brush off dry dirt and dust.
- Let wet boots dry fully first, at room temperature and away from the radiator.
- Take up a little dubbin on the brush and apply it thinly in circular motions. Start with the welt, the seams and the flex creases.
- Leave it to soak in for several hours or overnight.
- Wipe off the excess with a cloth. Two thin coats work better than one thick one.
- If the brush clogs with old paste, wash it out in warm soapy water and let it dry lying flat.
Details
- Bristles: light natural bristles, stiff
- Body: wood
- For: dubbin and firm care pastes on sturdy smooth leather
- Suited to hiking boots, hunting boots, work boots, everyday boots and grained leather
- Not recommended for suede and nubuck, or for fine calf dress-shoe leather with a high-shine finish
- Dimensions: overall length approx. 15 cm, bristle length approx. 1.8 cm, bristle head approx. 3.5 cm across
- Made in Germany
What's included
- 1 x Langer & Messmer applicator brush with light natural bristles
Frequently asked questions
Which shoe brush is used for what?
Use a cleaning brush to remove dry dirt, an applicator brush like this one to apply cream or dubbin, and a large horsehair brush to polish. Keep them apart: a brush you use to apply grease should not be used for polishing.
How do you apply leather care products?
Always onto clean, dry leather and always sparingly. Take up a little product on the brush, spread it thinly in circular motions, let it soak in and wipe off the excess.
Can you over-grease leather?
Yes. Too much grease will not soak in. It sits on the surface and leaves the leather sticky and greasy. Apply sparingly and add a second thin coat if in doubt.
How long should dubbin soak in?
Several hours, ideally overnight at room temperature. Then wipe off the excess.
What are the drawbacks of dubbin?
Dubbin high in wax and resin can close the pores and reduce breathability. It darkens leather slightly and takes away the high shine. For hiking, hunting and work boots that is the point, since water resistance matters more than shine. For fine calf dress shoes, shoe cream and a horsehair brush are the better choice.
What is a horsehair brush for?
Horsehair is soft and used for gentle polishing and dusting. It spreads emulsion creams finely but is too soft for thick dubbin. The two brushes complement each other, they do not replace each other.
