As an airbrush artist for the last 30 years I have a little advice that may help you. Try turning your pressure down to around 10 psi or lower. It will give you better control and less environmental fallout/over spray. You may need to play with your reduction ratio on a scrap piece of cardboard or paper. That said generally the thicker the liquid the higher the pressure, the thinner the liquid the lower the pressure. You seem to be pretty proficient at using one hand. Try using a blow dryer in the other hand and dry as you spray. This will aide in better coverage and less pooling on the surface. Low heat is just fine. Absolutely no need for a heat gun.

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

I need to invest in a better airbrush. It’s a battery operated handheld with no control of psi. Thanks For the insight!

@bluegrasskid4835

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford When you buy a better airbrush, can you do a video of it?

@bluegrasskid4835

2 жыл бұрын

Anyone know anything about that one?

@1GodOnly

2 жыл бұрын

I have also been an airbrush artist for over 20 years and what the other artist said is absolutely true. I personally do not use compressors, I use a CO2 tank and regulator for my air supply. A good dual action airbrush is the Iwata-Medea Revolution CR, you should be able to get it for under $100.

@alexandersmith9527

Жыл бұрын

@@1GodOnly please I will love to know the names of the oil paint to use

Honorable-respect and integrity in this virtuous request.

I became a fan and subscriber when I first saw the video about the $15 pair of Allen Edmonds you found in a thrift store and brought them back to nicer than new condition.

@ChipsChallenge95

2 жыл бұрын

“Nicer than new” isn’t hard to do with Allen Edmonds

Hello Mr. Soto. I have been watching your channel for the last 6 months. I have learned so much and remembered many things from my childhood. I am from Puerto Rico. Just so you know.

Probably one of my favor projects. These came out amazing.

I just LOVE your channel. Quality content showcasing an amazing skill. All the best to you. Please don't stop sharing.

Blue boogers for the win! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 The shoes look great Preston. Nice work as always

These came out incredibly

"pulls out a brown or a blue bugger." Preston, thanks keeping it real and not so stuck up "posh".

RIP Jim

Wow, Preston! Those look fantastic. Wonderful work! You are very skilled!

God those came out AMAZING!! I absolutely love the colors!! Wow!

U just gave the shoes a character awesome work 👏 . Also strands are my favorite ♥️

What a phantastic look !

I like the pale look after you stripped off the color. It is reminiscent of florsheims old golden harvest which i love! Hope all is well with the recent addition to the family. I had lunch with dinesh today and we concluded that we'll need to meet in with you again.

I’ve blown my nose and formed a galaxy colored nostril pattern after airbrushing cakes for hours. I feel your pain

You have a gift only GOD could bestow. 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿

You make magic happen brotha

Good to know about the variations of color in Walnut. I wondered about it, now I know to ask for what I like. Thanks Preston. Those turned out very sweet.

This is my second time watching the magic with those shoes!!!

TMI!!!! you know what I mean. Thanks for the informative and inspiring videos!

Beautiful work

Incredible job on a fantastic pair of AEs! I would like to own a pair of those as well as a pair of brown suede.

I just ordered a pair of walnut Lombard cap toe Chelsea boots with Dainite soles as a go-to boot for winter travel (no laces, easier time at security screening, rubber soles for traction), and the walnut shown on the website is much browner than other walnut AEs in my collection.

Sending prayers to your friends 🙏🙏

Fantastic work as usual. Makes me want to try my hand on a pair of older boots myself. For air brushing, have you looked at buying or making an air brush booth with a few air filter screens (for furnace) and fans? I would not want to be breathing in paint particles so often.

Beautiful

Awesome job Preston!! I am an usher in my brother's wedding next year.. I'm currently looking for a pair of Strands!! Perfect timing 👌

@williammarshall468

2 жыл бұрын

Allen Edmonds is having a big sale right now, might want to check it out.

@MNpicker

2 жыл бұрын

@@williammarshall468 Thanks for the heads up!! I'm a cheapskate.. I'm looking at pre-owned😁

Nice mirror shine on the head ✨

I loved to patina my strand like your.

Much love

With using the air brush method, in my mind I would think that the color would just sit on top of the leather. Wouldn’t hand polishing make the dye penetrate the leather for long lasting color?

I love it: “Showy offy”.

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

I wish I had a better word but showy offy struck the right cord 😂

For everyone who wants to know jim sadly passed away

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

Unfortunately he did. We will always remember him!

@nova_reaper9286

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford yes we will

Mr. Soto, the suit you’re wearing at the begging of this video is excellent. What’s the brand and where did you get it from?

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

It’s by Suit Supply. It’s a made to measure using their basic Navy

@andresc5915

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford I love them. 👌🏽 Suit supply is perfect

It’ll be very useful if you can do the same without the air brush. Those of us who don’t have a shoe shining business, but only own a few pairs of shoes, investing on an airbrush to only use it once a year or so is not idea, so there should be a way to produce similar results only using your fingers wrapped on a rag. How can you get the different shading in the broguing than in the flat parts? I know is more difficult to obtain a smooth transition, and for that an airbrush would be ideal. Or maybe you have a video doing this already and you can point me to it? Thanks. Love your channel.

@charliestout9783

Жыл бұрын

Harbour freight

The naked Strand looks good, I like the look of it. If I were to strip my Strands, would the leather remain as good as the color leather? I would condition it of course.

I've watched this four times now because it's entertaining but also I was trying to see what saphir cream you have pictured at the 5:10 mark.

Is it difficult to polish the shoes to mirror like if I dyed them with leather acrylic? Thank you

PRESTON!! YOU PICK YO NOSE!? 😂 NEVER thought I'd hear the word BOOGER come out of your mouth!! 😂😂😂

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

I have no shame. But who doesn’t!? It’s like the greatest thing ever

@angelalane8660

2 жыл бұрын

😂😂😂 AGREED!!!

Fantastic videos great to watch. Can i ask you is saphir beauté du cuir créme surfine good for putting a mirror finish on light tan brogues? 👍👍👍👍

How much does it cost to get the creases in the vamp out and strip/patina McTavish?

Does anyone know which episode talks about the issue/subject of "wet stains" on the leather? I've seen it before, but am unable to find it now... 😫

Do you use leather finisher for shoes? I run into problems that my dye would run when I apply conditioner even if I let it dry for 24-48 hours.

I miss your videos, Preston. I hope your family is doing well.

I’ve had an issue with my shoes. It seems like any product I apply, the leather doesn’t soak it up well. What could I be doing wrong??? I’m using saphir.

I really, really wish this guy worked somewhere in the Minneapolis, Minnesota metro area, so that I could pay him good money to make my shoes look gorgeous.

@scottyb.8710

2 жыл бұрын

Where are you at? I used to live in EP. also, you can ship him your shoes.

Elegant Oxford - how hard is it to remove this dye? Would love to do this, but I don't want it to be permanent.

Preston, would you care to share which airbrush are using?

Hey Preston, thanks for the amazing videos! Now, I maintain and shine the shoes of all the guys in my family! I have a random question: I only wear my dress shoes maybe once every few years. Is it bad to keep shoe trees in for that long? I'm wondering if they'd stretch my shoes or something.

@Hahejo

2 жыл бұрын

Since you haven't had an answer to your question, in my opinion shoe trees should be in there whenever you're not wearing your shoes. They help keep the shoes stay in shape and away from moisture. As long as the shoe trees are in the correct size in respect to the shoes they are meant to be fitted in (not just in size numbers, you kinda have to try them on to see if they fit), there shouldn't be any stretching that's bad for the shoes. In fact, they should help prolong the life of the shoes.

@jimmysbordone8071

2 жыл бұрын

@@Hahejo Thanks for the reply; I appreciate it! :)

Preston plz help. I RUINED my shoes 🥺 Wondering if it can be fixed. Peeled toe cap 🤷🏻‍♂️

Wow... not the finish product but that pale color shoe. I want a pair like that, no lie. I'm trying to sun bleach my shoes rn to get them even a shade similar

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

You can definitely do it. Let them sit in the sun or use acetone.

@JustHANO

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford I used acetone to remove what I thought was the finish and/or wax, it never gets that color, just a calf brown. You think acetoning more would get it lighter or do some shoes just not get that light.

@JustHANO

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford yea you need to post a video on this because it sounds so simple but it won't change 😂 Edit: nvm, I see. It takes a LOT of rubbing.

good

Hola buenos días saludos desde Bogotá

Hi. I have a new pair of shoes (lite in color). Bought from Nordstrom. They are not Allen Edmonds. Is it possible to strip the factory color. Then add a color of the shoe in your video ??

What are you using to strip these ?

Preston, What color would you recommend buying if I was planning to change factory color to Navy ? Allen Edmonds.

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Albert. The lighter the better so walnut would be my choice

@Albert-vi7te

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford thanks for the reply Preston. Stay safe!

Preston - for your Strands, did you buy the standard flat laces or narrow flat laces from the Hanger Project?

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

The ones featured in this video aren’t from Kirby but the standard are the ones I usually get from him. Similar to the ones in this video

@scottyb.8710

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford Thank you, Preston. I’m sending my new Cigar Strands to Potter & Sons for some Triumph toe taps ;)

do you polish your top, i may say its pretty good looking one.

Here's a thought. If you want to strip down a pair of brand new shoes to re-dye them, would the manufacturer be prepared to sell you a pair in their "raw" state, to save you having to take off the original finish?

@MindbodyMedic

Жыл бұрын

several manufacturers sell 'Natural crust' models but not many do this. Its specifically for customer Patina services. Some manufacturers do their own in house custom patina but again its fewer than you'd imagine. Septieme Largeur is a good brand that sells all their models in 'natural crust', leather that hasn't been dyed ever. Its the gold standard for doing a custom patina but not 100% necessary.

Somehow you can never see the heel counter of the shoe in your videos .. :)

I'm curious what a shoe would look like if the leather was never once dyed Straight from the cow, to the shoe, and then through years of wear to give it a natural patina (of course still nourished, but no colour added)

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

Good question. Allen Edmonds sells a bone colored CXL Strandmok that darkens over time and gains some really interesting colors over time.

@AdrianSanchez-py3ry

2 жыл бұрын

Hello, could you recommend me if it is not too much trouble, the best place in your understanding to buy or order its construction, oxford shoes or style?

@bashargharib500

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford how can i remove wax polish with out using renomat ?

@bashargharib500

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford how can i clean and remove the old wax

Those are Flyy..

How is Jim?

@TheElegantOxford

Жыл бұрын

Hey Nanno. Unfortunately he passed away a few months after I made the video. The cancer was incredibly aggressive.

Hallo wo. Bekommt man dir schuhe her die du bearbeitest

I’d honestly turn those into spectators if they were that light

Who cut your suit?

Dear ,, your such amazing artist ,,, seek your help to work without these really good products ,, in my country we don't have these products ,,, please tell me alternative products

Honestly the statement about the colored mucus is kind of concerning especially considering how toxic these dyes can be. Are you wearing a respirator with apropriaye filters? Its definitely something anyone who paints often in any form should look into

@TheElegantOxford

2 жыл бұрын

As I explained in the video, the colored boogers happen when I get lazy and don’t wear the 3M mask haha.

@ryanalam5669

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheElegantOxford oh i didnt hear that part whoopsie

lol like 40$ at jcp

Wow. Terminated from his job two days before Christmas.

Whomever laced the Strands at Nordstrom’s on the right shouldn’t be allowed to touch dress shoes.

Not an artist? If you don't see this as an art, I think you need to reassess your definition of art. Your channel has me finally succumb to the realization that you need more than 1 color shoes. So, besides black I got me blue, brown and this sweet color congac. Should have done this way earlier.

Airbrash airbrash airbrash airbrash airbrash. Realy? WFC.....

Gray and brown STILL don't go together.

Hi Preston, the sofa in the video doesnt not reflect the person of your caliber as it has worn down edges... being a expert who fixes leather stuff you should also take care of your sofa

I think Allen Edmonds are absolute trash, and it’s a shame because it wasn’t always that way, but nevertheless…I liked the outcome of these.