SHOE POLISH

HISTORY OF SHOE POLISH

Before the twentieth century, since medieval times, dubbin a waxy product, was used to soften and waterproof leather; however, it did not impart shine. It was made from natural wax oil, soda ash and tallow, as leather with a high natural veneer became popular in the 18^th century, a high glossy finish became important, particularly on shoes boots. In most cases, a variety of homemade polishes were used to provide this finish, often with lanolin or beeswax as a base.

In the 19^th century many form of shoe polish became available, yet were rarely referred to as shoe polish. Instead, they were often called blacking (especially when mixed with lampblack), or simply continued to be referred to as dubbin. Tallow, an animal by-product, was used to manufacture a simple form of shoe polish at this time. Chicago, Illinois, where 82% of the processed meat consumed in the United States was processed in the stock yards became a major shoe polish product area.

In 1832, James S. Mason of Philadelphia began the commercial production of shoe blacking and Inks. In 1851, James S. Mason and Co. Constructed a building at 138/140 front st. where ultimately ten million boxes were produced annually to hold tins of blacking product by two hundred employees. Later, tins of blacking were labeled as Mason shoe polish. This business ceased operation in 1919 and the building was razed in 1973.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Shoe polish is a waxy paste cream or liquid used to polish, shine, waterproof and restore the appearance of leather shoes or boots thereby extending the footwear’s life. Shoe polish is usually flammable, can be toxic, and if misused, it can stain skin.

The researcher think of an idea that can combine in his/her research based on its characteristics that can be the main source or ingredients of shoe polish that can be found in a charcoal so the researcher made a shoe polish made from charcoal, because charcoal is dark grey or black color that is one of the characteristics of shoe polish.

Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence of the oxygen. The resulting soft, brittle, light weight, black, porous material resemble coal.

• Nowadays many brands of some polishes are too expensive that can’t afford by many users. The researcher wanted to conduct a study to make shoe polish that are cheap, useful and can be affordable by many users.

STATEMENTS OF THE PROBLEM

This study will aim the effectiveness of shoe polish made from charcoal. Specifically, it will answer the following questions;

1. What type of charcoal will be used to make shoe polish?
2. What are the steps to make in shoe polish from charcoal.
3. What are the ingredients that will be used to make this research?

OBJECTIVES

This project aims to provide an alternative shoe polish that is very inexpensive and easy to make. This project also am is to provide shoe. Shoe shine boys a very low cost shoe polish for livelihood. Instead of buying a high cost shoe polish for jobs, shoe shine boys can now afford a low cost shoe polish. The researcher’s shoe polish include the common objective of the shoe polish and that is to provide smoothness for everyone’s shoe. Lastly this project aims to teach people on how to be frugal. There is no need to go to groceries to bug, just look for any others.

APPARATUS OF PRODUCTION

1. A hard type of charcoal
2. Water
3. A piece of hard bar soap
4. 5 drops of kerosene
5. One sachet of citric acid
6. One cupful of glycerine or liquid paraffin

PROCESSES INVOLVED IN PRODUCTION OF SHOE POLISH FROM CHARCOAL (PROCEDURES)

A simple shoe polish can be made at home by dissolving charcoal powder and soap in [water steps used in the production of shoe polish:

1. Choose the hard type of charcoal, the soft type of charcoal is easier to grid but also does not bring out good results due to too much powder, so make sure you choose the hard type. (use local knowledge to find the best types of trees for producing this hard charcoal).
2. Grind it into a very fine powder, the powder has to be soft and evenly ground or else it will not make a good polish.
3. Sieve the powder using a kitchen sieve
4. Measure one and half glasses of water.
5. For best results use hard bar soap. Cut one square of the bar soap into four quarters. Use only one quarter for the polish.
6. Cut the quarter into small pieces and dissolve it in the water.
7. Add two glasses of sieved charcoal powder.
8. Heat the mixture on a fire until it boils, stirring so that it does not cluf.
9. Remove the pan from the fire.
10. Add five drops of kerosene. Keep stirring.
11. After two minutes add one sachet of citric and one cupful of glycerine or liquid paraffin.

USAGE OF SHOE POLISH

Shoe polish is applied to the shoe using a rag, cloth, or brush. Shoe polish is not a cleaning product, and therefore the footwear should be both clean and dry before application. A vigorous rubbing action to apply the polish evenly on the boot, followed by further buffing with a clean dry cloth or brush, usually provides good results.

Another technique known as spit-polishing or bull poliship involves, gently rubbing polish into the leather with a cloth and a drop of water or spit. This achieves the mirror-like, high gloss finish sometimes known as a spit military organization. Despite the term, saliva is less commonly used as the vehicle or diluent with polish than is water.  

Polishes containing carnauba wax can be used as a protective coating to extend the life and look of a leather shoe.

Shoe polish may be purchased pre-soaked into a hard sponge, which can be used to buff lather without needing to apply any additional polish to either the leather or the sponge. This is usually known as an applicator. A number of companies that manufactures shoe care products also sell a liquid shoe polish in a squeezable plastic bottle, with a small sponge applicator at the end. To decrease its viscosity, bottled polish usually has a very low wax content.

REFERENCE

Stain Removal, Waxes Polishes and Cleaners: Diy Doctor LTD. Accessed November 27^th, 2007.

History Files, the Stockyard Slaughterhouse to the World, Meat Packing Technology Chicago. Historical Society, Accessed November 27, 2007.

Shoeshine Boy.com Accessed November 28, 2007, [the History of Shoe Shinning. \william Ramsay Wjhile Hat Tours (February 22, 2004). Interpolate Archive Version, Accessed November 11, 2007.       

Kiwi Brands: Shoe Polish-Material Safety Data Sheet. Heat and Environmental Resources Center, Accessed November 27, 2007

Philips Jock “Kiwi-Kiwi and People” Early History Retrived 26 September, 20013

Kiwi Phile: How Kiwi Shoe Polish Helped Choose a National Symbol.  

Gran, E (2007): A History of National Philosophy from Ancient Nineteenth Century. Cambridge University Press 62-67.

Raymond, C. (2006): General Chemistry. The Essential Concepts Mc Grow Hill 4^th Edition.

Federal T8rade Commission on Sara Lee’s Potential Monopoly.