WESCO
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Decided to try my luck with wax staining some Natural Essex Wescos that I picked up a while ago and I figured someone here might be interested in how it worked out. Below is the Before pictures after approximately one month of steady wear back and forth from the office. I had heard amazing things about the patina that natural veg tanned boots would pick up over time, but given the blue collar roots of my job the boots were attracting a lot of negative attention when compared to my normal black jobmasters. I decided that I needed to speed things up
As you can see, they look great but at this rate it is going to take a year to really weather these into a more mellow color. Since Essex leather is Aniline finished I decided that it would be interesting to do a beeswax stain to see if that would darken the leather naturally without adding a tint to the finished product- the goal was still boots that had the natural veg tan leather look. To be sure the wax was applied evenly and absorbed by the aniline surface I heated the boots in a 120 degree oven and applied a thin layer by hand. I am pretty happy with the results.
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I think you did great. Looks like you added about a year of sun exposure in a matter of hours, and I like that it's a natural wax.
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Obenauf's vs. Mustang Paste for my IHxWESCO Journeyman, which should I use?
I'm looking to help a little with break in/stretch. Everything is perfect except where my weird big toe (that I broke and wasn't set properly) hits the seam inside. They start to feel tight in the afternoon as my feet expand.
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I'm no expert here, but I have done a bit of amateur leatherwork with Obenauf's. It's a waxy sort of product and I feel like it wouldn't really do much for a leather on the softening front unless the leather was super super dry. Never used mustang paste.
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Arrived yesterday:
Build Specs:
Custom Fit Boss
+Single-Tone:Roughout Charcoal
+8" Height
+Black Leather Lining
+#100F Vibram
Sole
+Do Not Ink Soles and Heels
+Standard Heel Height
+One Top Strap (standard)
+Standard Length
+Gun Metal Roller Top Buckles
+Buckled Instep Straps
+1" Longer Instep Strap
+Gun Metal Roller Instep Buckles
+Lightweight Sterling Upper Stitching
+White Outsole Stitching
+Black Leather InsertI know this post is a couple of months old but I was wondering if these boots were made with a narrow shaft/leg? Also, what are your thoughts on the length of the boot at 8 inches? Do you like how the boot wears or would you like it to be longer?
I'm asking because I just put in my order for an 8" Boss in Charcoal Smooth on Raptor wedge sole, kind of similar to these ones. However, I was just informed that Wesco measures the shaft from the ground up. This means that an 8" Wesco boot will really have a 7" shaft and therefore wear like a 7" boot not 8". Also, in theory the engineer boot's shaft will collapse and break in as you wear it so what was originally an 8" boot (truly 7") should end up like a 6.5" or 6" boot. This might not apply to you since you got yours lined and mine are not.
If you or anyone on this forum can confirm what I'm saying is true, I will probably change my order to a 9" boot instead. Thanks.
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@theofficialhung These boots are custom (shaft and foot made to my measurements). My calves are fairly muscular and these boots would be larger than stock. I once tried stock Wesco Engineers and they were too tight for me (shaft) to fit my calves.
I also line my boots, which slows down (eliminates) the amount the boot will sag with time. The most my boot shafts sag are .5 to .75 inch over many years of wear.
I personally like how these wear (shorter shaft) although I also have 9" boots as well and I don't know which ones I like more. I find the shorter shaft easier to wear with my 666 jeans, and normally wear 634's with my 9" boots.
Don't know if any of this helps. Feel free to hit me up with any more questions that you have.
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@goosehd appreciate the quick reply. It must be trick of the camera because the shaft of your boots don't look bulky at all. Lining isn't an option for me unfortunately since I live in California where it gets pretty warm.
I was told that shorter engineers like the 7" ones from Japan and even 8" versions have a tendency to "flop around" and wear loose around the ankle. Taller boots supposedly don't have this effect quite as much since they fasten up higher around the leg. Do you notice this effect when wearing your shorter 8" vs taller 9"? Would it be possible to fasten the buckle tight so it grips your calf/leg and the shaft doesn't flop around loose?
Thanks for answering my questions, I've never owned engineers before (but have plenty of regular lace up boots) so not quite sure what to expect.
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@theofficialhung I don’t know if I can help you on that question. Since my boots are lined, there isn’t really any flop.
Maybe someone else can chime in on that one.
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If you or anyone on this forum can confirm what I'm saying is true, I will probably change my order to a 9" boot instead. Thanks.
I believe the charcoal leather is relatively light, no? I have two pairs (soon to be three)? In the heaviest oil tanned leather. That doesn’t sag as much or as quickly as lighter leather.
I also have three unlined Wesco pull on’s at 11”, 10” and 8”, all in lighter leather (two burlap’s and the brown domain). The shafts on all of them have been well broken in, are soft, floppy and creased, and they have all dropped an inch or so. The 10” pair are Morrison’s and have dropped less because the shaft is thinner and fits closer. I don’t strap up at the top so the 11” has sagged as much as the 8”.
I’ve never had an issue getting any of them under smaller hem jeans despite them not having the Mr. Lou style narrow shaft. That being said I take larger size jeans and have them hemmed to around 32”, so I have more room to work with than on small size, unhemmed jeans.
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My new custom build arrived a couple of weeks ago! Custom Hendrik, fit like a glove
Adam, do you have the build details for these? They look great! Might want to do the same thing but with a raptor sole.
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Newest addition. Jobmaster roughout, from Brund (Denmark).
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Lovely boot @Andreas1965 . Is that the standard oil-tanned brown rough out? I ask because I have a pair of Boss in that that should arrive tomorrow or Monday. I love the colour of yours.
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Lovely boot @Andreas1965 . Is that the standard oil-tanned brown rough out? I ask because I have a pair of Boss in that that should arrive tomorrow or Monday. I love the colour of yours.
Hi, they feel like the standard oil tanned. I have a pair of those and the leather seems identical.
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Awesome. I keep on seeing photo’s of the oil tan and noticing it being lighter than it used to be. It is why I chose it for my next pair. I’ll know myself within a few days, but I have a childlike excitement every time I’m waiting on a new pair.
I feel your pain. Dropped off a pair for a resole yesterday, cobbler told me it'll take 4 weeks. Now, on day one, I'm already impatient. I mean, I'm not walking around barefooted, but still…[emoji1782]
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Early morning delivery…
They are even better than I had hoped for…
Thanks very much @Giles and @Chris at Wesco
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Gorgeous @neph93
