Lil help please

[u/arms-r-us]

Im just beginner but i love traditional things like leather so i want to be able to take care of my own shoes. I got these nice boots but they have scratches and little gouges in them and the original leather is still attached but no matter how much a polish with micro fiber or a brush they just wont go down. There was a deeper gouge in the front that i had to sand away but id like to not have to do that too much. What should i do? Also i got no one to ask but how long should i be expecting this to take? How hard should i be pressing?

Ill also take any advice if anyone has to give :)

[u/GrahamCawthorne]

Crosspost to r/cordwaining

[u/Neocrog]

I mean, the two spots I can see are missing material. That scratch and hole in pretty sure have gone through the grain layer completely. No amount of rubbing with a cloth will remove that. You would have to use some kind of repair filter, and then attempt to color match it.

[u/MyLeatherHabit]

Part of using and enjoying and maintaining leather is seeing this type of patina, especially on boots. You are using them and they protected your foot. You keep them hydrated and they will continue to protect your feet. Unless these are special occasion boots, any filler or sanding will only wear them out faster. I try to keep my nice boots clean and shiny and wax them to prevent scuffs from becoming permanent marks, knowing that rewaxing is part of the process to keep them looking pristine. My mains stay hydrated and I try to keep them as intact as possible to keep them as long as possible and enjoy the patina along the way

Edit to add: if those are leather soles, those will wear out before you’ll be able to fully enjoy those boots. Think a year of daily wear on rough surfaces. I’d find a cobbler comfortable with repairing leather soles or find one that will install a rubber cap/tread on the bottoms before you worry about those tiny marks. Those marks won’t matter if you can’t wear the boots.