Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1921-01-04
Shoes Can Be Made Waterproof.
BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY TELLS HOW TO
DO IT.

BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY TELLS HOW TO
DO IT.
Nothing ID much moro uncomfortable
than going about with wet shoes, yet
even the most forehanded are caught
occasionally In storm without rubbers
and wet feet is their portion, as with
those who dislike and seldom wear over.
shoes. Although rubber oVershoes and
boots will keep water out, they also
keep the perspirati0n In. Moreover.
they are cold In winter and hot in sum-
mer. For these reasons. ~ we'll - be-
cause Of their excessive weight, rubber
footwear is Objectionable to many peo-
pie; but dependence for keeping the
feet dry must be placed on rubber over
shoes and boots or waterproofed leather
shoes and boots. The Bureau OF Chem
istry, United States Department Of Agri-
culture, has recently completed series
of experiments on the care apd use OF
leather and recommends waterproofnR
the shoes that are worn in the winter
and spring months.
NOT WHOLLY WATERFRONT
Leather shoes and boots, as they are
made nowadays, when treated to make
them water resistant, allow the entrance
Of some water owing principally to the
difficulty of completely waterpro0fing
the seams. Such footwear can not be
expected to keep the feet perfectly dry
II worn for q long time In wet weather,
al kal o ho II ~ psrh
shoes or boots for walking In water,
slusby snow, or very soft mud. They
are very satisfactory, however, for pro-
tecting the feet during rain or snow
storms and for use on wet psvements or
wet ground. They also keep the per.
SEPARATION in, but are not az Questionable
as rubber 10 this respect.
The application Of oil or grease to
light cOlored or russell leather darkepe
It, more or less, and also makes an,
leather more difficult to polish. Wherr
this Is Objectionable, only the soles OF
the shoes should be waterproOfed. The
uppers can be made quite water resistan:
by the frequent application OF good wal
polish.
The occasional use of castor oil Oh
shoe uppers will increase their water
resistance, as we'll az their fexibility
and durability, without greatly inter
fering with their being polished. II the
oil is applied lightly to the clean, dry
shoes and rubbed in until the leather 10
dry, they may be polished Immediately,
although it is better to wait until the
following day. II the oil is applied too
heavily, 1t will be difficult to polish the
shoes and the shine will not last very
long.
In summer the grease used for water
proofing shoes and boots should be hard
or than that used in winter. Since heav-
lily creased shoes have Q tendency to
cause the feet to perspire and swell 10
hot weather, and there is less need for
the water-resistant shoes In summer
than In winter and spring, 1t Is rarely
advisable to put az much grease on the
shoes at that time of the year. In sum-
mer, the quantity OF grease used should
not exceed the amount that the leather
will take up without leaving Its surface
greasy. In winter, especially II 1t Is
desired to get the greatest water resist.
ance, q mixture of grease and oils that
is not too hard when cold Is required;
more of this grease than the leather will
absorb may be used. An excess will do
no harm and will make the leather more
water resistant.
wATERPRooFINa FORMULAS
For waterproofng boots and shoes,
nothing better than the following sim.
xlo fo,,,rlas In Eoo-o IN tho napo 81
ment of Agriculture. While the depart
ment believes that these formulas do
not infringe on any existing patents or
pending applications for patents, 1t can
assume 60 responsibility.
Formula /: 8 ounces of neutral wool
grease, 4 ounces dark petrolatum, and
ounces parsffin wax.
Formula q: 1 pound petrolstum, 2
ounces beeswax.
Formula 8: 8 ounces petroleum., 4
ounces paraffin wax, ounces wool
grease, and ounces crude turpentine
gum (gum thus).
Formula 4: IL ounces tallow and A
ounces cod oil.
SHOULD BE MELTED TOGETHER
In each case the ingredients of the
mixture should be melted together by
warming them carefully and stirring
thoroughly. Better penetration is OBJ
tanned If the grease 10 applied warm, but
it should never be hotter than the hand
can bear.
Grease thoroughly the edge of the sole
and the welt, as this is where shoes leak
most. The sole sbould also be thorough.
~ impregnsted with the grease, thereby
Increasing It's water resistance, dura-
bility, and pliability. The sole can be
most conveniently waterproofed by let
ting the shoe stand for about 10 min
utes In shallow pan containing enough
of the melted waterproof1ng material to
cover the entire sole. Rubber heels,
however, should not be allowed to stand
In the grease, as 1t softens the rubber.