Shoe tree or wood experts help me out?

[DoubleF]

Recently, I've purchased shoe trees for a pair of nice shoes. Unfortunately, the ones I acquired (red cedar if it's helpful info) show up in a plastic sealed box with white residue/furry splotches on it. I don't know how to explain it. It looks like something in between white mould and salt crystals on leather (except on cedar wood in this situation).

Spoilered for size:

Spoiler!

Is this supposed to happen?

I've spent quite a bit of time looking up the issue and have not found anything. The closest looking situation is this:
http://theunofficialmartinguitarforu...s#.VwwZuKyV2UQ

And in this situation it's floorboards, not shoe trees. But even these guys have no idea what it is. I wondered if it's sap, but it seems too furry to be sap. I'm completely confused.

I've already gone through one round of replacement on Amazon. All 8 shoe trees (2 pairs + 2 replacement pairs) I've received have varying levels of this white stuff on it and based on everything I've read, there should be none.

I'm being offered the option of a replacement, refund or discount. I'm not sure which option to take. If the white stuff can be cleaned, I'll take the discount (But no idea how to clean it thus far because I don't know what's even going on).

If not worth risking the shoe, then refund might be the best alternate, then trying other shoe tree brands. I'm leaning towards refund if this white stuff is bad for shoes. I'll take the discount if it's possible to clean this residue off.

Thoughts?

[peter12]

Which brand did you purchase?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by peter12

Which brand did you purchase?

Moneysworth & Best.

[peter12]

Is there a strange odor? It looks like mould.

I have a couple pairs of Moneysworth shoe trees, and while I found the quality to be lesser than say my Alden or Meermin shoe trees, they were fine, and I still use them today.

Refund those suckers.

[afc wimbledon]

A little fine sandpaper and some mineral oil

[psyang]

I found this thread, postulating it is crystallized cedar oil (libocedrol). Sounds like it does happen as a couple people in the thread know about it.

The relevant post states:

I'll try to keep the answer short so, keep your junior chemist hat on.
Cedar esspecially incense cedar has volatiles that will crystalize
under certain situations. The one that can form what you saw is
libocedrol (6-p-methoxythymoxy-p-methoxythymol) which has melting
point of around 85-87 C. There is also a p-methoxythymol addition
complex of libocedrol, which melts at around 91-92 degree C. You could
find out which by seeing what temperature it melts at or, use a gas
chromatograph - if you have one handy.

Anyway, incense cedar usually has about 2% dry weight libocedrol and
it can form a mixture of needle shaped crystals and dust. It can be
removed by scraping or with solvents, such as acetone, ethanol,
n-hexane, or cloroform. But remember, be chemical wise and don't over
do it, libicedrol is part of the cedar smell so solvents will remove
it.

Don't know if this helps you figure out what to do with them, however.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by peter12

Is there a strange odor? It looks like mould.

I have a couple pairs of Moneysworth shoe trees, and while I found the quality to be lesser than say my Alden or Meermin shoe trees, they were fine, and I still use them today.

Refund those suckers.

No strange odor, smells strong of cedar by that spot, but it also looks like after a closer look, the wood is pretty dry and even cracked in some places. I'm returning these for a full refund regardless.

Considering one of these as replacements unless you have a better recommendation for a place to buy shoe trees.

https://www.amazon.ca/Cedar-Elements...698GGVECCAJQ49


I guess if I truly must... I could acquire them for $40 at Harry Rosen... but I don't want to spend that kind of money...

Originally Posted by psyang

I found this thread, postulating it is crystallized cedar oil (libocedrol). Sounds like it does happen as a couple people in the thread know about it.

The relevant post states:

Don't know if this helps you figure out what to do with them, however.

I read this thread as well. There usually is some talk about cleaning with harsh ish chemicals (but not bleach unless it's an oxygen bleach) and/or drying/sanding.

A few other threads on different sites refer to dampness causing fungal growth.

I was holding out hope it was crystallized cedar oil, but it doesn't match any normal pictures of crystallized cedar oil. I'm thinking there might be a problem with a whole batch of these shoe trees as there seems to also be oil stains on parts of the box where the shoe trees aren't even touching which is highly bizarre. The other factor that makes me believe it's not cedar oil is that if this was normal, I'd hope that at least a few shoe websites would mention it's just cedar oil and you wipe it off and go on with your day. I haven't seen this so I didn't feel comfortable assuming it was cedar oil.

But this is starting to sound moot. I'm thinking of buying a different set/brand of shoe trees. If I see more white stuff, I'll concede maybe it's cedar oil to be cleaned. If no, then I think there's just a really badly stored batch of shoe trees in the warehouse these came from.

[calumniate]

Maybe you should consider wearing socks with your dress shoes! Or did you loan your shoes to someone from Edmonton?

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by calumniate

Maybe you should consider wearing socks with your dress shoes! Or did you loan your shoes to someone from Edmonton?

Those were BNIB shoe trees from Amazon. I know the sweat pants nice shoes joke, but I don't know how this applies to the situation.

My shoes are fine. Just need shoe trees for aiding its longevity.

[peter12]

Shoe trees are essential for shoe-care. Most people here are just slobs. *ducks

[Fuzz]

Disagree. Skate shoes don't need trees, and they are some of the most comfortable footware around. Since foot comfort is paramount, slobbyness is irrelevant. I'll take happy feet any day of the week.

[sun]

Dunno what the white stuff is, maybe sap or something? I'd probably sand it off. Wouldn't harm the trees, as it's not like they're lacquered or anything.

Originally Posted by peter12

Is there a strange odor? It looks like mould.

I have a couple pairs of Moneysworth shoe trees, and while I found the quality to be lesser than say my Alden or Meermin shoe trees, they were fine, and I still use them today.

Refund those suckers.

95% sure Alden trees are re-branded Woodlore trees. Same deal with Moneysworth (or maybe made by Rochester, can't remember). Either way, difference in quality is nonexistent or imagined. No point in buying branded trees unless they're lasted, which Aldens are not.

[worth]

I have a couple pair of cedar shoe trees and have never seen that before for what it's worth. I have Allen Edmonds and O'Connors.

[peter12]

Originally Posted by sun

Dunno what the white stuff is, maybe sap or something? I'd probably sand it off. Wouldn't harm the trees, as it's not like they're lacquered or anything.



95% sure Alden trees are re-branded Woodlore trees. Same deal with Moneysworth (or maybe made by Rochester, can't remember). Either way, difference in quality is nonexistent or imagined. No point in buying branded trees unless they're lasted, which Aldens are not.

I mean as far as functionality goes, obviously no difference. I just found the Moneysworth trees to be kind of flimsy, and not really fill the shoe.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by sun

Dunno what the white stuff is, maybe sap or something? I'd probably sand it off. Wouldn't harm the trees, as it's not like they're lacquered or anything.

95% sure Alden trees are re-branded Woodlore trees. Same deal with Moneysworth (or maybe made by Rochester, can't remember). Either way, difference in quality is nonexistent or imagined. No point in buying branded trees unless they're lasted, which Aldens are not.

If it's sap I wouldn't worry, but I just worry it's a living organism like mould which potentially could come back after a sanding and decide to make my leather shoes food. IMO I'm thinking this is a contaminated batch of shoe trees at some warehouse.

I'll send them back, order the cedar elements twin tube shoe trees off Amazon and hope for the best (No more fuzzy stuff). Maybe I'll try the Moneysworth and Best again in the future for my crappy Steve Maddens or something (the cedar does indeed smell nice. If I consider it part of the cost of a shoe deodorizer anyways, it's an ok price at $22), but for now, I'm sending back both sets of shoe trees due to cracked wood as well as some type of contamination concerns.

But just for knowledge purposes, where do you guys get shoe trees? (In city, online or wherever)

[lazypucker]

Did you piss off anyone who handles the shipping? Those look like the "special sauce" type of white goo.....

[peter12]

I've just kind of picked them up as I purchased shoes.

[DoubleF]

Originally Posted by lazypucker

Did you piss off anyone who handles the shipping? Those look like the "special sauce" type of white goo.....

No idea, but I doubt it. lol.

8/8 shoe trees were contaminated with this fuzzy stuff. I wonder if somehow they trapped moisture inside these packages and growth started forming inside, or if the product is all stored in a place that does not work well with raw wood.

If I truly pissed someone off, we may have a lead on the Air BnB orgy as I do not believe it would be realistic some individual guy would go and coat at least a minimum of 4 sets (8 total) shoe trees prior to them sealed and ready for shipment (as per the sticker and wrap on the box) . If I got 8 with mold, then it's possible an entire flat/wholesale shipment is contaminated.

[You Need a Thneed]

Anyone else read this thread and see the pictures and still have no idea what a shoe tree is and/or does?

[cam_wmh]

Nordstroms had a sale on shoe trees, and I picked up a few pairs.
Check when their next one is?