Made in USA since 1907
Angelus Shoe Polish was not even a dream when the young Greek immigrant, Paul T. Angelos, arrived at Ellis Island. Making his way to Chicago, Paul shined shoes and saved enough money to go to Los Angeles. After arriving in Los Angeles penniless, he secured a job at a large shine stand. Paul saved enough money to open his own shine stand. Through hard work and long hours, he was able to send money for his brothers, George and Louie, to join him. Soon there were 14 employees and three shine stands. After being crowned, “King of the Bootblacks”, Paul was able to make the return trip to Greece to marry his sweetheart.
Arriving back in Los Angeles with his bride, the decision was made to start making a few items to use on their shine stands. Soon, other bootblacks started wondering what the Angelos boys were using on their shine stands and started asking where they could buy some.
The demand for Angelus products started to grow until the poor kitchen stove could not keep up with demand. A small shop was then opened on Winston Street. The brothers, cousins, and brother-in-laws, all split time between their shine stands and their new manufacturing plant. It was not long before the plant demanded full time attention.
The decision was made to sell the shine stands and devote all their energies into making shoe polish. Some of the family worked in the plant while others took to the road where they covered the country with their sample cases. When necessary, they rolled up their shirt sleeves and worked in the repair shops or shined shoes to demonstrate the quality of the Angelus products. In 1917, the Angelus trademark was registered. In 1924, a new five-story plant was built on Maple Avenue in Los Angeles.
In the early 1930’s, Paul’s son George joined the family business on a full time basis and demand continued to grown for the Angelus products.
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See our full range of Angelus options here.
How to use Angelus
Clean
Start by cleaning the surface with a cleaning product like the Angelus Easy Cleaner Kit. It is necessary to get out all the oils and dirt that may be sitting in or on the surface.
Make sure there is adequate dry time and that you wipe off and get all the cleaner out.
Prep
Use the Angelus Shoe Cement or the Angelus paintable repair filler to fix any imperfections.
Prepare leather surfaces using 3-5 passes of Angelus Leather Preparer & Deglazer using cotton balls, or a rag.
Paint
Mix thoroughly before use. Always test the colour in an inconspicuous area first.
Apply in thin, even coats, allowing each coat to air dry fully (avoid hair dryers). Thick layers reduce the paint’s flexibility and durability. Basic colours dry to a glossy finish, while neons are more matt.
Let dry for 24 hours.
Finish
Apply an Acrylic Finisher to seal and protect the surface. This adds water resistance and helps preserve the paint.
Using a finisher also helps blend newly painted areas with the rest of the leather for a more even look.
Finishers come in matt, satin, gloss, and high gloss. Apply 2–4 thin coats for best results.
Your guide to Angelus Paint Additives
2 – Soft
Fabric medium for painting on soft materials like canvas or inner panels that need to stay flexible.
Mixing ratio: 1:1 with paint.
Heat set: 150°C for 3–5 minutes.
Angelus Duller
Reduces gloss for a matte or flat finish. Can be mixed into paint or finishers.
Suggested ratio: 5–8%.
2 – Hard
Helps paint adhere to slick, non-porous surfaces like plastic or glass. Increases film hardness.
Mixing ratio: 50% for flexible plastics, 75% for rigid.
Cure time: 48 hours.
2 – Thin
Thins Angelus Leather Acrylic Paint without affecting colour. Ideal for airbrushing or painting absorbent materials like mesh.
Mixing ratio: 1 part 2-Thin to 4 parts paint (1:4).
Angelus available at Artsavingsclub
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Preparation & Finishers – AngelusR119.00 – R299.00 -
Empty Paint Markers & Twist Top Caps- AngelusR149.00 – R395.00
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Shoe Cement – AngelusR395.00
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Leather Dye – AngelusR239.00
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Paintable Leather Repair Filler – AngelusR449.00
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Walk On Sole Coat – AngelusR249.00
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Brighteners & Cleaners – AngelusR165.00 – R725.00
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Brushes & Brush Accessories – AngelusR115.00 – R715.00
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Suede Dyes – AngelusR275.00
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Paint Additives – AngelusR175.00 – R235.00
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Leather Acrylic Paints – AngelusR189.00 – R459.00
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Product on saleLeather Paint Basics Kit – AngelusOriginal price was: R1 549.00.R1 199.00Current price is: R1 199.00.
