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The Kirby paint is quite thick, which is nice when painting vertical surfaces. Helps limit runs and sags. The can instructs to brush out thoroughly which at first I didn't understand. But pretty soon I figured out that the Kirby enamel needs to be brushed a lot, which you can do, unlike some other higher tech paints that drag and pull and don't flow out if over brushed. I used foam brushes and they worked fine. Two coats of Ivory covered white primer nicely on the wood cockpit coaming and cabin sides. I tried rolling some larger areas but the paint sort of glopped up. Kirby instructions say to "tip" after rolling, but it seemed to me as though the roller was laying down too heavy of a coat. Since the brush worked so well I just didn't use the roller. I'm not sure what exactly makes the vintage colors look, well, vintage. But if you've seen a 1950s car in authentic paint lately you know there is something about the hue of the period that is not so bright, not so gaudy and just has a more gentle look. That's what Kirby delivered on my Dyer 29, Hull #8 built in 1958.
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kirby paint is absolutely the best, the first time i used it couldn't believe the coverage and flow. and besides being durable, great depth of color, and easy leveling, it is almost foolproof in application. get some of the conditioner. this is probably what paint was like in the old days. and - bonus - especially with the conditioner - it smells great !
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absolutely the best. I know GK IV personally and he has always been picky picky picky. this was evident in the way he made dentures while in the Air Force serving as a dental lab tech. Once i seen him slap an airman for making a crooked smile. The airman never did that again. Keep up the good work George.
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Nice old time colors that look fantastic on old time boats. When used with the conditioner it really goes on easily and looks smooth with no effort. I applied it with a cheap foam brush and came away perfectly satisfied with the finish. The people at Kirby sound so busy when you call. Yet they slow right down and really take the time to help answer any questions and give clear tips to help attain success. I have even gotten hand written responses in the mail to certain questions.
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good reason why they've been around for so long... great paint... coverage and flow-out is terrific, a joy to apply... very durable... easy to "spot in" areas if needed... traditional colors that really look authentic... very helpful and friendly "family" business
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This is the real deal. It's what boats looked like before polyurethane. I've been using this paint for years on my Nutshell Pram, and also for exterior uses at home. It's the most durable alkyd paint I've ever used. It washes beautifully without any loss of color or sheen. I've found no other paint that gives the same "just right" look for a traditional wooden boat. It's fancier than a workboat finish, but not glitzy like an Awlgrip and chrome-plated gin palace. From the can it's very thick and heavy, so you have to thin it a lot -- maybe 10 to 25%. It's not fussy about thinners. I've used mineral spirits, turpentine, naptha and even kerosene to good effect. I also add some penetrol for flow. For spraying I use Interlux 216, which is a hotter solvent than mineral spirits or turps. I've applied it by brush and HVLP spray to good effect. I sprayed the outside of my front door with the red gloss over five years ago. Despite southern exposure, it still looks freshly painted. Kirby's will go three years on my pram without needing a recoating, and the pram is stored uncovered outside year-round.
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I used the french gray color to paint the cockpit and pilothouse of a downeast lobster boat. The color match was OK. The paint flowed on very nicely and really was a pleasure to work with. I did it at the mooring and enjoyed a nice afternoon painting. I was a bit dissapointed with the durability of this paint. It is a very tough duty application so I may be expecting too much. It will have to be painted yearly.
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