Dark Red?

[Lew's Canoes]

I am restoring an OT canoe and the Build Record says the original color was Dark Red. Can anyone recommend how to match this? Perhaps a color from Kirby's or Epiphanes, or somewhere else that might be close? There is no evidence on the canoe to work from, so I am somewhat blind on this one.........Thanks, Lew

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Hi Lew,

Someone else may jump in with a color suggestion for you, but I know from reading past discussions re Old Town colors that the exact color may not be a knowable-thing, without a trace of that color remaining on the canoe.

Here's a recent reply by Benson regarding a green:

http://forums.wcha.org/showthread.php?t=6761&highlight=colors

Kathy

 

[Dylan Schoelzel]

Hi Lew,

If you are going to use Epifanes try #16 with a wee bit of black mixed in. The black goes a long way so I would try just a spoonful or two at a time to a full can of red.

Hope you are well out there in western NY.

 

[JClearwater]

Kirby's

Attached are two shots of my 1935 Otca painted with Kirby's #8 "See Red" straight from the can. Neither picture is that great but it's what I have on hand. It's a dark red, almost a brown red, not bright like a fire truck. The darkest of the three reds on Kirky's paint card.

Jim C.

 

[Billm]

Lew,
I recently painted a canoe with burgundy Petit EasyPoxy Topside paint. I'm very pleased with the color. The on-line color chart does not do it justice. Here's a photo that comes fairly close to showing the actual color.
Bill

 

[jeffjohnson]

Lew,
I also painted a canoe with Pettit's burgandy paint, but added 1/8 cup black per quart. Makes a great vintage red.

 

[Kathryn Klos]

Burgundy looks great with mahogany.

 

[Lew's Canoes]

Thanks Kathryn, Dylan, jim, Bill, and Jeff for your responses - good advice from all. I have used the Petit Burgundy as well and it does make a pretty canoe - I think I will try mixing in a little black when the time to repaint comes along! Happy Thanksgiving ! Lew

 

[crosscuts]

Dark Red and other colors

Kirby's has been very helpful and cooperative mixing special colors and degrees of dullness for old sample models and full size canoes.

R.C.

 

[Douglas Ingram]

One of the most popular colours for me to paint canoes with is a dark red. I've been using it for about 11 years now. I tried all sorts of combinations to get the colour that I liked but find the best result is just pure red with black added. More black makes a dark brown sort of colour.

When you get a result that you like, make a good size colour chip and keep it somewhere safe! You'll likely need it. Maybe write some notes on the back...