Thinning Acrylics

[Anonymous]

I purchased a thinner made by Testors to use with my paints (also Testors) when I am airbrushing. However, I read the fine print, and it said that it was for enamels. I went on Testors web site, and it said that they had an acrylic thinner, but my local Wal-Mart must not carry it. I searched Walthers for "thinner" and came up with these results (all from Testors):

Pla thinner 1/4-oz

Pla thinner 1-3/4-oz

Metalizer Thinner

MM Air bru***hinner 8-oz

Model Master FS Enamel Figure Colors -- Thinner

Airbru***hinner 1/2 pt

So, I guess at this point I have five options:

1. Use the thinner I already have (is actually for enamels)

2. Buy one of these thinners from Testors

3. If it would work, could I thin acrylics with water?

4. Look elsewhere for Testors acrylic thinner (suggestion, please)

5. Get a thinner from a different brand--Would this work, and from what manufacturor?

The Testor's paint appears to be kind of runny to me already. Does it even really need to be thinned? If so, what do you suggest?

[pcarrell]

Aren't acrylics water based?

[tstage]

Postdog2,

Philip is right. Just use water (either tap or distilled) to thin your acrylic paint.

Tom

[ARTHILL]

Water is all I ever used, be it for artists colors in tubes or any of the mixed paints either for models or from a hardware store. Thinning has to do with intent. To cover a building rather thibk might work, but for washes a variety of thin is better. For scenery I put it on full stregnth and then brush it unevenly with water to thin on the mountain. I get better results from many washes than from one coat of anything.

[dacort]

I'm not sure about Testors but for Polly Scale acrylic I've been using denatured alcohol as an airbru***hinner with great results. I usually mix about 20-25% thinner.

[tangerine-jack]

Windex. I'll never use anything else for thinning acrylics. Try it and you'll see why.

[Anonymous]

Use water, at most craft stores you can buy a paint called Ceramcote which works great for painting structures. Have'nt ever tried it on loco weathering but should work. The bottles sell for about 0.99 cents a bottle and there are a billion (well maybe not a billion) colors to choose from. They also make a brush cleaner that keeps the bristles nice and soft although you can just use warm soapy water to clean the brushes. The brush cleaner costs a little more. About $2.00. I like it though. Remember when painting *wood* you should seal it first or the water based paint tends to warp the wood. The paints at the hobby shop can be a little expensive compared to the art supply stores or even Walmart. I have even seen Ceramcote at Fred Meyer. Michaels always sells it and often goes on sale for about $0.89 cents.

[bp020897]

If you want another option go to Tower Hobbies web site and check out item number
LXHK51 Testors 4 oz. Detail Thinner. This is a 4 oz (118mL) Plastic Bottle of Thinner
used for Thinning Acrylic Model Master Acryl Paints.
I have been using this thinner for airbrushing acrylic but I will try distilled water next time and see how it works.
http://www.towerhobbies.com/listings.html

[myowngod]

I was in the hobby shop one day and the owner and another patron were discussing how the polly s thinner looked like windshield washer fluid. (little blue color). The owner said "I'm trying to sell the stuff, but i won't say your far off the mark." I bought a gallon of windshield washer fluid at my local hardware store on sale for $1. I still haven't used it all up. And get this... it works in your car too. You can't beat it.

[dieselfan04]

The Windex works well because it has ammonia in it. The drawbacks of using Windex is it has degreasers that are applied for cutting such things as body oils and grease. These ingredients may cause adhersion problems.
A good thinner for water based paints would be a 50-50 amonnia and water.
I would stray away from using straight water. Depending on the pH of the paint, you could actually drop the pH too low.
Alcohol or ammonia can also be used to modify the dry rate of the paint. Alcohol speeds the dry rate up and amonnia slows the dry rate down. I would limit the percentage of alcohol to 3 to 5 percent max. The pigments may start separating if you abuse the alcohol.

[tangerine-jack]

Windex. Trust me. Never fails.[tup]

[Anonymous]

I've never needed to thin Testors acrylics, to airbru***hem, but they thin well, with water. I only use their arcrylic thinner, if I need to add a lot. (like to the Model Master figure paints)

[Anonymous]

Wow. 11 replies. Great tips, thanks!!! I'm probably going to test distilled water and either windex or that 50/50 water/ammonia thing if I can to see what happens. It would be really convenient if just distilled water works well.

[pcarrell]

See, that's the beauty of this forum! Lot's of idea exchanging in a very short period of time.

[sansouci]

I thought windex has alcohol in it. It speeds up the dry time and eliminates the streaks

[fwright]

Windex has both ammonia and alcohol in it. There is a 3rd common ingredient - don't remember what it is in my OF&S (Old, Fat & Slow) moments - with which you can make up your own glass cleaner that will outclean any commercial product for far less money. Too lazy in my case to have done it.

yours in clean glass
Fred W

[Seamonster]

Maybe it's vinegar, Fwright. I seem to remember having heard somewhere that professional window washers use a mixture of water and vinegar, adding alcohol in the winter to prevent it from freezing. I washed the outside of our living room window a few days ago, after a winter of dirt and grime, using just a pail of water with no more than a cup of vinegar in it. The job passed the wife's critical eye, so it obviously cleaned well.

[Anonymous]

Blue windshield washer fluid works as well, if not better than windex, and is cheaper too. Fred

[james saunders]

i just use floquil thinner, not the safest thing in the way of fumes but it works...

[newsavedone]

Denatured alcohol is the most reccomended thinner for acrylics. Experiment with plastic scrap, wood, paper, similair to project. NOT on your one of a kind model![:D]

CAUTION Denatured alcohol is what my camp stove runs on so keep away from flame, AND VENT FAN unless it is explosion proof![:0]

[BentnoseWillie]

I use Polly S airbru***hinner with Polly Scale, Testors and Tamiya acrylics in my Badger 200 with a fine tip.

One problem I encounter from time to time is that Polly Scale that isn't "fresh" (i.e. has had the factory seal broken for some time) doesn't always mix well with the Polly S thinner. When that occurs I think it with distilled water (which works, but not as well).

Your mileage may vary, check local listings, on approved credit, etc.