Thinner

[Guest]

Hi again folks,

I'm looking for clarification on thinners, I use humbrol enamel and Tamiya Acrylic paint for painting plastic and the occasional resin model.

Can someone tell me why, with the tamiya paint, people use alcohol to thin it as opposed to Tamiya thinner or water? I've never used alcohol or thinners, I always use water. Can someone tell me the advantages/disadvantages of these different types of thinner?

Does alcohol dry more quickly than the rest? I can imagine this being an advantage, but I'm sure one or a few of you folks can give me more info.

Thanks in advance folks!

[Guest]

I have not heard of Alcohol being used but it doesn't surprise me.

The trouble with a lot of non proprietary thinners, especially when airbrushing, is the different rates of evaporation. For brush and equipment cleaning you can generally get away with most things, even water with acrylics, so it doesn't matter but when thinning paint down for airbrushing if the thinners has a differrent rate of evaporation to the paint then the viscosity can vary as you do the painting.

You may well get away with it and I am sure there will be strong advocates for all sorts of differrent thinning liquids but the safest when spraying is to use the manufacturers own thinners as this is designed to evaporate at the same rate as the paint.

[Guest]

Ah, evaporation rate is not something I took into consideration.

There have been times where I've been caused to catch my breath when I'm waiting on a tank to dry, as I've seen a water mark appear on the surface, but it disappears as it dries - a side effect of the paint evaporating quicker than the thinner! that explains it. Thanks Richard

[wonwinglo]

Alcohol is adviseable to water when thinning Acrylic paints,the reason being that it does not destroy the binders in the paint,you will probably not notice any difference within a few years,however as artists know well for archival purposes it does degrade the paint after a while.

[Guest]

That's definitely worth considering then! Ok next question chaps, let's make it 2 in a row - what kind of alcohol and in what form can I buy it?

[Guest]

I'd go for either Tetley's or John Smiths, you can usualy get it in pint containers.

[Guest]

hahaha nice one, they are my "weapons" of choice as well coincidentally!!

Now....seriously RICHARD.....

[Guest]

Hi Stuart

Because of various domestic commitments my modelling has been on hold for about 3-4 months. I have always used enamels, but a couple of months ago I decided to gradually get into acrylic paints. In preparation for the big spray (which hasn't happned yet :sad: ) I bought some Xtralic paints plus a 500ml bottle of Isopropyl alcohol. You can get it from the chemists; I think it cost about £5, but it should last for ages. The chemist looked at me a bit funny, but I assured him I wasn't an alky and told him why I wanted it. He ordered it in specially for me.

[Guest]

Cool, better than I thought! I was thinkin it would be one of these things that a) costs 1 arm + 1 leg and b) Would only be available to over 27s with no criminal record, an authorised container and 18 fire extinguishers within a 4 metre radius!!

That's really helpful though thanks

[Guest]

Me again.....

What about surgical spirit? Would it work as an acrylic thinner? It mentions ethanol and methanol, although neither of these are particulary nice stuff I suppose the isopropyl ain't exactly nice either!!!

[Guest]

I'd go for either Tetley's or John Smiths, you can usualy get it in pint containers.

I'd suggest you try the Tetley's or John Smiths after doing the airbrushing - especially if it's one of those freehand camouflage schemes on a 1:72 Airfix or something!

[Guest]

I'd suggest you try the Tetley's or John Smiths after doing the airbrushing - especially if it's one of those freehand camouflage schemes on a 1:72 Airfix or something!

Ah bugger - knew there was something wrong.....!

Must try that!