modelling muppet Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 G'day, I was wandering if there is anyone in Australia/Brisbane who knows if there is a generic thinner available in hardware stores for airbrushing acrylics? I currently use the Tamiya X-20A stuff but it's way expensive for such a small amount, and I wanted to know if there's a suitable cheaper 'bulk-buy' replacement you can get in a supermarket or hardware store. I have already looked in Bunnings, but with the thinners they have I am too scared to run through my airbrush and use with acrylic paints as I don't know what exact type of suitable replacement is available. Please help as I'm sure they're out there but I just don't know where to look.. Thanks, Muppet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
silverkite211 Posted December 29, 2007 Share Posted December 29, 2007 For thinning acrylic paint and cleaning the airbrush when I'm finished I use Windex glass cleaner. I don't know if Windex is available in Australia, if not look for a window cleaner that has ammonia in it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Glockster Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 For Tamiya paint, use ONLY Tamiya thinner, in my expereince anything else just does not work as well. Plain tap water works just fine for Vallejo, and Gunze. For clean up Windex works great. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawkeye's Hobbies Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 You can use water (distilled is best); rubbing alcohol (90%); Windex; windshield washer fluid or any of the manufacturers product. I usually use alcohol (helps speed up the drying time) in about a 60/40 mix then add one or two drops of Windex. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Kev Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I've had a bit of experience with this, being a cheapskate myself, and living in Melbourne, I can give you an Aussie perspective too. Firstly, Tamiya acrylics can be successfully thinned for airbrushing with metho (methylated spirits), which is a great substitute for X-20A. It's definitely not as good as X-20A, but an adequate (and much cheaper) substitute. Having said that, I still use X-20A for most of my acrylic paint thinning, as it works just as effectively with Gunze acrylics. The other product that seems to work well with Tamiya acrylics is Windex, but I haven't experimented extensively with this. Whatever you do, DON'T use Windex with Gunze acrylics; it makes the finished coat extremely soft and fragile, and they don't ever seem to dry fully. As I said, I tend to stick with X-20A most of the time, as it really does give the best results, but I will use the others appropriately at a pinch. The alternatives are also great for cleaning your airbrush (or paint brushes), and I definitely use them for that - much more cost-effective! HTH Kev Quote Link to post Share on other sites
model_madness Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 For Tamiya paint, use ONLY Tamiya thinner, in my expereince anything else just does not work as well. Plain tap water works just fine for Vallejo, and Gunze. For clean up Windex works great. Not true. Tamiya thins beautifully with IPA( rubbing alcohol ) which can be bought in bulk v cheaply. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelling muppet Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 Guys, Thanks so much for the replies. I'll look into them. I really appreciate all your advice from both home and abroard. We do have Windex here, but it does come in many other forms. Happy modelling guys... Cheers, Muppet :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Testor's MM Acryl Thinner works excellent for me with Tamiya and Gunz. It has a small bit of retarder in it which prevents clogging of your airbrush. It comes in a squirt bottle and is more economical than Tamiya thinner. I too use Windex for cleaning. I have used rubbing alchohol in the past, but it can dry way too fast and clog your airbrush. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triarius Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I do not recommend using Windex as a thinner or reducer because it contains ammonia—the reason it cleans most acrylics so well! Isopropyl alcohol, 90% is what I recommend as a bulk alternative, with a drop of acrylic retarder. You can get a lifetime supply of acrylic retarder anyplace that sells artist's supplies for about $8-10 US. Tamiya thinner is essentially 90% isopropyl with an integral retarder. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingSnowmew Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I use nothing but Tamiya thinner for thinning Tamiya paint and MM acrylic thinner for thinning MM paint. They work better than anything else out there in my opinion. I use Simple Green to clean up. A lot less harsh than Windex and it is non-toxic. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I use Simple Green to clean up. A lot less harsh than Windex and it is non-toxic. I can't stand the smell of Simple Green- like nasty licorish! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FlyingSnowmew Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 I can't stand the smell of Simple Green- like nasty licorish! Beats the smell of ammonia! :P Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big Kev Posted December 30, 2007 Share Posted December 30, 2007 Just a quick clarification guys - the OP is in Australia, and as a fellow Aussie I can tell you that things like rubbing alcohol, denatured alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, etc, are not readily available in Australia, at least not to the consumer. I've seen isopropyl alcohol in our largest hardware chain (Bunnings), but at prices that don't really make it an attractive alternative. Besides, if I'm going to ditch the proprietary thinners, then I'll just use metho or Windex anyway. Also, the latest crop of rumours suggests that the ammonia content has been removed from Windex, but that remains unconfirmed. Kev Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelling muppet Posted December 30, 2007 Author Share Posted December 30, 2007 You guys are great. Thanks for all your input. As Kev said, the availability of some products you all mention are somewhat hard to get here in Oz, but the advice is priceless. I'll go do the rounds at an artist supplier around the corner from me and I'll check the hardware stores again...and hope I hit gold. Thanks heaps fellas, Muppet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
volzj Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 Also, the latest crop of rumours suggests that the ammonia content has been removed from Windex, but that remains unconfirmed.Kev Might be true. I don't think it cleans as well as it used to. I use Tamiya's X-20A thinner for all acrylics, and in my book it's worth every penny. I get consistent results with it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chuck1945 Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 I don't understand this 'on the cheap' idea. If you have spent $20-40 for the kit (plus any aftermarket stuff), why quibble over the 5-10 drops of X20A used thin the paint used to airbrush a color on the model - definitely use an alternative for cleanup, but why not use the thinner that was designed for the paint? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toadwbg Posted December 31, 2007 Share Posted December 31, 2007 I don't understand this 'on the cheap' idea. If you have spent $20-40 for the kit (plus any aftermarket stuff), why quibble over the 5-10 drops of X20A used thin the paint used to airbrush a color on the model - definitely use an alternative for cleanup, but why not use the thinner that was designed for the paint? I agree with you in principle- don't skimp on the thinner. However Tamiya thinner can be difficult to get. Nothing wrong with searching for alternatives if the alternatives provide adequate performance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
modelling muppet Posted January 3, 2008 Author Share Posted January 3, 2008 Thanks fellas, I know I may sound like I'm 'penny-pinching' but it's always good to look out for good cheap alternatives. I mean, who thought that a domestic grade floor wax would end up being a major component to seal and finish models...and fishing line and toothbrush fillaments for static discharges, etc etc. Having said that, if all that there is that works best is the 'company product' then I'm all for using that too. Cheers lads, Muppet Quote Link to post Share on other sites
GGoheen Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 I use Gunze acrylics and use Isopropyl Alcohol (90% - not the lighter concentrations) most of the year but switch to Denatured Alcohol in the winter months as it seems to help cure acrylics slightly faster. Regards, Greg Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Triarius Posted January 3, 2008 Share Posted January 3, 2008 …but switch to Denatured Alcohol in the winter months as it seems to help cure acrylics slightly faster. Actually, what it does is evaporate faster, allowing curing to start sooner. Curing begins when the ratio of solvent to binder falls below a certain limit, and accellerates until the solvent is gone and it levels off to a more or less constant rate (varies with the polymer). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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