Thinning acrylic paint

[jester292]

Guys, I like using acrylic paints, preferably Model Master acrylics. I usually mix with tap water and spray away. I haven't had any problems, but I'm wondering if it would work with isopropyl alcohol. Anyone try it?

Aaron

[Hawkeye's Hobbies]

That's what I use 99% of the time. Cheap and effective.

[jester292]

Perfect! Thanks Gerald.

Aaron

[zeus60]

That's what I use 99% of the time. Cheap and effective.

Gerald, are you also using Model Master Acryl? I've always heard that alcohol does not mix well with MM Acryl or Polly Scale. It does seem to work with Tamiya.

Stacey

[RichardL]

Alcohol tends to make MM acrylics dry faster out of the airbrush. I would use MM Acryl thinner since it seems to contain a little bit of retarder.

[Huey Gunner]

Just me. I use same name brand thinner for brand paint. Enamel, acryl or lacquer.

[Skyraider Maniac]

Can't windex be used as a thinning agent for acrylics as well? I can't recall where I heard it though; any validity to that?

[theseeker]

Just me. I use same name brand thinner for brand paint. Enamel, acryl or lacquer.

Me too with the exception of Gunze, with Gunze I use 99% percent isopropyl.

Rocky

[jester292]

I just used 91% Isopropyl with MM acryl, and it sprayed great. It dried real bad on the inside of the paint cup, its tough to clean, but its sprayed very well.

Aaron

[Chuck1945]

Can't windex be used as a thinning agent for acrylics as well? I can't recall where I heard it though; any validity to that?

Lots of stuff can be used as thinners for acrylic paints. However, just because it can doesn't necessarily mean it should. Windex makes a good cleaner-upper after spraying acrylics. I would be concerned that the ingredients in Windex that make it a better cleaner would also have an adverse effect on such things as the paint's adhesion if used as a thinner.

[J.C. Bahr]

If the Windex has ammonia in it, I wouldn't use it to thin any kind of acrylic! Ammonia can strip acrylic pretty easily, so I would imagine it would have to mess with adhesion properties somehow.

Some of the best results I've been getting lately with any acrylic is due to using a mixture of distilled water and Liquitex flow-aid. The Liquitex I believe is really just thinned out soap of some sort. A drop of liquid dish-washing soap helps to break down the surface tension of the water. Also, distilled water doesn't have the impurities that can be found in tap-water that can mess with the paint.

I've tried everything from Isopropyl to Denatured alcohol and all of the various companies thinners made specifically for their paints. As long as their thinners are used with their own paints, it's usually not a problem. But the distilled water and Liquitex should be able to be used with anything.

[72linerlover]

I quote this site: http://www.recochem.com/files/downloads/SO...ure_English.pdf

scroll to page 3.

Thinner or solvent –

know what to look for

What's the difference between a thinner and a solvent? Not

much. The thinning capacity of a product refers to its affect

on the consistency of the paint or lacquer with which it's

mixed. Solvency refers to the capacity of a substance to

break down the resins and binding agents in paint and

lacquer. This affects consistency and drying time. The faster

a solvent leaves the paint (by evaporating), the faster the

resins and binders will act to seal and dry the paint.

We have to be very careful with any brand of paint, thinning and solving agents.

A thinner for one could be a solvent for another one.

So: thinner for diluting or reducing, solvent for cleaning.

Until you are not sure of the composition of an alternative thinner, do use the proper brand one.

Ok, they are sometime more expensive than other products, but if they drive you to a mess, your costs will rise more and more.

Hope this helps

Euge

edited for typo in bold

Edited February 19, 2010 by 72linerlover