scooter Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Hi all. Yesterday I went to my local Hobby Lobby with my 40% coupon, only to find that the Testors Universal Enamel Thinner 1/2 Pint (8 oz) price had increased from $9.99 to $14.99! WOW. So having said that, I wanted to ask everyone if there was a cheaper substitute that is available out there from somewhere like Lowes or Home Depot. I am using an airbrush with primarily Testors enamel paints, and the use for the product will be for airbrushing, thinning and cleaning. Any information greatly appreciated. Thanks Adam Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ron Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Go get yourself a gallon of Lacquer thinner at Home Depot. It's all I use with Testers Enamel. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scooter Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 Thanks - is this the one? http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202249515/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=laquer+paint+thinner&storeId=10051 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Netz Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I don't think Testors is Lacquer Thinner, but pick up a gallon anyway, then look at the Low to No odor Mineral Spirits,they are paint thinners that are more refined/purified, they will suit you fine for airbrushing any enamel paints. I like to use a 50/50 Lacquer thinner paint thinner mix, I 1st drop in my Lacquer thinner add paint mix, it will cut/thin the paint much better then paint thinner, then I'll add a bit of paint thinner to wet-en it a bit as Lacquer thinner does spray a bit dry. Curt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ro-Gar Hobbies Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Thats what I use as well Adam. I also use it to thin my paints for airbrushing. You can also use the Lacquer to thin Tamiya paints, even though they say they are acrylic. Robert Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jfmajor60 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I use kleen strip oderless mineral spirits at Walmart 32 oz bottle 5-6$ I haven't had any problems using this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lyonkubb Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 I do the same thing as you- get the Hobby Lobby Coupon for the Thinner. I came back to that after some problems with other thinners. Something I do to make it last- only use it for thinning the paints! Use the cheap-o stuff to clean your airbrush. I actually use acetone for cleaning the enamels out of it. (not spraying, wiping and swabbing) Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scooter Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 Thanks - Is this the one? My link Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jfmajor60 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Thanks - Is this the one? My link Yep that would be it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recon Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Went to a Hobbytown USA and bought a can of Tamiya spray paint and they charged me $8.39. I buy my testors thinner at hobby lobby with my 40% off coupon. Mike Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hawk10 Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 For the past 40 or so years, I've used DuPont 3812S Enamel Reducer with my enamel paints (Testors, Testors MM, Humbrol and a few bottles of Pactra that are still usuable)as my thinner/clean up liquid of choice. Reason? It's relativly cheap (IIRC, when I first started using it, 3812S was about 1/3 as cheap as the equivilent amount of Testors thinner), It was readily available at at least two auto supply stores in town (Currently, it's a 50 mile round trip if I want a bottle of Testors), and lastly, I believe (due to smell and the way it acts with my enamels)that is the same liquid as the Testors. Having said all that, if I could no longer get the DuPont product, I would go with either laquer thinner or mineral spirits because both seem to work well with modeling enamels, are far cheaper and easier to get than the Testors thinner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jay Chladek Posted November 6, 2012 Share Posted November 6, 2012 I only ever use the Testors "Universal" thinner for airbrush thinning and maybe a flush cycle at the end of a color use. For brush cleaning (hand brushes and a teardown of an airbrush) I use other stuff. That way my supply of just that stuff lasts a long time and I continue to use it since I know what its thinning properties are like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
balls47 Posted November 7, 2012 Share Posted November 7, 2012 Yessir, I also use lacquer thinner that I buy by the gallon to thin MM enamel paints. I still use Testor's thinner on occasion, but I use the Testor's airbrush thinner that comes in the 1/2 pint, black can. (product #1799) The stuff in the black can has something added that helps the paint bite into the plastic better than the stuff in the red can. However, like I said at the beginning, my main weapon for thinning MM enamels is lacquer thinner. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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