What thinners do you use?

[Guest]

Hey all

I was just wondering what other people use to thin their paints for spraying? I currently thin my Humbrol enamels with Humbrol thinner which can get quite expensive and I was wondering what the best, and preferably cheaper, alternatives where.

So what's your preference? Any recommendations on successful alternatives would be gratefully received!

Thanks for looking!

John

[Guest]

Sorry John, I can't really vote as what I use is varied.

Tamiya acrylics = Mr Hobby lacquer thinner

Vallejo acrylics = Vallejo thinner

Humbrol enamels = white spirit

Oil paint = lighter fluid

Personally, I've always had good results with just white spirit when using enamels.

Cheers

Patrick

[Guest]

Patrick thanks for your reply. I've toyed with the idea of white spirit but from what I'd read most people seemed to be dead set against it. Think it's time to give it a go...

Cheers,

John

[Guest]

I don't know why other's would be against it - to me Humbrol thinner & white spirit smell the same & work the same.

Sometimes there's possibly a touch of reinventing the wheel in our hobby

Cheers

Patrick

[Guest]

tamiya thinners for tamiya and revell aqua colours

[aaron]

Ive never used a paint manufactures thinner i use cheap turps for enemals and windex for acrylics.

Ive never had trouble with thinning using these two products.

[stona]

I'm similar to Patrick. I use what works for me.

Humbrol: White Spirit,been doing it for thirty years,on and off,with no problems.

White Ensign: Cellulose Thinners or White Spirit,both work but the former seems to speed up drying times.

Xtracrylix: Corporation Pop aka tap water,these paints don't need much thinning and you can't get cheaper than tap water.

Vallejo Varnish: Vallejo Thinners,I've used water but had some problems with the matt varnish which prompted me to use brand thinners.

Tamiya: Isopropyl alcohol,I rarely use these paints but IPA and a drop of retarder seems to work fine.

Cheers

Steve

[Guest]

I use mainly Tamiya acrylics and for them I use isopropanol.

Steve, what is the retarder you use for Tamiya?

[geegad]

I use tamiya thinner for tamiya paints it's cheap enough £4:50 for a large bottle...and low Oder thinners for oil paints

Geegad

[stona]

Steve, what is the retarder you use for Tamiya?

It's by "Liquitex" and I got it from an art store (Spectrum in Birmingham). I use it for Xtracrylix as well.

[Guest]

Cheers for your comments guys, good to know - this stuff is a 5th of the price of my thinners - Artists' White Spirit - Oil Mediums and Primers - ArtiFolk for Discount Art Materials, Art Supplies, Graphics Supplies and Crafts - decided to try this and see what happens. My mum uses this to thin her oil paints as it's more purified than the DIY shop stuff

[Guest]

I simply use water, i use artists acrylics, watercolours, and citadel paints so no need to make it more complicated.

On the rare occasion i need to use oil paint/washes i use cheap thinners,

my lungs can't take a constant stream of chemical vapour on a daily basis.