Reducing Paints and Clears?

[SCRWDRVR]

Hi All, I'm wanting to expand my colors and types of paints to expand the color possibilities. I want to start using nail polish and craft acrylics like folk art or apple barrel.

I need some input though and I'm wanting to know what everyone uses to reduce these paints and what there clear of choice is for of them? I want to see what my options are working with these product, Thanks in advance for your help and input.... B

[TarheelRick]

I have used both these mediums with mixed results.  For nail polish I use garden variety lacquer thinner that you can buy in a hardware/home improvement store.  It dries flat so a good clear is essential.  The last time I tried this, I did not use proper procedures, tried to rush the paint and it went "tango uniform".  Best suggestion is to paint a spoon along with the body, then try the clear of your choice.  As far as the craft paints they also work quite well.  I have a '54 Ford convertible in the booth as this is being written.  For a reducer I use either distilled water or 91% isopropyl alcohol.  These paints are a different animal and require extensive mixing, since they are quite thick from the bottle.  I had a bit of problem with the one I am painting right now and it was suggested by others on this forum I really need to filter this paint before trying to shoot it.  So just went out and bought some pantyhose to use as filters.  My suggestion is the same for clearing, shoot a spoon right along side the body, then test the clears of your choice.  The one I have in the booth right now I cleared with Krylon and it came out fairly nice.  Hope this dissertation is of help to you.

[SCRWDRVR]

ok useful info, since your thinning the polish with lacquer thinner then I would think an enamel clear would probably work well, I have some Dupli-color Acrylic enamel clear I'll have to try that as one of my testers when I give this a try. Thanks...

[peteski]

Nail polishes are pretty much all lacquers (which are fairly hot). I would put them in the same category as automotive touch-up paints.  Yes, lacquer thinner works well with them.

[SCRWDRVR]

Ok I think next time I’m on a paintball kick, lol I’m going to give it a shot...

[Dave G.]

3 hours ago, SCRWDRVR said:

Ok I think next time I’m on a paintball kick, lol I’m going to give it a shot...

Something I find works for me with nail polish is a 50/50 blend of lacquer thinner and xylene ( I use Klean Strip hardware store variety), then thin the nail polish with that around 50/50 also. You will get less dry effect and sometimes more gloss. Nail polish also can be put on with pretty low pressure which makes it go on wetter too. And finally shooting distance from the subject matters. Get all those things right and you can get a pretty natural looking buffed finish without clear coat. Or clear coat if desired.

I make my own thinner for Folkart and apple Barrel craft paints too. You can use straight IPA too. Also Aztek thinner does fairly well with them, or a blend of it and alcohol too ( helps leveling though it shoots on a bit funky, levels beautifully). Aztek thinner works in DecoArt craft paint but don't ever put any alcohol in Decoart. My thinner blend works in Martha Steward and Craft Smart craft paints. Beyond these I have not experimented with craft paints, oh except Color Technic ( not my favorite).

Right now my clear of choice is Tamiya X-22 acrylic clear thinned with lacquer thinner. It makes for a very clear clear. Or you can thin it a bit extra and get a more traditional production looking clear. I use varnish and Pledge too, just depends what I painting or what my intent is. Not all clears are for automotive final finish.

Edited September 9, 2019 by Dave G.

[Miatatom]

2 hours ago, Dave G. said:

Right now my clear of choice is Tamiya X-22 acrylic clear thinned with lacquer thinner. It makes for a very clear clear. Or you can thin it a bit extra and get a more traditional production looking clear. I use varnish and Pledge too, just depends what I painting or what my intent is. Not all clears are for automotive final finish.

Dave, what's your mix ratio for the very clear clear and the more traditional looking clears? I'm thinking of giving the X-22 a try. I like the Tamiya canned lacquers.

[SCRWDRVR]

2 hours ago, Dave G. said:

I make my own thinner for Folkart and apple Barrel craft paints too. You can use straight IPA too. Also Aztek thinner does fairly well with them, or a blend of it and alcohol too ( helps leveling though it shoots on a bit funky, levels beautifully).

I had never heard of Aztek I'll have to get some, I'm not familiar with IPA what does that stand for? I know if I do a search it's just going to come up a bunch of beers lol...

[SfanGoch]

Better grab it soon. Testors has discontinued the entire Aztek line, paints/airbrushes/accessories.

[Dave G.]

1 hour ago, Miatatom said:

Dave, what's your mix ratio for the very clear clear and the more traditional looking clears? I'm thinking of giving the X-22 a try. I like the Tamiya canned lacquers.

It's going to be a little fussier than a rattle can on distance and speed of your passes. I mix it just short of 1/1 for straight up clear @ around 24 psi with a Paasche H and medium nozzle (.6). The more factory look ( less wet look) is 110-115% thinner, so a bit thinner than 1/1 ratio and I shoot that between 20 and 24 psi. Again it's the distance and speed of pass that you want to nail down , so get yourself a good test subject before you go painting a model with it. That said it won't be as prone to hazing in humid weather as lacquer can be. I've shot this stuff as high as 26-27 psi fwiw. And I put it down real wet with the nozzle pretty opened up. For what ever airbrush youo use you may need to tweak but this is how it works for me with the H.

I use lacquer too, sometimes even Rustoleum gloss lacquer. I have used Liquitex varnish and also Pledge. Right now I'm on the X-22 kick,I like what I'm getting without going to what I consider dangerous K2 clears.. Years ago I used to clear with enamels, all of which yellowed eventually, so now I try to avoid those.

Good luck with it and if you want to get into details while you mess with it just shoot me a pm. I'll help best I can.

Edited September 9, 2019 by Dave G.

[Dave G.]

1 hour ago, SCRWDRVR said:

I had never heard of Aztek I'll have to get some, I'm not familiar with IPA what does that stand for? I know if I do a search it's just going to come up a bunch of beers lol...

IPA is isopropyl  alcohol.

[Dave G.]

1 hour ago, SfanGoch said:

Better grab it soon. Testors has discontinued the entire Aztek line, paints/airbrushes/accessories.

I didn't know this. Too bad, the thinner is decent in at least a few acrylic paints ( the airbrushes should have gone for what they get for them long ago imo). But I suspect US Art Supply acrylic thinner may work too. I haven't tried it yet though so don't quote me on that. I mostly use my own thinner I make up for most craft paints anyway but DecoArt is the problem child and so happens DecoArt has some nice colors.  If Aztek is going out then I'll get to work right away on a substitute thinner to use in DecoArt craft paints.

 

Edited September 9, 2019 by Dave G.

[SCRWDRVR]

1 hour ago, Dave G. said:

IPA is isopropyl  alcohol.

got it, thanks

[Miatatom]

10 hours ago, Dave G. said:

Good luck with it and if you want to get into details while you mess with it just shoot me a pm. I'll help best I can.

Will do. Just getting started building after over a year lay off. I'll be in touch.