Nail Polish

[1st 700 Quad]

I see so many guys using nail polish colors and I have purchased many colors myself but I have a basic question. All of the ones I have have a plug in the neck of the bottle that cleans the brush as it's pulled out so it only holds enough paint for one fingernail or so. How do you guys decant the polish from this type of bottle so it can be airbrushed? I've thought of using a dremel cut off wheel to sever the neck from the body of the bottle but then I fear I risk glass particles in the paint. Any ideas?

Steve

[peteski]

In my nail polish bottles the plug is simply a soft plastic insert (milky translucent in color) that can be easily pried out, opening up the full width of the neck.  I never seen a bottle where the plug was integral part of the (glass) neck.

[StevenGuthmiller]

I don’t use nail polish myself, but my understanding is that it needs to be thinned for airbrushing anyway, so why not just pour out a little, add thinner, shake it up and pour it out?

 

 

 

Steve

[Claude Thibodeau]

3 hours ago, 1st 700 Quad said:

I see so many guys using nail polish colors and I have purchased many colors myself but I have a basic question. All of the ones I have have a plug in the neck of the bottle that cleans the brush as it's pulled out so it only holds enough paint for one fingernail or so. How do you guys decant the polish from this type of bottle so it can be airbrushed? I've thought of using a dremel cut off wheel to sever the neck from the body of the bottle but then I fear I risk glass particles in the paint. Any ideas?

Steve

Hi!

I  remove the "neck insert", turn the bottle upside down, let it drain completely in an airbrush bottle, and then refill the empty polish bottle with your thinner of choice. Therefore, you get a 50/50 mix ratio, that you can fine-tune to fit your airbrush nozzle and technique, ambient temperature, etc. 

In my experience, the cheaper the nail polish, the better. For example: Hansen brand from the Dollar store. So cheap, you should always buy 2 or 3 bottles at once. Also, sometimes, you are better off with a base coat that ressembles the top color (ex: Tamya or Testor's lacquers). You'll get your pearly finish faster, with a more consistent color application than, say, on a white or silver base coat. 

Just my two cents, FWIW....

CT 

[1st 700 Quad]

12 minutes ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

Hi!

I  remove the "neck insert", turn the bottle upside down, let it drain completely in an airbrush bottle, and then refill the empty polish bottle with your thinner of choice. Therefore, you get a 50/50 mix ratio, that you can fine-tune to fit your airbrush nozzle and technique, ambient temperature, etc. 

In my experience, the cheaper the nail polish, the better. For example: Hansen brand from the Dollar store. So cheap, you should always buy 2 or 3 bottles at once. Also, sometimes, you are better off with a base coat that ressembles the top color (ex: Tamya or Testor's lacquers). You'll get your pearly finish faster, with a more consistent color application than, say, on a white or silver base coat. 

Just my two cents, FWIW....

CT 

When I buy a color, and yes, it's usually from the dollar store, I usually buy 6 bottles of a color. I'll have to try removing that neck insert, thanks.

[peteski]

2 hours ago, Claude Thibodeau said:

In my experience, the cheaper the nail polish, the better. For example: Hansen brand from the Dollar store. So cheap, you should always buy 2 or 3 bottles at once.

It is a good ideal to buy multiple bottles of the same color, but nail polish is also so viscous (thick) that a little goes a long way. I used less than 1/4 of the bottle (I thinned it with lacquer thinner of course), for this 1:43 scale Cobra.

[OldNYJim]

That Cobra’s beautiful

[89AKurt]

I've done a few models with nail 'polish'.  If you want to know what not to do, check out my 275 Ferrari NART WIP.  Makes a big difference what color the primer is.  I've been having good luck with Tamiya primer.  I use automotive grade thinner too, and a fair amount but not 50/50, more like 1/3 thinner.  There are some cool colors in that section of the store!

[peteski]

True, many nail polishes (especially pearls) are translucent, and the primer color will sow through.  Spoon test is recommended before painting the model.