Thinning acrylic craft paints for airbrushing?

[Jantrix]

What should I use? Distilled water? Thinner?

[Brian_B]

I have never used an airbrush..but maybe this will help?

http://www.squidoo.com/thinning-acrylic-paints

[Jantrix]

Wow. I hadn't thought of using Future, that would make a lot of sense. Thanks very much.

[Brian_B]

Your welcome. Newbie...trying to read anything i can find.

[crazyjim]

What are you going to do if the Future leaves your build SHINY, Rob?

[Monty]

You actually have a few choices. On the cheap side, I've heard of people using Windex, 70% rubbing alcohol or distilled water. Tamiya has a thinner that works well with their line of acrylics, but I haven't tried it with other brands. I assume Testors has something similar. Last, believe it or not, you can use lacquer thinner.

I've read that acrylics can harden on the inside of an airbrush, so take whatever measures are necessary to clean it completely after using it.

[Jantrix]

What are you going to do if the Future leaves your build SHINY, Rob?

A little 70% rubbing alcohol will take care 'o that.

Last, believe it or not, you can use lacquer thinner.

I've read that acrylics can harden on the inside of an airbrush, so take whatever measures are necessary to clean it completely after using it.

Very cool. I got plenty of lacquer thinner. I will flush the brush with more thinner following each use, fear not.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

[Dave Ambrose]

Very cool. I got plenty of lacquer thinner. I will flush the brush with more thinner following each use, fear not.

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I keep a 50-50 mix of Windex and denatured alcohol. It dissolves acrylic paint, even after it's dried. It's also great for cleaning optics like my glasses.

[Crazy Ed]

I keep a 50-50 mix of Windex and denatured alcohol. It dissolves acrylic paint, even after it's dried. It's also great for cleaning optics like my glasses.

FWIW Dave, Ammonia can effect some Optical Coatings in a bad way. Rather than Widex I use Distilled Water and Alcohol

[scalenut]

You actually have a few choices. On the cheap side, I've heard of people using Windex, 70% rubbing alcohol or distilled water. Tamiya has a thinner that works well with their line of acrylics, but I haven't tried it with other brands. I assume Testors has something similar. Last, believe it or not, you can use lacquer thinner.

I've read that acrylics can harden on the inside of an airbrush, so take whatever measures are necessary to clean it completely after using it.

acrylic paint these days is considered a category .. under that you have well over a dozen or more types of paint ... I believe tamiya is an acrylic lacquer

craft paint is "usually" an acrylic resin type beast

thinners that work well and don't work well..... vary greatly between types, best advice is use the brand thinner for the paint (than further experiment from there if cost is an issue)

[jamesG]

here's an article on thinning acrylic paint for gaming miniatures, it's for brushing so I don't know how well it will work for airbrush.

http://www.reapermini.com/TheCraft/15

[clayton]

If you are asking about the Plaid paint from wal mart I used good old water. use a fine coat and let it build up. then let the paint dry a week or so. (THINK) I used a enamel clear over it,it too fine mist and slowly build up or try the floor wax idea for a clear. use a junk body too see what happens and too get idea's.