For UK members looking for IPA as thinners

[tigerdriver]

Seems this works well for acrylics if its high enough purity and as tamiya thinners seems to cost more than single malt ( )

how about this
Isopropyl Alcohol (Propan-2-ol, IPA) - 5 litres on eBay (end time 06-Nov-10 13:15:25 GMT)

5 litres is £15 delivered

[tigerdriver]

oh 1 litre bottles about for about £7 too

[mikewint]

I don't know about the UK but in the colonies we have Windshield Wiper Fluid which is a light blue color. this make excellent thinner for acrylic paints and contains isopropyl alcohol. the blue color will not affect even a while color. Drug or pharmacy stores should also carry Rubbing Alcohol which is 70% isopropyl alcohol. Lastly hardware stores should carry isopropy as a degreaser or use Denatured Alcohol which is ethyl alcohol with some methyl alcohol added

[tigerdriver]

i have been scouring the forums for tips about spraying with tamiya paints and terry amongst others seemed to think it was hard to come by here, possible due to the health and safety fairies

I'm a newbie so no idea

[mikewint]

The are NO safety concerns for spraying any acrylic paint unless you plan on putting the airbrush up your nose. enamels and lacquers require venting and the solvents are flammable. i airbrush with Tamiya acrylic paints and also model master from testors all the time. I occationally use lacquer but just buy a spray can rather and fuss with the actual paint and solvent.
if the UK has the windshield washer liquid try it it works great and its cheap $.99 per gallon here in the US and rubbing alcohol should be available in any pharmacy

[Airframes]

Nope! Iso used to be readily available from most Chemists (pharmacies) in the UK, but ask for it now, and you get horrified looks ! (that's if the drongo behind the sales desk knows what the stuff is in the first place!)
I'm guessing it's all to do with solvent abuse, druggies, alchoholics etc, where it's thought these people will drink the stuff!
Some of the laws, or at least sales restrictions, in the UK are pretty tight, even though the particular item itself may not be restricted or illegal in any way. For example, the sales of most adhesives to anyone under the age of 18 (16 in some cases) is prohibited, as a precaution against solvent abuse. All very laudable, but a pain in the a** sometimes!
I managed to get a litre of Iso sent to me from Lewis, who uses it in his work, and it is available from 'specialist' outlets - just not through the local pharmacy anymore.

[mikewint]

Airframes, really, that really amazes me, anyone who wants to drink iso should get a gallon free. we have the same laws/restrictions on spray adhesives/paint but isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is readily available at almost any outlet store that carries otc drugs and hardware stores or building supply outlets sell it by the gallon or 5 gallon bucket (do you have such stores in the UK?) What about the blue Windshield Washer fluid? you must do something in the winter to keep that fluid from freezing

[Wurger]

It is not important what you drink but it is important who you drink together with.

[Airframes]

I definitely agree my friend!
Yes, the windshield washer is available. I don't actually use acrylics very much, as I don't like their performance, and lack of versatility, compared to enamels, so I've never really had to bother about an appropriate thinner, until a particular job came along. But buying Iso or screen wash is definitely a better option than the Tamiya, or other manufacturers dedicated thinner, at the outrageous prices they charge!

[mikewint]

airframes, exactly, I do keep a bottle of their thinner. after i run isopropyl rubbing alcohol through the airbrush i run a small amount of their thinner. I also keep some lacquer thinner for dried acrylics. For thinning acrylics I use the windshield washer fluid and i think it works great, never have had a problem with any acrylic paint brand. since i work indoors and do not have a spray hood i don't use enamels as a spray. If I absolutely have to spray a lacquer i'll get the spray can and go into the garage

[Airframes]

I have to work indoors also, but I guess I'm used to the fumes and potential health hazards after nearly 50 years ! Also, no longer having a wife/partner, I don't get any hassle - it's my place, my paint, and no one to interfere !!

[mikewint]

Same here but I worry more about the possible explosive results of those fumes and i hate lacquer in my nose

[tigerdriver]

It is not important what you drink but it is important who you drink together with.

now that does make sense

[Switcha]

Seems this works well for acrylics if its high enough purity and as tamiya thinners seems to cost more than single malt ( )

how about this
Isopropyl Alcohol (Propan-2-ol, IPA) - 5 litres on eBay (end time 06-Nov-10 13:15:25 GMT)

5 litres is £15 delivered

Try to use Isopropyl with a content in the high ninties as it workes mush better. The Tamiya thinners etc are all 97% and the other 3% is a retarderto slow the drying down. I have used denatured alcohol and it does work well on flat paints, ie, most of tamiya's range, but it does make gloss coats & semi-gloss paint flater than normal. Plus it accelerates the drying time so it makes brush painting harder. The longer the paint takes to dry the more it levels out and the less the brush stokes are noticable. To get the best results on large area's like wings & fuselages your going to have to bit the bullet and learn how to use an airbrush. I started by using cheap acrylic craft paint and scrap cardboard.

Hope this helps and for a fiver buy a gallon of the 99.9% iso, it should do you almost a life time.
Cheers Switcha

[Corvinus]

I tend to agree with Airframes , i do not like acrylics much sometimes use the leather colour as the higher particle size in acrylics makes the leather look plush, warmaster aka games workshop snakebite leather...

my preference is Humbrols which i thin with white spirit, cheaper than thinners works well,
smells like a hippy camp... but it works well,

advice if using to thin humbrol enamel use sparingly many new enamels do not need thinning

although a tip i learnt .
Brush painting, pre dip in spirit, wipe off excess on tissue then paint , prevents the brush getting clogged too quick and does not thing the texture

Additional.
does anyone know if the formulation for Humbrol 65 Duck egg blue has changed in the last 15 years
reason is that i had to add a little grey to my pot as it was very "in your face " and looked way too bright for under colours

pot age 1995 ish tho humbols stand the test of time really well still have some i bought when a kid Im 34 now