Here’s one I haven’t seen before. I’m trying to mix some Polly Scale water-based acrylic with the proper thinner, which I’ve done many times before. I add the thinner to the paint, and it becomes like cottage cheese instantly upon mixing. So I go get a new bottle of the same color, and try again. Same problem.
The question is: is it multiple bottles of bad paint, or does the thinner have a shelf life (the bottle is half empty and is about 3/4 year old, although it was tightly closed)?
Jeff
Are you sure that thinner isn’t for the solvent based paints?
Two reasons: There is no thinner listed for Poly Scale on their website. And the reaction you describe sounds like what would happen when you added a solvent to a water based paint.
Try tap water.
The bottle says it is for water based acrylics, besides I have used it before just this way. That being said, I’m headed out to get a bottle of distilled water, as I know this works and I believe that you are correct that this is probably the only way to be sure.
Thanks
Good luck. By the way, adding water to an oil based paint is a similarly bad reaction.[;)]
A quick whiff of the thinner should tell you if it is solvent based.
Point taken. BTW, I just checked, and the thinner in question is Polly S Airbru***hinner for water based acrylics.
Also, the smell is fairly mild. So, your tip is correct, as if it was solvent based I probably would be sitting on the floor right now, wondering what hit me
One other thing, I checked the site at the link you provided, and the airbru***hinner is listed at the bottom of the RR colors page, so it must be the correct one. So, I’m still wondering if it goes bad. I asked at the LHS, and they didn’t know.
i was once told to use alcohol to thin the stuff and had similar results. don’t know why, and did’nt waste the time to find out.
i then used water and the problem went away.
Sorry, I missed that one at the bottom. Now I’m scratching my head.
I have used alcohol as a thinner on water based paints, and it works well. It can also be used to remove them if you goof. Water is still the easiest though. The only problem you might run into if you are spraying a plastic model would be that the paint might “bead” if it has too much water.
The thinner must have some kind of conditioner in it. Maybe it does go bad.
I had a similar experience trying to make a wash by diluting Polly Scale with their airbru***hinner recently. It was okay for about a day and then turned into a rubbery paint plug. That’s never happened before. I may try water with some alcohol in it to cut the surface tension and see how that works.
Jeff,
You are not alone.
I’ve had the same problem. When new, the bottle of Polly S thinner (the blue stuff) thinned the Polly S/Pollyscale paint just great.
At a later time, as I added the same paint to the same thinner, it globbed up at the bottom of the airbrush jar. I have no idea why. I guess the Polly S thinner DOES go bad for some reason.
Keith Rafacz
Salt Lake City, UT
I had the same problem with Polly S thinner. I returned it to the store. I then tried 70% ethyl rubbing alcohol, it works great at a fraction of the cost of Polly S thinner. I use distilled water for clear finishes.
Roland
Thanks to all! It doesn’t get the airbrush clean (again), but at least I know what to watch out for in the future.
Jeff
Yes, I’ve had this same esperience with Polly S airbru***hinner. It worked when I first bought the bottle, but when I tried it again 6 (or so) months later, the Polly S paint turned to “cottage cheese.” Distilled water with a few drops of either propanol or ethanol added has worked well for me as an acrylic paint thinner, including Polly S. The alcohol reduces the surface tension of the water.
Bill M>
Why not send an email question to Testors, the manufacturer of Poly S and ask them.
http://www.testors.com/help/contact.asp
My experience with them has been very good tho I am not sure that they would readily admit to a problem with their products.
I’ve had the cottage cheese effect happen to me with PS paint too. I now only use distilled water to thin, and rubbing alcohol to clean up.
Carl,
I did that right away, however they haven’t answered as yet. I’m not sure that this would be called a problem, as we all recognize that paint has a shelf life, and it wouldn’t be surprising that the thinner might also. My concern is to not keep replacing the paint under the assumption that it must be the cause. Of course, they wouldn’t necessarily consider that a problem…
Jeff
I don’t use an airbrush but I have never heard of any petroleum based thinner going bad, no matter how old, as long as it is stored properly. Also, I have never heard of mixing an oil (petroleum) based thinner or any product, even paint, with acrylic (water-based) products. There are just some things in this life you don’t do, and one is mix water and oil.
happened to me too
trainnut57,
One of the things in this life you SHOULD do is read someone’s posts carefully before you take it upon yourself to issue a snarky critique of their actions. I stated clearly that the thinner was the correct, WATER-BASED acrylic airbru***hinner, as per Testor’s website and the bottle. In addition, there are already five others that have commented that they have experienced the same problem, and unlike yourself, they have most likely used this product in an airbrush.
Sheesh, it’s too bad that despite all the wonderful, friendly users of this forum there always has to be someone just waiting for the opportunity to prove how much smarter he is than all of us.
Yup, had the same problem. Someone suggested using windshield washer as a thinner. I tried it and, viola! Seems “wetter” than distilled water. For clean-up I use full strength Orange Blast.