I have read a lot about mixing paint with thinner, or with other colors to get a custom match. It baffles me how the authors can suggest mxing paint to thinner at 1:9 or some other ratio. I have tried old hypodermics (works OK for very small batches), hobby-type squeeze bulbs and portion cups.
As soon as I pour paint from the bottle into a portion cup, the paint hides the portion marks. I find it impossible to use the squeeze bulb things for the same reason. One paint draw and you cannot see the marker lines.
The hypodermic needles work fine for one drop at a time mixing, but if I am diluting Dullcote 50:50 with thinner, it’s an eyeball guess. Trying to mixing a wash at let’s say 9:1 is a mystery.
I’d like suggestions on how to do this with the same degree of accuracy the hobby authors are capable of achieving.
I go to the drugstore and buy some of those glass eyedroppers (or is it nose droppers? I always forget).
Then I squeeze the little rubber bulb and insert the tip of the dropper into the paint. Then I release the bulb and the paint is drawn into the dropper. I squirt the paint into my airbrush jar. Then I do the same thing except with the thinner, and repeat as necessary to get to the proper dilution. Is it exact? No. But as far as I’m concerned it’s close enough.
I use the same eyedropper technique as maxman. It has served me well for many years.
This idea only works for acrylics. I bought some disposable pipettes from an online art supply company - a couple of bucks for a package of 10. They are like an eyedropper but the tube is about 7 inches long. I used a permanent marker (like a Sharpie) to put marks at 1 inch increments. Whatever ratio of paint thinning is needed, use the same ratio of marks on the pipette. Use one pipette for paint, one for thinner.
The only problem is trying to accurately add a little more paint to the mix. Once the pipette has had paint up to the top, it’s almost impossible to accurately pull up a little bit more.
And, being an extremely cheap person, I have been using the same three pipettes for 4 projects now - just give them a good rinse before the paint dries and shake out the excess water. (The third pipette is for clear coat.)
George V.
I measure paint mixtures with kitchen measuring spoons – I keep some in the basement that never see the kitchen! Since I use acrylic paints, they’re easy to clean with water to change colors. I use the largest spoon that’s convenient for the proportions and mixing container, and it’s easy to add to a mixture as long as the proportions of the addition are the same as the proportions of the starting paint mix.
So long,
Andy