I getting ready to airbrush some buildings using acrylic paint and was wondering what is the best way to thin the paint down? I have been doing some reading and it seems some people use windex, some use future floor care, and some even use rubbing isopropyl alcohol. I have all three products lying around so any help would really be appreciated!!
Most acrylic paint can be thinned with water. Many of the high cost ‘thinners’ are no more than isopropyl alcohol or distilled water! For air brushing, you want the paint thinned to the cosistancey of ‘milk’. Some paints are ‘air brush ready’ like Badger paints. Floquil Polly Scale paints depend on the pigment. Some are basically air brush ready, others need to be thinned. I usually start with about 25% thinner and work from there after mixing it. Do not ‘shake’ the paint! I stir up the base color in it’s bottle with one of those battery operated stir gizmo’s. You can find them from $10 on up. I add thinner until I get the consistancy right. With my Badger 200 internal mix air brush, I use about 20-25 lbs of air pressure. I also use the new ‘tip’ with the ‘notch’ in it - a suggestion from Badger while attending a convention. I have also air brushed Creamcote acrylic(available at Walmart or Hobby Lobby), but they really need to be thinned.
Jim
If you are talking about thinning down acrylic craft paints, the best thing I have found is Wagner Paint Easy. I found it at Lowes near the Electric spray guns. I have tried water and alcohol before and wasn’t satisfied with the results. I am pleased with the Paint Easy. I thin craft acrylics 50-50 with the Paint Easy.
My thinner is an 80/20 mix of water/alcohol which I keep in a used alcohol bottle ready to use. The 20% alcohol is just enough to act as a wetting agent to help the paint flow. Too much alcohol can cause the paint to dry to quickly.
I mix in enough thinner to get a consistency of 2% milk and shoot at about 25 to 28 psi with a medium (#3) tip.
Other than the fact that most of them suggest using their proprietary thinner (often simply water and/or alcohol), your best bet is to visit the paint manufacturers’ websites. You’ll find info on thinners, proportions of paint-to-thinner, spraying pressures, etc., etc…
Wayne
Thanks everyone, I appreciate all the help!
Granydancer19, I just went to HD and picked up a bottle of Wagner Paint Easy, I did not know they had such a thing, it is exactly what I was looking for, THANKS!
Personally, I would just use hobby acrylics (not craft ones) and thin them with a mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol. I buy the off-the-shelf rubbing alcohol and thin it 50% with filtered water (water that I run through a camping filter to remove the crud).
While I’ve tried other products and combinations, this one has always worked best for me.