SEARCH FINESCALE.COM

Enter keywords or a search phrase below:

Paint/Thinner Proportions for Washes

4887 views
5 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    September 2013
Paint/Thinner Proportions for Washes
Posted by cvsaylr on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 2:01 PM

What is a good paint to thinner ratio for a wash? I have heard everyting from 1 part paint to 10 parts thinner to 1 part paint to 30 parts thinner. Maybe I should go with something in between? 

Thanks, Dave

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Wednesday, November 25, 2015 4:09 PM

Experiment to see what effect you want heavier and grimey or lighter.There are only general answers,you gotta see what works best for what your doing.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, November 26, 2015 10:06 AM

It is so uncritical I never bother to measure- I only estimate.  My guess is my mixes run from about 1:10 to 1:100, paint to thinner. If you are just getting started in washes, I'd go thinner rather than thicker.  Thin washes may require several applications, but that allows you to stop when it is correct more easily.  You can overdo it with a thicker wash.

I sometimes merely shake a bottle of paint, lay the cap upside down on bench and put a thin (maybe 1/32 to 1/16 inch layer of thinner in cap and start with that. I almost always try a wash first on a painted area not very visible, to test it, but a thin wash can be wiped off without harm if done in 15-20 seconds or so (enamel washes, don't know how soon acrylic washes must be wiped off).  Washes are so thin I'll bet you one can't tell the difference over about a 3:1 variation in thinning ratio.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    November 2008
  • From: Central Florida
Posted by plasticjunkie on Thursday, November 26, 2015 2:31 PM

The best way I can describe it is that a wash is lightly tinted thinner and not thinned paint.

 GIFMaker.org_jy_Ayj_O

 

 

Too many models to build, not enough time in a lifetime!!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Friday, November 27, 2015 8:41 AM

Yes, excellent way to put it!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    August 2012
Posted by AndrewW on Sunday, November 29, 2015 12:32 AM

Personally, I aim for 'coffee' consistancy from my oil washes.

Life is hard, it's even harder when you're stupid - John Wayne.


JOIN OUR COMMUNITY!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

SEARCH FORUMS
FREE NEWSLETTER
By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy.