Enamels and washing

If the lacquer topcoat has completely cured, you should be able to use an enamel wash with no problem. Just be sure you use it as a wash & don't start scrubbing it on.

Regards, Rick

Okay, thanks!

But what do you use as thinning agent for enamels? (That's my biggest prob) I don't work with enamels much, so it might be wrong, but it hasn't killed me yet... I use the ominously named (for this exercise, at least) Lacquer thinners. It sounds as if that will damage the laquer layer, even if properly cured.

I usually "clean off" some of the wash with thinning agent, just to clarify the reasoning behind my question.

You can use Mineral Spirits or even Turpentine as a thinner for enamel. Most Hardwares have thinners for enamels, or Art Stores sell higher grade thinners intended for Oils. I wouldn't use lacquer thinner for thinning enamel paint as you may get a bad chemical reaction or the laquer thinner will make your wash too "hot" & may damage the base coat

Regards, Rick.

Great stuff, will try that rather! Thanks Rick!

According ot my experience (I know it's wrong to just distinguish between acrylics and enamels...), I don't usually do enamel washes or oil washes when I've painted the base colour with an oil-based paint...As much as a person doesn't want to be scrubbing around, a mistake can happen and if you're a perfectionist, eventually you'll end up going through the protective layer...
Generally I use oil colours for washes, mixed with turpentine (not exactly a nice and delicate thinner). Between the base coat and the washes, I usually spray an acrylic matt varnish, or better...a water-based matt varnish (I'm considering Vallejo acrylics as they guarantee at their website, nothing gets through it, even turpentine). For correcting washes ( clean up when the wash goes to the wrong place) I use cotton swabs soaked in turpentine (oil washes)..Once my base coat is protected with a water based matt varnish I can go around and scrubb pretty much as I want...

Take care.

When I work with enamels or oils (which is all the time) I'll seal the base coat with future
(2-3 coats) before applying an enamel/oil wash. Then I'll wipe the wash with turps after about 12 hours drying time. Let the future cure for a minimum of 24 hours after appling the last coat - I have yet to aggresively go through the future to the base coat.