Why is my paint curdling?

Dope thinner wouldn't work, would it?

I have found that Floquil flat black will curdle if thinned with mineral spirits, whereas lacquer thinner works fine.  Since Testors owns Floquil, maybe they have mixed things up somehow.  If so, a lot of people who use Model Master paint and mineral spirits are going to be upset.

Don

Jim, thanks for the  great info!  I love the Polyscale line of blacks and the various shades thereof.  They brush on so smoothly.  I've never airbrushed with them though.  I just ran downstairs to my mancave to see what kind of alcohol I have.  The bottle says "ethyl alcohol".  Will this work in place of "isopropyl alcohol"?

Thanks again!

Eric

Pollyscale is a water based acrylic. You could use water (distilled is best), their own brand of airbrush thinner, or rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol is a usually around 70% pure with the remainder being good old H2O. The alcohol is "wetter" than plain water and makes the paint flow better.. Another choice of flat black is Floquils Engine Black. It has it's own brand of thinner, which I have a carefully hoarded supply of, as Testors has replaced it with a 'universal' thinner that is for both MM and Floquil. I've never tried it with any other thinners, but it sprays on very well.

Thanks guys!

I thought I read on another forum that someone was having a similar issue with another brand.  It's just sheer coincidence that a few days later I've now run into the same problem.  It just seems so weird that a paint company would change the formula for one particular color but I suppose they have their reasons.  Looks like it's a trip to the hardward store for me.

On a side note, I do have Polyscale black I could use.  What thins Polyscale paints?

Thanks!

Eric

I have never had problems with true "mineral spirits".  But hardware stores are now selling a new kind of paint thinner. It is milky, not clear. I have had trouble with that stuff- it sometimes curdles and changes the color of the paint. I have gone to either true mineral spirits or true turpentine, using it with Testors enamels.  Had no trouble so far.

I suspect that Testors has changed the formulation. To my nose, the odor of the paint in the jar is different than in the past. I have been using their own airbrush thinner, or as of late, hardware store grade lacquer thinner. Mineral spirits would not be as "hot" as other thinners and may not be as good of a solvent for spraying this possible new formulation, I think. Some of the other colors I have recently purchased seem to have this different smell.