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Generic Thinners

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  • Member since
    August 2012
Generic Thinners
Posted by JMorgan on Saturday, March 9, 2013 12:39 AM

Is there really a problem with using enamel and lacquer thinners from places like Walmart for airbrushing?

The small bottles Testor's provides do not last in no time.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Cameron, Texas
Posted by Texgunner on Saturday, March 9, 2013 7:59 AM

Well, Testor's Airbrush Thinner does seem to work a bit better when thinning enamels for airbrushing.  However, the generic stuff will do just fine for clean-up duties.  In fact, I buy mineral spirits by the 5 gallon can and lacquer thinner by the gallon., and then "decant" these into smaller containers for my workbench.

Gary


"All you mugs need to get busy building, and post pics!"

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: AandF in the Badger State
Posted by checkmateking02 on Saturday, March 9, 2013 10:19 AM

I used to use Floquil Dio-Sol for thinning all paints (Pactra, Testors), then they changed the formula, plus it began to get pretty pricey.

So I switched to lacquer thinner from the hardware store.  I use it to thin Testors, Humbrol, WEM, Floquil, and have not had a problem with any of it.  

Good luck.

 

 

 

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, March 10, 2013 11:06 AM

Yes! There is a new generic paint thinner that has been sold for a few years now that is terrible for thinning enamels. It is a milky color and includes dissolved solids that really can mess up a paint job.  It just says "paint thinner" on the label, and is sold in polyethylene white bottles so you cannot see it is milky before you buy it.  Nowadays I hold out for a product that specifically says either "mineral spirits" or "turpentine".

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    March 2013
Posted by patrick206 on Sunday, March 10, 2013 4:06 PM

I bought a tin of that "milky" thinner at a hardware store, it doesn't belong ANYWHERE! I store my household rattle can nozzles in a glass jar filled with thinner, for many years this has worked well for keeping them useable like brand new. When I needed to get more thinner I bought that milky stuff unknowingly, poored out the last little bit of the old and replaced with the "new". Next time I had a need for a can of paint, the nozzle would not fit in the top of the can, the plastic had swollen so severely. About 12-15 nozzles were in the bottle, so I marched everything down to the store where the thinner was purchased and got hold of the manager. My complaint was backed up by the condition of the nozzles, the plastic was actually changing shape from being so distorted and swollen. He replaced all of the cans I brought in to show him, he had not seen the problem but agreed the thinner had to be the problem.

Don is quite correct, make sure of the contents before purchase. If you find it's the milky stuff when you get home and open it, immediately return it. Even better, ask an employee to open it at the store and check that way.

Patrick Stack in Oregon

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