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Leftover paint in airbrush?

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  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Leftover paint in airbrush?
Posted by 1943Mike on Saturday, July 19, 2014 9:47 AM

Sorry for this naive question Embarrassed.

If one has lots of paint leftover in his/her airbrush after finishing a session, Does one empty it back into the original paint bottle?

I use acrylics exclusively and wonder if the "thinner" or other liquids I may have added to the paint (retardant, etc.) will ruin the paint in the bottle.

Mike

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: Houston, Texas
Posted by panzerpilot on Saturday, July 19, 2014 10:39 AM

It's not a good idea. The only time I do this is with alclad, because there is no external thinner. The thinner will upset the pigments in the paint bottle and you run the risk of getting contaminants back in there.

-Tom

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Illinois
Posted by wjbwjb29 on Saturday, July 19, 2014 11:11 AM

I do if I will be using that paint through out the build and will probably empty it any wats.

Bill

On the Bench:   Trumperter Tsesarevich on deck Glencoe USS Oregon

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Saturday, July 19, 2014 2:17 PM

Tom and Bill,

Thanks for the quick responses.

I think both your answers are perfectly logical. I'll just have to become a little more accurate in measuring how much paint to put in the cup/bottle of whichever A/B I'm using.

Thanks,

Mike

P.S. Bill, Do you have a WIP posted anywhere on your SMS Emden? It's one of the early 20th century warships I have in my stash so I'm, of course, interested.

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    December 2011
Posted by Chrisk-k on Saturday, July 19, 2014 7:47 PM

I throw it away.  You don't know how a paint exposed to air for some time would behave later.  As far as I'm concerned, paints are very cheap compared to kits, so I don't try to save $$ from saving paints.

Iwata HP-CS | Iwata HP-CR | Iwata HP-M2 | H&S Evolution | Iwata Smart Jet + Sparmax Tank

  • Member since
    December 2010
  • From: Salem, Oregon
Posted by 1943Mike on Saturday, July 19, 2014 10:38 PM

Chrisk-k,

As penurious as I have to be (minimal fixed income in my retirement), I agree with you. I've spent way too much $ already on a ridiculous stash that I probably won't live to build so I really shouldn't be stingy with paint.

Mike

Mike

"Le temps est un grand maître, mais malheureusement, il tue tous ses élèves."

Hector Berlioz

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, July 20, 2014 11:52 AM

I use a bottom feed airbrush, so the paint is already in a bottle.  I bought a bunch of bottles (I have six now), so I mix up all the colors I need for a project (never yet needed more than six), and store them in the bottles.  I put them on the airbrush when I need that color, take it off when done.  Amazon sells bottles for major airbrushes.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    October 2013
Posted by infofrog on Sunday, July 20, 2014 6:26 PM

Don Stauffer

I use a bottom feed airbrush, so the paint is already in a bottle.  I bought a bunch of bottles (I have six now), so I mix up all the colors I need for a project (never yet needed more than six), and store them in the bottles.  I put them on the airbrush when I need that color, take it off when done.  Amazon sells bottles for major airbrushes.

Great Ideal

Rick

  • Member since
    February 2011
  • From: St louis
Posted by Raualduke on Monday, July 21, 2014 1:29 AM

Dump it and clean out your equipment

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