Tamiya Paint ratio's for airbrushing

I agree with waynec. I, too, wil use thinner for specific paint brand and test on a scrap kit. Since I'm more Testors Model Master acrylic exclusive, I have yet tried using Tamiya for airbrushing but will soon and will be pleased no doubt.

i always use the airbrush thinner for the specific paint. costs a little more but one less variable to deal with. i think i use about 30%. i eyeball it and first hit my jagdpanther coat of many colors practice piece.

Chrisk-k

Tamiya paint does not contain a retarder or a flow aid. Tamiya thinner does contain a retarder.

Which products contain what additives wass not my point. My point was that even if they do contain retarder, it may not be enough and it's OK to add more if you'd like. I was disagreeing with a message that said there was "no need" to add retarder or flow enhancer. But if you are technically curious like me, read on for proof that most Tamiya paints contain a retarder.

Have a look at MSDS sheets for Tamiya acrylic paints. Then have a look at the MSDS sheet for Tamiya's acrylic retarder. The retarder's only ingredient is something called "3-methyl3-methoxyl butanol." Look at the MSDS sheet for any of Tamiya's acrylic paints, such as deck tan or flat black. You will see that all of these paints (except one or two metallic paints) also contain the same ingredient in Tamiya's retarder. (Some colors have more than others.)  Proof that Tamiya's paints do, in fact, contain a retarder.

I don't know if Tamiya's acrylic thinner has a retarder because I don't have an MSDS sheet for that product.

I'll plead ignorant on the flow enhancer because I don't know what substances serve that purpose. For all I know, the retarder also acts as a flow enhancer.

Chrisk-k

A WN retarder is for water based acrylics and Tamiya paints are alcohol based. So I am not sure about mixing them.

I wasn't sure either until I tried it (I am a big advocate of testing before actual painting). It turns out that Tamiya acrylic paints contain both water and alcohols. Again, see the MSDS sheets. Most of the alcohols found in hobby paints/solvents (4 carbons and less) are water soluble if not fully miscible.  So there isn't a problem mixing the two.

Many modelers thin Tamiya with 70% or 90% isopropyl alcohol and it works fine. IPA comes in mixtures with water, that's what the percentage means. So these modelers are actually thinning with both alcohol and water.

Chris

I use lacquer thinner as well for Tamiya paints.  It thinks them out nicely.  You dont' get the tip drying issues as bad as using alcohol and it makes the paint "bite" a little better.  

The only time I'd recommend using something like alcohol would be if you were doing a whitewash scheme where you want the paint to lift easily but other than that use lacquer thinner and you won't have any trouble.  Same goes with Mr. Color paints.  

I use Tamiya's lacquer for Tamiya acrylics with a 50/50 ratio.

I find the lacquer makes the paint go down a little smoother. When using X-20A, sometimes I find the paint surface a little grainy.

I use reguler laquer thinner and thin by eye to the thiness of milk.

Bill

When you run the paint lean like I do, you don't need to add a retarder. I can't recall ever having any issues with tip-dry.

Moreso, if you use Tamiya lacquer thinner, it extends the drying time allowing more time for the paint to level, giving better gloss finishes.

Hmmm.. lots of conflicting information here.  All I know  is I always use Tamiya X-20 A thinner , about 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner, and never had a problem.

Tamiya paint does not contain a retarder or a flow aid. Tamiya thinner does contain a retarder.  A WN retarder is for water based acrylics and Tamiya paints are alcohol based. So I am not sure about mixing them. Personally, I have never had a tip drying problem with Tamiya when used with their thinners.

stikpusher

Tamiya thinner already has an ingredient(s) that improves it's brush paining and air brushing properties. No need to buy and add "retarders", "flow improvers', etc.

I didn't know that. Cool! Thanks, Stik.

stikpusher

Tamiya thinner already has an ingredient(s) that improves it's brush paining and air brushing properties. No need to buy and add "retarders", "flow improvers', etc.

I feel differently. I don't know what's in Tamiya's thinner, but Tamiya paint does, in fact, contain a retarder and possibly a flow enhancer. But I still prefer to add more retarder. I did a 30 minutes painting session yesterday and I did not have any tip dry: not even once.

What I do is mix the thinner and retarder in a polyethylene dropper bottle. I mix to about 60% Tamiya X20A thinner to 40% Winsor & Newton Galleria fluid retarder. I then mix the Tamiya paint 50/50 with the thinner/retarder mixture. This has eliminated tip try for me. I also lube my airbrush needle, which may help as well.

Chris

I use a 1:1 ratio.  Among all paints I have used, Tamiya gives me the best coverage.

It is easy enough to test spray different mixes.  Just do it on scrap plastic and see how well more thinner works.  I don't use acrylics, but I often thin the last coat of gloss paints more than normal on multicoat applications.

It really depends on your airbrush, your particular painting technique and the sort of finish you're trying to achieve.

I use a Sparmax SP-35 (gravity feed) and often use 25% paint 75% thinner (ie. 1 part paint to 3 parts thinner).

Tamiya acrylics are incredibly flexible in terms of thinning. You can use the proprietary X-20A Acrylic thinner, Isopropyl Alcohol, Denatured alcohol, various lacquer thinners (but esp. Gunze Mr Color Thinner and Tamiya Lacquer thinner) and can be run very lean without losing coverage, especially with denatured alcohol or one of the previously mentioned lacquer thinners, either of which give the paint a bit more bite.

Tamiya thinner already has an ingredient(s) that improves it's brush paining and air brushing properties. No need to buy and add "retarders", "flow improvers', etc.

If you get tip drying with ipa try a drop of flow improver. As an aside, when brushing tamiya paint i use flow improver rather than thinner, stops it going "clumpy"

Thanks

I use their thinner instead of alcohol. With alcohol I tend to get tip drying and clogging. I usually thin at a ratio of 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner, plus 10% thinner just to make sure. So lets say that I use 30 drops of paint, I will add 15 drops of thinner, plus another 3 drops of thinner.

Scott

I use a 50/50 split, what pressure are you using? If your not getting the coverage try dropping the air pressure

Phil