Trouble with Washes

Is Alclad Aqua Gloss an Acrylic or Enamel? If it is an enamel, yes, you need an acrylic layer over it before using an oil/turpentine wash.

The bottle says Alclad Lacquer on it (and nothing else about type).  I saw on a website that it's supposedly an acrylic varnish. The Alclad website is of course, no help.  Either a lacquer or acrylic varnish should be fine with mineral spirits I would think?  

Groot

Apparently there seems to be some interaction between it and the wash. Some mineral spirits can be "hotter" than others. I know that I have bought "Mona Lisa" thinner from Hobby Lobby for use is oil washes based upon recommendations form fellow modelers on how mild it is.  it certainly has less bite for cleaning than generic hardware store paint thinner that I also use.

Thanks Stik, I'll try to track that one down and give it a shot.  I am definitely using the generic hardware store stuff.  If need be, does the Mona Lisa work well with any enamel or acrylic clearcoats that I should consider switching to?  Thank you!

Groot

Like I said, it is pretty mild stuff. I Have not yet had it bother any enamel base colors that have dried and cured for a day or two. But it only works for thinning oils. It is not a good thinner for enamels if you make your washes from them.

Aqua Gloss is acrylic. Really good stuff. I'd suggest changing thinners, like Stik said.

I've been using "Turpenoid" with oil paint right over enamels and not had problems. I like the stuff because it's odor free.

Gents,

 I appreciate the help.  I'll grab some Mona Lisa this afternoon and give it a shot.  Thank you!

Groot

On their clear coats, I find Alclad's labeling confusing!

Aqua Gloss Clear  (ALC 600) is acrylic. It is also a milky white color which helps identify it.

Gloss Klear Kote (ALC 310) is lacquer or at least solvent based.

However, both labels state "Alclad II Lacquer" at the top.

Greg

On their clear coats, I find Alclad's labeling confusing!

Aqua Gloss Clear  (ALC 600) is acrylic. It is also a milky white color which helps identify it.

Gloss Klear Kote (ALC 310) is lacquer or at least solvent based.

However, both labels state "Alclad II Lacquer" at the top.

Yes. And the ALC 310 also says contains Mineral Spirits. 

Alclad II Laquers is the name of the company

Thank you all, I tried the Mona Lisa thinner and it seemed to still react, but much less than previously.  I like the aqua gloss, but I think I may experiment with some Tamiya clear next and see where that gets me.  I've had no luck in the past with micro gloss and PFM (future).

Groot

Hmm, I use oil washes all the time over Aqua Gloss. Mig oils and Mig thinner. Not sure what's going on. Could it be the brand of oil paints you use?

I dunno, I'm using Winsor and Newton.  But looking more closely at the aqua gloss label it says it contains mineral spirits, so it would make sense that any type would cause potential issues.  I also grabbed a thing of turpenoid, so maybe I'll give that a try on my "tester" model.

Groot

RobGroot4

I dunno, I'm using Winsor and Newton.  But looking more closely at the aqua gloss label it says it contains mineral spirits........

Rob, if the label states "Contains Mineral Spirits" that means you have Gloss Klear Kote. That is a solvent-based clear and will not necessarily provide the acrylic barrier you want to be able to use oils/turpeniod/mineral spirit wash. (although with adequate cure time it might)

It sounds to me as if you are confusing the two products, but maybe I'm missing something.

Again, Alclad's acrylic clear gloss is ALC 600, Aqua Gloss Clear.

Greg,

 Maybe that's what it is.  If so, I'll be laughing at myself!  Thanks!

Groot

I'm curious about in a previous post you mentioned problems with Future. What happened?

I've never been able to get it to gloss up for me.  I'd put down 4-5 coats at varying pressures and distances and the only glossy parts were where I had runs or drips.  Same issues even after a light sanding with high grit paper to smooth the paint.

Groot

That's an unusual result. Myself and many other modelers that i know swear by it. On rougher Flat paints it sometimes takes a few coats in my experience. But I always get a gloss finish at some point, depending upon the base coat. Very interesting...

Groot

I make my washes with turpentine or paint thinner from Home Depot and use them over both Future and Alclad Aqua Gloss, both being acrylics and have no issues whatsoever.  Alclad Klear Kote flat is not lacquer but enamel based. I emailed Alclad regarding what to use to thin the clear flat and they said nothing harsh like lacquer but enamel thinner.

The problem I have when spraying Future is that I do not get a smooth finish but pebbly and orange peel. I have tried different air brushes, different psi's, thinning, played with distance, etc. I hand brush it with a wide soft brush and then I get a glass smooth finish.

You need to kind of soak the model with Future to get a smooth, glossy coat.  Spray Future till it almost starts to run.  

Or you need to apply several thin layers of Future.