lacqueur thinner's

Tamiya Lacquer Thinner thins their acrylic or their Lacquer line,I don't think you can use it on a true acrylic like Vallejo.

What brand of thinner do you have ?

I can't offer any really detailed information from actual use, but I have played around a bit with a few acrylic paints using lacquer thinner. 

For reference, I'll cite that like Vallejo Air is not compatible with alcohol, some other acrylics do work well using it. For me, lacquer thinner works with varying levels of effectiveness, in different brand name hobby acrylics.

Since I primarily use Tamiya acrylics, either Tamiya's lacquer thinner, or major brand quality lacquer thinner works fine. My choice is DuPont, purchased at auto body paint supply store. I use it when I want to ensure good adhesion, to the plastic surface being painted. Usual ratio starts at 3:1, paint to thinner, adjusted as needed from there. 

For the most part, I typically use Tamiya X-20A, great all around for their paint. Predictable and dependable results, I like that.

Lacquer thinner is also my most often used, for cleaning the equipment after use. But I use a very positive air flow spray booth, all fumes exiting through ducting to outside the shop.

Keep in mind, you want the best respiratory protection possible, to avoid the vapors of any paints, thinners, solvents, etc. 

Patrick   

tojo72 sorry I should have said tamiya lacqueur thinner's . It's just that it's full and free , but from what you said it's ok to use with tamiya paint's

steve5

patrick , thank's for your reply , you seem o be backing up tojo , cheer's

In the case of Tamiya lacquer thinner with Tamiya acrylics, it slows the drying time a little, giving the paint a bit more time to level. It also provides more bite, giving the paint better adhesion at higher thinning ratios.

When airbrushing gloss Tamiya acrylics using isopropyl or denatured alcohol (& sometimes with X-20A) as a thinner, you may find that you don't get a nice high gloss sheen. This may partly be caused by the quick drying of the overspray at the edge of your spray pattern settling on previously applied paint. When using lacquer thinner, it seems to slow the drying time and allows the paint to level better, giving a better gloss.

You definitely get better bite at higher thinning ratios using Tamiya lacquer thinner. If you have reason to (like for shading effects), you can easily lean the paint out to 75%-80% thinner and still make it stick, whereas it would be running off at these ratios with iso or X-20A.

Day to day, I just use X-20A or denatured alcohol, but the lacquer thinner comes in handy for certain applications.

Phil H hits on something good to know. I have read more than once that Tamiya lacquer thinner provides a nice, even surface when sprayed mixed with Tamiya acrylics. The reason given was they thought it must have retarders included, that allowed a little more "wet" time after spraying, so the paint could settle more evenly before setting up.

I do find that using Tamiya lacquer thinner, does give me a nice and even surface. But I don't find their X-20A to be a great deal different, just a bit noticeable. One or two drops of Liquitex Flow Aid, seems to give a little help toward a nice, level surface. 

When I use the automotive type, which I suspect may be a bit "hotter," I do find the edges dry a bit faster. Easily controlled with a couple of drops of Liquitex Slow Dri.

I'm always a bit untrusting of "home brews," but these methods do seem to work reliably.

Patrick 

thank's guy's this is all good stuff , especially to some one with my limited painting skill's

steve5