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Measuring paint and thinner to mix

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  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Pottsboro,Tx
Measuring paint and thinner to mix
Posted by Mars on Sunday, June 11, 2017 2:22 PM

I'm having trouble with mixing ratios, as I have been eyeballing it. What do you use to measure your paint and thinner for mixing? 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by ecotec83 on Sunday, June 11, 2017 3:12 PM

I use disposible measuring syringes for acrylic and thinner. They are cheap on ebay and reusable. But they tend to dislike oil based paints and thinners.

  • Member since
    April 2013
Posted by KnightTemplar5150 on Sunday, June 11, 2017 3:31 PM

I use a set of glass eye droppers that are marked with graduations of .5 CC to transfer paint and thinner to either a 10 or 25mL graduated cylinder for mixing. The graduated cylinder makes it very easy to pour into the airbrush and, since everything is glass, clean-up is a breeze. The eye droppers came with bulbs in different colors so that I can designate one especially for thinner to avoid cross contaminating. You can find all of that in the medical and scientific equipment area of Amazon at really reasonable prices.

  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Pottsboro,Tx
Posted by Mars on Sunday, June 11, 2017 4:54 PM

Do they dislike oil for the first use or is it just the 2nd or 3rd use when they have issues?

  • Member since
    June 2017
  • From: Pottsboro,Tx
Posted by Mars on Sunday, June 11, 2017 4:58 PM
Do they dislike oil for the 1st use or is it the following uses?
  • Member since
    May 2013
  • From: From the Mit, but live in Mason, O high ho
Posted by hogfanfs on Sunday, June 11, 2017 5:32 PM

I use these plastic pipettes  

They work well with lacquer, enamel, and acrylic paints and thinners. I bought a 500 count about two years ago, and I've used about a quarter of them. The clean up is really easy, I just throw them in the trash after they have been used. 

 Bruce

 

 On the bench:  1/48 Eduard MiG-21MF

                        1/35 Takom Merkava Mk.I

 

  • Member since
    January 2017
Posted by ecotec83 on Sunday, June 11, 2017 6:37 PM

I have found that turpentine/artist thinner and oil based products swell the rubber plunger making it hard to get the fluid out of the syringe. Normally have to throw them out if I use thinner for weathering.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, June 11, 2017 7:01 PM

I use the "spoon" end of Tamiya stirring sticks to measure paint. They are made from metal so a simple wipe with a rag cleans them off. I use plastic pipettes to measure thinners. I have great control of my drops to get exact ratios using both of those tools. 

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Monday, June 12, 2017 8:50 AM

I just eyeball it.  I use Testors enamels.  I find the mixture ratios not that sensitive.  If I get it too thick, it just will not airbrush well.  I just add drops of thinners till it does.  If I go too thin, and it tends to run, I dial back the flow so I can get a thin base coat on.  Once I have that base coat, I can use the thinner mix more easily.  However, I can also just add a bit more mix to the jar.  By avoiding measuring, I avoid having to clean the mixing instruments.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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