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Testor's enamel

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  • Member since
    January 2010
  • From: Paris, Texas
Testor's enamel
Posted by Michael B on Friday, September 11, 2020 1:41 PM

I have several of the Testor's enamel paints in the little square bottles I use for touch-up and detailing.  Quite a few of them have gotten a bit thick in consistancy.  Is there a thinning type agent I might be able to mix in the bottles to make them last a but longer, i.e. mineral spirits, airbrush thinner, lacquer thinner, etc.?  Which might be the best for longevitity and what do y'all use?  Any options would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Towson MD
Posted by gregbale on Friday, September 11, 2020 2:07 PM

I use them in precisely the same fashion, since they're handy, cheap and reliable. I thin with regular "paint thinner" or mineral spirits...avoid turpentine, since the gums in it don't seem to play well over time.

Lacquer thinner can sometimes be used to thin for individual applications, but "in the bottle" it tends to start the break-down process.

It's really tough to quote any hard and fast rule with these paints, since they seem to change formulation almost constantly. In general, they tend to degrade quite a bit faster than they used to...usually turning goopy or even solidifying.

Cheers

Greg

George Lewis:

"Every time you correct me on my grammar I love you a little fewer."
 
  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Friday, September 11, 2020 2:31 PM

Ditto

Like he said, adding that stuff in the bottle will lead to rapid end of the bottle. You’ll get more mileage from that bottle by mixing up what you need for a session at that time. You can use generic paint thinner, or Testors own brand for good results. 

 

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  • Member since
    August 2005
  • From: Mansfield, TX
Posted by EdGrune on Friday, September 11, 2020 2:34 PM

Thin only enough to use.   If you thin the entire bottle it will be useable today/tomorrow but when you put it up for a month you will come back to a couple useless mess

  • Member since
    April 2020
Posted by Eaglecash867 on Friday, September 11, 2020 2:59 PM

Just get an aluminum paint pallette and add a little thinner to the pallette at the time you're going to use the paint.  Its almost impossible to predict the long-term chemical reaction anything you put into the bottle will cause.

"You can have my illegal fireworks when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers...which are...over there somewhere."

  • Member since
    September 2020
Posted by Wilyb on Saturday, September 12, 2020 3:37 PM

I only use thinner if I airbrush. If it's semi liquid, goopy or whatever after you paddle mix it, then it's old paint... toss it out. 
I keep an eye on my flat, semi, satin and gloss black, rubber black, steel, aluminum, silver, signal amber and red. Other than that, I buy as I go, not unless I have it and it's in good shape. I won't ruin a model or an airbrush for $3.00

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