mixing acrylic

as in the gelled pigment sticks to the measuring surfaces? hmmm... could try a couple of things... try thinning it in the bottle a little when mixing... give it more diluent to dissolve into...

or buy one of those badger battery operated mixers... it might be aggressive enough to mix it up good... I dont use Tamiya much anymore, but when I used it a lot I only used Tamiya thinner to thin it... seemed to work fine everytime. you could also try isopropyl alcohol... I've heard of people thinning tamiya with that... Music City has a fomula he uses, do a search for simple green and you'll find his formula in there...

I've had good luck using isopropyl alcohol(70%) with Tamiya paints but only with my airbrush, when brushing I use straight from the bottle. Cleaning brushes I use Tamiya thinner. Found that using straight water doen't always work, try breaking the surface tension of water with alcohol or dishwashing soap like Dawn. Doen't take much
John
helicopters don't fly they beat the air into submission

I use these for stirring:

They are made from thin music wire, and I just spin them with my fingers to mix the paint.. When the paint is stirred, I lift it over the surface and spin it and most of the pain will throw off.

As to losing paint on the bottle walls and such, I think that's just a fact of life. Thin paint is going to be less likely to coat the bottle walls, but the whole idea behind paint is for it to coat the surface it's on.

QUOTE: Originally posted by grandadjohn I've had good luck using isopropyl alcohol(70%) with Tamiya paints but only with my airbrush,

I've had real good results using Windex to thin Tamiya Acrylics.

I use. . . Tamiya Thinner to thin my acrylics. Every kind of acryl paint too, including MM. I suspect it has a retarder in it, and it works great.

yeah it does Tank... it slows the drying time to get a better finish... I use it for everything from airbrushing to cleaning airbrushes. when you buy it in the 750ml bottle it's economical (ok, not as economical as windex or water but I like it)

Its only like 5 dollars for the bottle and it has lasted me through about 8 builds so far with at least 3 or 4 left.. not only painting the models, but 2 metal color cupfulls in cleaning, dripped onto a rag for wiping down the outside of the airbrush, on Qtips for cleaning dried paint in the cup and on the brush etc... even on a towel to wipe overspray off my table and such...

the small bottle is like 3 dollars and is only like 150ml. So it's worth it for the big one... and if the ones who havent used it tried it I think you'll like it.. it does make a difference!!!

Hey Folks!
I have found that the best method for mixing is to use small syringes. Available at almost any drug store, (explain that they are for paint mixing and not drug use, it may help in obtaining them!) they will give you an accurate ratio mix (eg:2 to 1 = 20ml + 10ml) simple math.
As to mixing, break down and buy a paint mixer, Badger has one for $11.20 available at www.scaleracecars.com.
On to cleaning. If you are using acrylics, use an empty margarine container half full of water, and run the mixer in that for a few seconds, remove, & dry. If you are using enamels, use a small glass jar with the appropriate amount of thinner in it, run mixer in it 'till clean and then rinse clean. It might help to hold a piece of paper towel over the top of your container of choice to avoid splashing.
I hope that this info is of use to you, all the best, John.

Like JCDF I use the small syringes you get from the pharmacy for giving medicine to kids.

Accurate mixes every time.

Karl

You can get that badger mixer here for only $8.49
http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/bad/bad121.htm