Thinning Tamiya's acrylic paints.....

From what I gather, the Tamiya thinner also includes some flow improver and paint retarder, and isn't just IPA + water. That being said, you can successfully mix your own, but if you're a beginner with an airbrush, I'd recommend getting the X-20A and not messing with that. Learn on the expensive, easy-to-use stuff, then once you get a feel for what you like and how to thin for your brush & tastes, get your 4 gallon drums of IPA and go to town. There's enough variables when starting out to deal with, and a poorly mixed paint isn't going to make your life any easier :)

QUOTE: Originally posted by erush Anyway, for those of you using the Tamiya X-20 thinner, open it and take a whif...You're paying a lot for a little bottle of IPA. Buy it at the drug store or Walmart or anywhere. Eric

Ah-haa....Just as I 'spected...Wonder how many other
'hobby" products out there come under this category.

Maybe that's a whole 'nother topic!

My only experience with Tamiya paints thus far have been limited to JN Gray and flat white. Flat white has always been one of my least favorites to work with anyways (almost up there with yellow). I have a bottle of blue which I haven't tried. Guess I'll have to try some of their darker colors and check the results. Problem is I have to order them cuz the closest place to me that stocks them that I know of is over 50 miles away. (unfortunately I don't live in J-Hulk's neighborhood)

I've sprayed their black and OD too and the black was almost thin enough for me. The OD I thinned a little more.

I've noticed their dark colors have less pigment so are noticibly thinner than say the dark yellow. I think that's typical in any paint to some extent.

I always check the consistancy before I spray any of them and add thinner to suit me.

Eric

Not sure guys but maybe it's the particular colours that I use. Most commonly of course I use O.D.(purchased of course in the bulk 50 gallon drum ), but I have even recently sprayed XF-61 Dark Green, XF-1 Flat Black, and a couple of others all straight from the bottle.

Same here Merlin and Wildwilliam. I thin up to 50% with IPA and haven't seen a bottle of Tamiya I'd spray straight yet. But I like the paint on the thin side when I'm air brushing.

Anyway, for those of you using the Tamiya X-20 thinner, open it and take a whif...You're paying a lot for a little bottle of IPA. Buy it at the drug store or Walmart or anywhere.

Eric

i use Tamiya paints a lot too, and i have to agree w/ Merlin -
i gotta thin 'em!
anywhere from 3:1 to 1:1 (paint:thinner) depending on the color.

i am running an Aztek and 20 psi.
(yes, i am one of the 7 people who are not complaining about the Aztek!)

i use Tamiya thinner from the 250 ml bottle.
i got them to stock it at my LHS.
the bottle costs only abt twice what the 50ml jar (20A ?) costs, but is 5 times as big.

i am too lazy or timid to make my own thinner.
i KNOW Tamiya's thinner will work and it is not prohibitively expensive.

ed.

QUOTE: Originally posted by shermanfreak For the rare times that I will thin a Tamiya paint (I find that it is pretty much a/b ready), I use tap water without any problems.

I recently bought a few bottles of Tamiya acrylics and while I'm generally pleased with the results, I'm surprised at the number of people who say they can shoot them straight from the bottle.

I've had to cut them about 1/1 they are so thick. What do you guys think? Did I pick some up that had been sitting around too long or what? Anybody else have the same experience?

I use an Iwata Eclipse but I also have a Paasche H like you do, Robert and I know they wouldn't go through it without being thinned as well.

Why don't you just use their thinner so no problems with any finishes.
And the water and soap for clean up only saving .25 cents on thinner to thin the paint

Jeff

I use Tamiya's acrylic paints for 98% of my work.

To thin I use Tamiya X-20A or Testor Model Master Acryl Thinner #50496, I pay 4.99 for a 118ml bottle, both with great results.

If I am going to shoot Tamyia paint, I find that most can be shot right from the bottle with no thinning!

Happy painting!

I use Tamiya thinner... the larger 250mL bottle is fairly cheep and lasts a very long time.

I thin Tamiya paints with rubbing alcohol, which you can buy at any drugstore or variety store. I add about 30-40% alcohol to the paint. I just eyeball it.

Glenn

I use Tamiya and have had very good results thining with an alcohol and water mix. For the water I use distilled water and for the alcohol I use 91% type. I decant equal parts of alcohol, water and 2 to 3 drops of Liquidex Flow-Aid into a plastic squeeze bottle (available at www.micromark.com). After a gentle shake its ready to use....Vula! home made Tamiya thinner for pennies on the dollar! This mixture works very well for Gunze too! Hope this helps, happy modeling!

PS:
Liquidex Flow-Aid- availabe at good art stores $4.00 (concentrated-will last years for the cost)
Distilled Water- available at any grocery store $1.00 for a gallon jug
91% Isoprophol Alcohol- avaialable at any grocery store $2.00 for a 1quart

Thanks bud...

For the rare times that I will thin a Tamiya paint (I find that it is pretty much a/b ready), I use tap water without any problems.