Cost effectiveness shopping?

Yep. I have a bit quart tin of lacquer thinner that I use for cleanup. Wouldn't use it for mixing paint or anything (it's a bit coarse), but for clean up after the fact it's very nice and economical.

I buy mineral spirits by the 5 gallon can and lacquer thinner by the gallon.  I'd love to find some of the Model Master thinner for airbrushing in a larger size too.

Yes, but many hobby shops have half-pint bottles of the Testors thinner, and if you buy those, thinner is not a major hobby expense.  Be very careful of what thinner you buy in a hardware store for thinning enamel.  Some of that stuff, sold as generic "paint thinner", is really cruddy. It has a milky appearance, and has a lot of dissolved solids in it.

I only buy stuff specifically marked as turpentine or mineral spirits.

Don Stauffer

Yes, but many hobby shops have half-pint bottles of the Testors thinner, and if you buy those, thinner is not a major hobby expense.  Be very careful of what thinner you buy in a hardware store for thinning enamel.  Some of that stuff, sold as generic "paint thinner", is really cruddy. It has a milky appearance, and has a lot of dissolved solids in it.

I only buy stuff specifically marked as turpentine or mineral spirits.

Don, I've never seen the Testor's airbrush thinner is anything larger than 1/2 pint.  Wouldn't it be cool to get a gallon of it; of course, at the price they charge, that might get expensive quick.  I usually buy mineral spirits and lacquer thinner at the paint store.  Yeah, watch out for that crappy, milky-looking "paint thinner".  It's not even good for cleaning up paint equipment.

Gary

Texgunner

Don Stauffer

Yes, but many hobby shops have half-pint bottles of the Testors thinner, and if you buy those, thinner is not a major hobby expense.  Be very careful of what thinner you buy in a hardware store for thinning enamel.  Some of that stuff, sold as generic "paint thinner", is really cruddy. It has a milky appearance, and has a lot of dissolved solids in it.

I only buy stuff specifically marked as turpentine or mineral spirits.

Don, I've never seen the Testor's airbrush thinner is anything larger than 1/2 pint.  Wouldn't it be cool to get a gallon of it; of course, at the price they charge, that might get expensive quick.  I usually buy mineral spirits and lacquer thinner at the paint store.  Yeah, watch out for that crappy, milky-looking "paint thinner".  It's not even good for cleaning up paint equipment.

Gary

Yeah, but even the half pint cans bring the cost down signifcantly over buying it in t he small bottles.  Yeah, I won't even clean brushes or airbrush in that milky stuff.

Don Stauffer

Yes, but many hobby shops have half-pint bottles of the Testors thinner, and if you buy those, thinner is not a major hobby expense.  Be very careful of what thinner you buy in a hardware store for thinning enamel.  Some of that stuff, sold as generic "paint thinner", is really cruddy. It has a milky appearance, and has a lot of dissolved solids in it.

I only buy stuff specifically marked as turpentine or mineral spirits.

Is that milky stuff the kind that is sometimes label as a "safe alternative" or "environmentally friendly"?

The cruddy stuff I bought was not labeled as either safe alternative or environmentally friendly.  Further, a couple of years ago I bought a can of oderless paint thinner and it was clear.  Never used it on model paints, however, only oils.

Thanks for the tip. I'll keep that in mind when shopping & I forgot that hobby shops carry half pint bottles of thinner, it may be for the best anyway rather than starting to paint & the color doesn't look just right on your new model.