Has anyone tried using other brands of laquer thinner (hardware store , walmart etc.) to spray tamiya acrylics? my local hobbyshop says they can't get it but I have seen it on greatmodels online however,with shipping it's a bit expensive and I don,t need anything other than the thinner.Thanks in advance, Mitch Davis

I have used Ace Hardware lacquer thinner to reduce Tamiya paints for years before they recently came out with their own. Tamiya's stuff (like the Mr. Color Thinner" is, however, plastic safe if you want to brush paint. The Hardware store thinners can craze plastic if applied heavily (like with a brush). Airbrushing is fine.

DAVID,

Forgive my Ignorance.... but what exactly does lacquer Thinner DO FOR Tamiya Acrylic ?? how is it better than using Isopropyle Alcohol or even Distilled Water ??

Thanx in Advance !!

ERIK



WHAT DO YOU CALL THE ASSASSINS THAT ACCUSE THE ASSASSIN???

The reason is that Tamiya acrylics have a formulation that has properties akin to enamels than true acrylics. That's why laq thinner is used by some for cutting the Tamiya acrylics -- with good results I hear.

ROY,

Thanx for th heads-up ... !! I see.... I also know 1 other thing about Tamiya acrylics .... DO NOT mix them with Poly-S railroad Colors... or Poly-S for that matter... th Mix turns in to Mud.... Then to Concrete !!! found that out th hard way..trying to shoot it through th 'Ol Airbrush !!!!

ERIK



WHAT DO YOU CALL THE ASSASSINS THAT ACCUSE THE ASSASSIN???

There are different formulations out there...I never had any luck with hardware store bought stuff when I used it with Tamiya or Gunze Acrylic based paint. It seemed like the paint literally fell apart and became a clumpy mess when using hardware store stuff.

I've used Tamiya, Mr. Thinner self leveling and Ganinotoes Lacquer thinner with both the above paint and even Model Master Acyrlic paint and they all go on very well. I'm thinking that the Hobby type Lacquer thinner are a different formulation of Alcohols and other agents then standard Lacquer thinnner, plus they don't damage plastic either. I keep the store bought stuff to clean my airbrush out, plus its cheap enough to use that way.

I'll second Scott's experience with Hardware Store lacquer thinner. The Tamiya separated and became a mess.

Tamiya Lacquer Thinner is the best for airbrushing hands down. I was skeptical at first having used 91% rubbing alcohol for years, but the Tamiya Lacquer Thinner is tops and I can airbrush the finest of lines without clogging. It does dry a little slower than alcohol, but has a harder more durable finish.

Because of the cost, I only use it for thinning the paints, never for clean up. For that I'll use alcohol or the hardware store lacquer thinner.

Their lacquer thinner should not be used for hand brushing though. You will dissolve paint down to the bare plastic.

Can't speak for the other brands of Lacquer Thinner, but I have used Tamiya's. The paint goes on much smoother without that sometimes dry look. It also greatly reduces the tip clogging. I sprayed a 1/72 jagdpanzer camo with this mix and it allowed me to spray at really,really low psi (3-5. This let me get crisp color demarcations on the camo. I won't use any other mix in the future.

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