I think I read somewhere (and now I can’t find it again) that denatured alcohol makes a good thinner for acrylic paint. I think it would dry faster than thinning with water. Will alcohol work just as well for washes as for air brushes?
For base coats I use tamiya paint and Tamiya thinner. For washes I use enamels.
The thinner of choice varies with the brand of paint—one thinner will not work well for all. For example:
Tamiya: 90% or greater isopropyl alcohol seems best. Some have used ethyl or denatured alcohol and reported good results. However, both of these evaporate very rapidly, and under some conditions will not allow the paint to level.
PollyScale: distilled or deionized water.
I think if you search the forums on the brand name, you will find the information you seek.
I used to use isopropyl alcohol for mixing with Tamiya Paints, but depending on what you’re doing it tended to dry very, very quickly. So now I use Tamiya Thinner and it seems to work better. One of those big bottles will last you forever.
Wait a minute … mine is half full…does that mean I’m middle age?
Aye laddy. [;)]
You can solve the fast drying problem with a drop or two of acrylic retarder—at that rate of use, one four ounce bottle of retarder will last a lifetime.
I was the one who reported the success and use of Denatured alcohol with Tamiya acrylics. It was specific to just the Tamiya paints, not to be generalized for use with all acrylics. I have not tried it with other brands, so consult with others here for alternatives with other brands such as MM/ Acryl, Polly Scale, Xtracrylix, Gunze, etc. Denatured alcohol works outstanding for Tamiya as my primary airbrush thinner for that paint. When I want to brush paint, I add a drop of *Liquitex Slow-Dry medium to extend its open time. This works equally well for the dry brush technique with Tamiya as well. Give it a shot! Denatured alcohol solvent is sold at your local hardware and paint supply stores. It sells for only $4.00 per quart (in my area), prices don’t vary much, unless you live in CA.