last night i had an idea, but i’m not sure if it will work. over here in the uk it’s getting difficult to get tamiya thinners in anything like decent size bottles( just little ones, which works out expensive). i cant find isopropal alcohol anywhere and i’m not sure what else works. anyway my idea was could i use cheap perfume or aftershave from the cheapie shop, or even cheap vodka( i can get it for about 5 pound a litre). i could boil it to distill some of the water out of it. what do you reacon?
Methylated Spirits (ethyl alcohol) will work, but as I understand it, the methylated spirits you have in the UK is tinted purple. Is there perhaps something like a medicinal version which is untinted?
I would be tempted to stay away from vodka of perfume, you are just asking for trouble by putting unknowns into the mix.
Tamiya thinners are isopropyl alcohol with some acrylic retarder / flow aid added, you can get acrylic retarder from many artist shops, but the quantity to add & the exact spec are a bit of a mystery. Tamiya do produce their own acrylic retarder, but it isn’t available in the UK, although a ear to the ground does tell me that Tamiya X20-A thinner in 250ml bottles will be available in the UK again in a couple of months - this is the most cost effective way to purchase it.
i used to get it in the 250 ml plastic bottles, but i cant seem to find it. but i’ll take the perfume/ vodka under advisment. you are right about meths being tinted here. might try rubbing alcohol, i’ve heard that works. cheers guys
There are some less desirable options which may work, though I haven’t tried them.
You may be able to get “rubbing alcohol” which is a 70% Isopropyl alcohol (it’s branded “Isocol” here in Australia).
Some people also report using windscreen washer solution, which is mostly water with a small amount of Isopropyl alcohol, glycol and detergents. In many cases, this is also tinted.
Try EXPO dry erase board cleaner from your local office supply store/cabinet. It smells just like Tamiya’s branded thinner. I’ve used it for thinning & Pollyscale paints with success. It is also cheaper than a product with a model manufacturer’s logo.
Hi!
Tamiya is basically lacquer based like Gunze are. I use lacquer thinners (cellulose thinners in the rest of the world) and it works splenid. Smells but use proper ventilation. Good luck!
I think the poster is using Tamiya Acrylic, which is alcohol based, not lacquer /celly based.
I would imagine that you are using this in Tamiya Enamel?
I use acrylic thinner with Tamiya acrylic paints and it works very well. I love the smooth finish. Just ventilate well as Montque mentioned.
Sounds like you got it a little mixed up E.B. Anyways, I know a few modellers that swear by using laquer thinner for Tamiya–likely because that thinner thins practically any paint and Tamiya has an odd and versitile formula (discussed at length on these forums already) Anyway it works great for some modellers and you have to respect results but theres no need to use something so toxic and stinky with Tamiya paints
–WATER will work—I do prefer iso alcohol about $3 a quart at any corner store in the U.S. but not in the U.K. sadly for them----however–if you have a friendly Dr. you might get a prescription for it—or a friend working in a printshop–may be able to get you a supply --The “meths” commonly available can work but there are poisons added to it making a poor choice.
Actually, the toxicity of Isopropyl alcohol and Methylated Spirits is quite comparable. In fact, Isopropyl may even be slightly more toxic. Some sources quote that a lethal dose for an average adult is: Isopropyl: 250ml vs Methylated Spirits 300-400ml
The denaturants added to Methylated Spirits are added primarily to render it unpalatable to drink but they do not add any significant toxicity. At one time, Methyl Alcohol (which IS quite toxic) was added as a denaturant but this is no longer used.
Either way, there isn’t a significant difference in toxicity between Isopropyl and Methylated Spirits - and both are quite safe if adequate safety precautions are observed.
not buyin it Phil
Your Meths or Denatured alcohol is ethanol that has additives to make it poisonous or unpalatable, and thus, undrinkable.
BUT, Im not talking about drinkin either one—so that ‘dose’ you mention isn’t whats being compared—obviously you dont want to inhale much of either one but the meths’ have you spinning in no time–its obviously a more caustic , nasty, stinky, dangerous choice----pour a handful of each and see which one starts burning at your cuticals and God forbid any cuts.—Then dry off your hands and see which one has dryed-out and removed the color from your hand.
Level of skin irritation isn’t necessarily an indication of level of toxicity. Ever had chopped chilli on your hands?
Check out the following MSDS’s
http://www.recochem.com.au/files/downloads/Isopropyl_Alcohol_100_IPA.pdf
http://www.recochem.com.au/files/downloads/Methylated_Spirits_v3.pdf
Worksafe Australia sets a safe exposure (inhalation) level for Isopropyl at (400ppm) TWA (8hr), and for Methylated Spirits at (1000ppm) TWA (8hr).
As I said earlier, provided that adequate safety precautions are observed, both are relatively safe.
I think that in this case we’re going to have to agree to disagree.
We can, however, agree on one point - neither of us advocates the use of lacquer thinners which are undisputably much more toxic.I would much rather use either one of the alcohol options.
I saw another post in the Armor section about a 65% Furture to 35% Tamiya paint for airbrushing.
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