I am assuming that this is a stupid question but what the heck. Can I just use regular paint thinner from, say, Home Depot or Lowes for cleaning my brushes and airbrush? I go through Testor’s paint brush thinner fairly quickly and I’d like to see if I can get a cheaper alternative?
cheers
dave
As long as you are using enamels, by all means, go for it! The Home Depot stuff will clean your brushes and airbrush very well without any adverse affects.
Yeah, laquer thinner is pretty much all the same. Anytime they package a product for hobbist we get soaked. I also picked up some M.E.K. for making putty and of course to use as liquid cement (same active ingredient as Tenax-7!).
Great stuff. Thanks for the info all. Of course I’ll keep my Testor’s Airbrush Thinner can and put the generic stuff in there. Must keep up apperances you know…[:D]
HEY,
Ya i do the same thing, i must have about 8 of those little bottles from the testors enamel thinner, but i have laquer thinner in them now. One of those gallon jugs of laquer thinner, even if you have an airbrush, will last forever and a day, so it saves alot of money.
Randy
I also use Mr Clean to clean my airbrush bottles. Great stuff.
i went to home depot to get thinner not to long ago. got one liter for $2!! i usally pay $2.50 for the little jars. but the new thinner bottle’s cap can fill up the jar! use a funnel when pouring into the little jars, i made that mistake the first time, had to leave the area cause it smelled so bad.
It’s not just the smell! Keep in mind that this stuff is NOT good to breathe. Laquer thinner, mineral spirits, any type of paint (and yes that does include acrylic), alcohol, airbrush cleaner, etc. None of these were intended to coat the inside of your lungs. Please, please, please use a respirator / paint booth and/or have extremely good ventilation when using these chemicals because they are dangerous!