I’ve been using the testors thinner that comes in the blue can (5 dollars and change), it’s a fairly sized portion, but I went to home depot yesterday and just happened to see a huge 2 gallon (maybe not that big) can of paint thinner.
It was branded as mineral spirits or something to that effect. (a buck and change for 10x the size of the testors)
any difference in these two kinds of paint thinner?
I’m not really sure there, I picked up a gallon of mineral spirits paint thinner at wally world, and have been using it to clean my airbrush. Just to be safe, I’ve been using testors thinner to actually thin my paints. I find that it goes a long long way when I’m not using it to clean my airbrush as well. This system is working pretty well for me, and I bet I haven’t used half my can of Testors thinner in the last few months. I know one guy said that he used laquer thinner to thin his paints, so using mineral spirits coudln’t be too bad, but I just kinda figured, I already have this stuff, why take the chance of something going wrong. Hopefully someone who knows more than me will reply to this with the real skinny.
madda
Mineral spirits will be fine for thinning Testors enamels, but not acrylics. It will also work for cleaning your airbrush, ir it was enamel shot through it. I use laquer thinner to clean my brush, because it is quicker, but mineral spirits will be fine.
Lee
The Testor’s thinner is “hotter”…meaning it will evaporate a little quicker than standard mineral spirit thinners. I agree with the other posters, mineral spirits will be fine for enamel thinning. Just keep a close eye on your mixing ratios, as you may have to mix a little more (or less) than with the Testors stuff.
Gip Winecoff
thank you… i actually only use it to mix the paints and not for airbrush cleaning… i can get an “unlimited” supply of brake cleaner at work (although i have to be a little more carefull using that stuff)
I wouldn’t use that stuff in my airbrush to clean it. Get some lacquer thinner instead.
Mike