Hello fellow modelers,
I would like to make my own paint cleaner for acrylic paint, I make home made thinner and works great but when it comes to cleaning my airbrush it doesn’t work as well as the store bought cleaners!. I use windex,distilled water, flow aid and 99%alcool, do I need to add something else to the recipe?, not sure as I have tried different using these ingredients in different strengths and so far not as good as store bought. Any Advice would be great Thanks Rory
I’m not sure about any recipe,I just shoot 91% ISO alcohol and it cleans it fine,also Lacquer thinner will clean out old dried acrylics.
Thanks Tojo72, I have tried doing that and found it turned paint to a thick gel. not sure if its because its 99%vs the 91% iso, I will give it another shot. Thanks agian Rory.
The trouble with acrylic paints and thinning them is the variety of formulas with different brands. What thins one brand, may turn another brand to gummy goo. And there is no one stop universal thinner for all acrylic paints. Although lacquer thinner can be used with many different brands. But for those who opt to use acrylics to get away from smelly chemicals with enamels, this completely negates that point.
I can’t say a lot of us make our own “home-made thinner” but we all use what works best for certain types of acrylic paints. As stik already mentioned, one may work on one brand may not on another. Not all thinners are the same. I know using alcohol on Vallejo paint turns it into a gummy mess.
You are 100% correct,I should have said I use alcohol for everything but Vallejo paints.I also use the Iwata cleaner for Vallejo which works good,comes in pint containers,isn’t too expensive,and goes along way.
Thanks for all the info Gentlmen, I have found A mix that seems to be working well for me. I use Vallejo air and VA model color 90% of the time, being fairly new to this hobby Iam learning as I go so once agian thanks for the help.