How to thin Lacquer paint when you have no Lacquer thinner?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Hello all

The title says it all!What do I use for brush painting Tamiya Lacquer Primer(You heard that,BRUSH painting.).I have X-20A Thinner,but that is for Tamiya’s Acrylics.So,what can I use as a lacquer thinner when I have no lacquer thinner?I completely spaced out when I was placing an order on Scalehobbyist,but I don’t want to wait another 10 days for it to arrive.So as in the title again,what can I use as a substitute to Lacquer thinner?

Thanks

Max

2

Go to your local hardware store and buy some lacquer thinner. [;)]

3

Order from Sprue Brothers, it will get there much quicker.

Or

Go to the hardware or auto parts store. [:)]

4

And as a plus, you will find a significant cost savings by purchasing such a generic material vice one with a model manufacturer’s logo. Tamiya lacquer thinner will run you about $20 USD per liter while Kleen Strip lacquer thinner from the corner hardware store will run you about $8 USD per quart. Buy a gallon and pour off into smaller containers for even more savings

And as always, test before using a new to you material or process

5

Wait till you got some laquer thinners!

If you can’t get mr color leveling thinner, my FIRST choice, good stuff, doesn’t run hot, so won’t risk damage to your model, and is good with tamiya acrylics as well.

You might try your local Art shop for ‘odourless’ thinners for oils & try that, but always test first.

6

I’m with the others - go to the nearest hardware or auto supply store and buy a container of lacquer thinner. It’s a more reasonable price by volume.

By the way, if you use lacquer thinner to thin Tamiya acrylics for airbrushing, it can enhance the matte finish of the flat paints. For hand-brushing, it should work to thin a primer coat with lacquer thinner, to apply it. But if you use it to thin and brush on successive layers, it’ll be too hot and it’ll pull up the paint you already put down. I know because I tried it, to see.

7

I always buy it by the gallon. It makes a great brush/airbrush cleaner plus other misc cleanup. Handy stuff to have around. I use it to clean airbrush after Alclad (immediatly- never let Alclad dry in airbrush).