Mineral spirits or lacquer thinner?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Just a quick question on thinning enamel paints. Does laquer thinner work significantly better than mineral spirits for the same purpose, or can I use either one to much the same effect? I can’t say I’ve had any particular problems using the spirits, but I’m a little up in the air on how/if they work differently.

2

Laquer thinner is for lacquer only. Mineral spirits or paint thinner are for enamels only. BTW-buy either one at your hardware store and not your hobby shop (you’ll save $$$$).

3

Well, of course.[:p] Why pay three or four times as much for Model Master thinner than for, say, Kleen Strip? Besides supporting the LHS, I mean.

4

Hey Trowl, granted I’m a relative newbie, but I’ve been using laquer thinner with my enamel paints and have had no problems whatsoever…just my [2c]

Cheers!
Eric

5

This question has been coming up a lot recently. Here’s the last one I responded to in depth:

http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?page=-1&TOPIC_ID=47480&REPLY_ID=479033#479033

6

Eric-that will work but don’t try laquer coated brushes in mineral spirits-it’ll gum up. The reason laquer thinner works on enamels is that it’s very caustic and TOXIC!