What’s the difference between Mr. Color thinner and Mr. Color Leveling thinner? When should one or the other be used? Thanks.
Craig
They are pretty much interchangeable. the only real difference is that Mr Levelling Thinner has more retarder in it, extending the drying time and giving the paint more time to self-level, hence the name.
Arguably, it may be advantageous to use Mr Levelling Thinner in hot, dry conditions, but depending on your individual airbrushing style/technique, your mileage may vary. [:)]
Yep what Phil said (he’s faster on the keyboard than me).
addendum: I like the leveling thinner better because its leveling properties, for my spraying style, it gives me that slight edge of confidence that my paint will come out smooth(er)
well back to painting …
Thanks for the responses.
And you can always buy a bottle of Mr Retarder and make adjustments to either thinner.
Tony
The strange thing about this statement, not that you are wrong because I read the same thing. Is that the paints I have used Mr Leveling Thinner in have actually cured faster.
I thought it was supposed to slow down the curing.
Remember folks - you should NEVER go full retard…er. [:P]
I have used both Gunze thinners and they both dry pretty fast. I think there are a lot of factors that affect curing time, especially paint-to-thinner ratio.
I tried using Floquil’s retarder mixed with lacquer thinner a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, but it was really aggressive and caused the paint to crackle as it dried. It might have come down to mixture ratio and laying on the paint too thickly. I was a young lad with little airbrush experience at the time.
But I have had no problems using Gunze’s leveling thinner. Maybe I go easier on the paint layers now. Anyway, I really like Gunze’s lacquer thinners, primers, and paints.
I use Mr. Leveling Thinner in both MCW lacquers and enamels and it works great. Not sure what the effect on curing time is, because the MCW enamels still take about a week to cure without using MCWs hardener (which I don’t use)…but MAN do they level out nicely using Mr. Leveling Thinner. They rival 2K paints for their gloss when that combination is applied. Heh…and I’m a guy who was terrified of getting back into car modeling again for just that reason. I was just SURE I wouldn’t be able to get a smooth finish without lots of aggravation. But it worked on the first try. [H]
Finally got around to trying mine out,I can’t tell you what a difference it made in spraying AK-Real,it put down a super smooth level finish,great stuff !!!
I think the Leveling thinner does just that, levels the paint film,increases flow out slightly. I used it in Tamiya LP black lacquer this moring on a set of 34 Ford truck fenders and the finish is quite stunning in just two coats. But the thing is, I don’t see that the general cure time was any longer at all, it just allowed for that flow out and tremedous gloss as well, I might add. After I cleaned up my airbrush etc I did put the assembly in the dehydrator but the fenders were pretty well dry already, I just ran the dehydrator for 10 minutes.
I’ve shot this same black lacquer with regular LT, it still comes out nice but this Leveling thinner gives a smoother result IMO. Over all dry times are similar it seems ( been a while since I’ve shot these lacquers with regular thinner though). Then too there is the argument that it will come out as smooth as the prep work allows, so there can be variables. One thing is for sure, if you mix the color right with MLT, lay down a nice mist coat followed by a good wet coat or two, you don’t struggle to put the paint on nice. No solvent popping, no cratering, no orange peel…