Over-the-counter 90% alcohol vs. Tamiya X-20 Thinner

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Painting and airbrushing
1

Is there any advantage to using the Tamiya Thinner? The price is about 4x…more if you buy at Costco.

Thanks!

2

Tamiya thinner contains an acrylic retarder. If you use 90+% isopropyl alcohol, you have to add your own.

3

Ross,

Does it matter if one is already retarded?[:P]

Gip

4

No, but it helps!

5

Only if they call you “Snake-eye”… [:-,]

6

im using water is that retarded?

7

Water retards the drying, that’s for sure…

8

I use straight 91% to thin mine. It works great IMO, but it does dry fast. For cleaning brushes, 91% is awesome.

9

So I guess it doesn’t matter if you don’t add too much then.

Thanks!

10

Adding too much retarder can cause serious problems with your paint. Up to a certain amount, retarders slow the drying and curing of the paint. Beyond that amount and they do one of two things:

  1. The paint never cures.
  2. The paint cures instantly, curdling in your airbrush.
    That is why you always mix the retarder with your reducing solvent, then add the solvent to the paint. Adding some retarders directly to some paints will cause instant flocculation (a $5 word for clumping—$6 Canadian/Canadien [:-,]) In short, your paint will be all flocked up…[:-^]
11

I have to use 91% alcohol here in Florida. The humidity doesn’t allow for fast drying unless you do. I have found it works well and helps keep the spray in thin even coats. Plus the cost is way cheaper.

12

I use either 70% or 91% alcohol for cleaning brushes and the air brush. But stick with the brand thinner (Tamiya …ect). When thinning the paint to air brush.

My 2 cents…

13

I’ll second that. I use the Tamiya thinner to thin the paint and I use 91% isoprophyl alcohol to clean the airbrush.

14

I’ll third that!

Although, I sometimes use straight 91% for certain paint effects. [tup]