I’ve been using the Testors MM A/B thinner for years and getting great results. I recently started using just mineral spirits from Home Depot to mix, and had a problem with dry-spray.
I was painting my 1/48th Osprey with MM Dark Ghost Gray thinned with generic HD mineral spirits, and got the pebbly finish. I know many things could cause that but I just thought it might be because I used regular mineral spirits to thin the paint, which may dry (in flight so to speak) faster than the Testors.
I always thought the Testors thinner was much more refined and possibly has a slight retarder in it. So no more thinning with normal min spirits for me. Using it to clean is one thing but to mix I will spend the extra.
Any thoughts on the Testors formula compared to hardware store min spirits?
I too have used MM enamels for years and thin only with MM thinner. I’ve tried other paint thinners with rather poor success. I’m one who uses the recommended thinner for any paint I use. I’m know that there are many here that find success using off brand thinners yet, I simply find it much easier to spend a few more bucks and be hassle free to use what works. Kind of funny as I work in an Ace Hardware store and get discounted paint thinner but, I’m, again, I stick to what works.
Me too…MM enamels and Testors thinner (red can). I do use generic lacquer thinner for cleaning though…and for thinning the Lacquer dull coat and gloss (I use Minwax clear gloss lacquer).
There was a period when I had a hard time buying the Testors thinner in cans. The cost for the small bottles was ridiculous, so I began using mineral spirits or turpentine. I gradually got the new thinning ratios down- I find I have to use slightly more thinner.
I avoid anything labeled “paint thinner” as there is some real crud sold under that name, so hold out for the mineral spirits/turpentine. I have always cleaned airbrush and brushes with hardware store stuff, but now am usually using it for thinning, too. Just takes a little time to get the new thinning ratio right.
I have generic hardware store paint thinner and lacquer thinner for cleaning purposes, and the Testors airbrush thinner for airbrushing with enamels. That is all that I have used with them since I first started using the stuff. Each has their place on my bench.
I used the generic thinner from Home Depot for a long time to thin paint, make oil and enamel washes and air brush. Recently I noticed that the generic thinner did not properly dissolve the paint in my washes. I then tried Testors thinner in the red can and it completely dissolves the paint so it’s the red can for painting and washes now.
Like Joe, I have attempted to thin MM enamels with “generic” paint thinner (and/or mineral spirits) with less than satisfactory results; I originally did it because I just assumed they were all the same, and that Testors was just making a lot of money selling “generic” thinner as something special. I was wrong. There IS a difference in paint thinners. For the last 10 years or so I’ve only used Testors thinner (yes, in the red can); I don’t airbrush, I just hand brush, but it’s the only thing that seems to work properly.