Hi, I am a passionate maker and professional prop maker for the entertainment industry. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. The usual thinning ratio is 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner. Craftknights also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. Note that Metalcote colours are designed to be polished when fully dry. I do that between changing colors as well as for the final cleaning of the session. Note that Metalcote colours are designed to be polished when fully dry. Note that Metalcote colours are designed to be polished when fully dry. Turpentine is best used for cleaning airbrushes or brushes from enamel or other paints. Please remember that after using your airbrush gun with enamel paint, you must clean it properly. Please help us continue to provide you with our trusted how-to guides and videos for free by whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker. The washes can be applied to Humbrol Enamel and Acrylic paints. To clean dirt and smudges from enamel painted surfaces, wipe the area with a soft sponge dipped in a solution of warm water and mild dish soap. It could work just fine but you can also run into problems like an uneven finish, dull colors or you could even damage the surface by painting it with Enamel paint, that has been thinned with acetone. Can You Thin Enamel Paint With White Spirit / Mineral Spirit? It is advisable to clean your brush as soon as you have finished painting as the brush will start to hardenand don’t leave them soaking in a jam jar overnight. The thick coverage also makes enamel paint effective on wood, since it covers stains and lower-quality materials. Lacquer Thinners is not meant to be used with Enamel Paints so there are obviously a lot of drawbacks when it is still used to thin Enamel Paints. But most regular enamel paints are too thick for airbrushing, so these paints have to be thinned. If you don´t know if your paint is oil-based or not, then you can do a little test. Brush straight from the tin. Enamel thinner is only expensive if you buy it from a hobby paint manufacturer or craft store. For smaller areas, a hand duster should suffice. There are several ways to thin out Enamel Paints but you will get the best results by using Mineral Spirits or White Spirites, as they are sometimes also called. Oil-based paints will not mix with water. I use Humbrol's own enamel thinners for thinning paint, but use cheap turps substitute from the local hardware shop @ 40p/litre for cleaning brushes. Even if it seems to be fine, only use abrasive cleaners when absolutely necessary. So what do you use to thin out Enamel Paint? But I would not recommend using it as a thinner!eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'craftknights_com-banner-1','ezslot_7',120,'0','0'])); The short answer is, it is possible but absolutely not recommended! By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Description Usage A solvent-based, fast-dry paint developed for use on plastic model kits but which can also be used on other substrates. Humbrol Enamel Washes can be mixed together to create additional shades to achieve the desired effect. Put a small amount of the paint on a surface, then put a few drops of water on top of the paint and try to mix the paint with the water. If you want to use water to thin Enamel Paint, then make sure, that your paint is water-based. Humbrol Enamel Washes can be mixed together to create additional shades to achieve the desired effect. You could also mix three tablespoons of distilled white vinegar in a gallon of water to create a safe cleaning solution for enamel-painted walls. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'craftknights_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_14',124,'0','0'])); It is possible to thin Enamel Paint with alcohol but the results can vary greatly. I was thinking of getting one of those small tins of Humbrol model paint (White) in most likely a gloss, or even White Enamel Radiator Gloss. After cleaning, rinse the section with another sponge dampened with plain water, then dry with a clean towel. If the water in the bucket starts to look dirty during the process, dump it out and create a fresh batch of cleaning solution. If the water mixes with the paint, then your paint is water-based.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'craftknights_com-leader-1','ezslot_13',122,'0','0'])); But if the water is just building drops on top of the paint, then your paint is oil-based. Drying time. It does not change the drying time or the brightness of the color. So I would not recommend it. Airbrush with a suitable thinner such as Humbrol Enamel Thinners. Can You Thin Enamel Paint With Lacquer Thinner. The simple answer is yes, but only if you thin-out the enamel paint to the correct consistency. It has a lot of drawbacks when used for Enamel Paints. Usage. For water based enamel (latex, acrylic, emulsion), use detergent and water. Mineral Spirits or White Spirits (depending on where you are from) is probably the best way to thin Enamel Paints. If the stain persists, rub the area with a solution of water, ammonia, white vinegar, and baking soda, then wipe off the residue with a sponge dipped in water. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Clean-Enamel-Paint-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Clean-Enamel-Paint-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/c4\/Clean-Enamel-Paint-Step-1.jpg\/aid8754426-v4-728px-Clean-Enamel-Paint-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"