Acetone can thin Enamel Paints but it is not recommended to use Acetone as a thinner. So what do you use to thin out Enamel Paint? https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-painted-walls/#.WPdvMIjys2w, http://www.today.com/home/how-clean-painted-walls-t44646, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-painted-walls/#.WPd2SYgrI2y, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-painted-walls/#.WPd384grI2z, https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-clean-painted-walls/#.WQ5hAsa1vIV, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Acetone can be used for cleaning off enamel paints from brushes and other surfaces but if it is used as a thinner it can come to complications. Brush straight from the tin. I found that the turps substitute tended to make the applied paint "greasy" when used as a thinner (more like oil paints) and took forever to dry. Should a painted surface become dirty, simply wet a towel with a mixture of warm water and a mild liquid detergent and wipe away whatever debris is clinging to the paint’s exterior. Usage. Enamel paints have a very smooth, professional finish once they are dry and they are most often used with an airbrush. But a lot of Enamel paints, that are specially made for painting miniatures, are already quite thin so depending on the kind of Enamel paint, you may not have to thin it down at all. Enamel paint is solvent based, so trying to wash in water will not work, you need to use white spirit. You can achieve good results but it can also lead to a lot of problems depending on the kind of alcohol and the paint brand. Acrylic paint comes close, but there are shortcomings and it depends a lot on the type, as I will explain later. Two thin coats are preferable to one thick coat. Avoid making embarrassing mistakes on Zoom! Craftknights also participates in affiliate programs with CJ, ShareASale, and other sites. After reading this article, you will know what kind of thinners can be used with Enamel Paints and which one should not be used or do not result consistent good paint finishes. Product is permanent once dry.-Check out our other items, and save on shipping! Especially not for painting plastics.TurpentinePossible but absolutely not recommended!WaterYes but only if the Enamel Paint is water-based. Mineral Spirits or White Spirit, is perfect for thinning out Enamel Paints. However, when cleaning painted surfaces, it is best to err on the side of caution and use less abrasive materials. Enamel paints are great for painting a lot of different materials. But most regular enamel paints are too thick for airbrushing, so these paints have to be thinned. Enamel is one of the most durable paints available. Yes. Substrate Airbrush with a suitable thinner such as Humbrol Enamel Thinners. For more advice, including how to remove crayon and fingerprint stains, keep reading! For water based enamel (latex, acrylic, emulsion), use detergent and water. eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'craftknights_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_15',123,'0','0'])); A lot of commercial Enamel Paint thinners are Mineral-Spirit-based. How to clean: Brushes: use Humbrol Enamel Thinners Airbrush: flush thoroughly using Humbrol Enamel Thinners. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 10,753 times. The washes can be applied to Humbrol Enamel and Acrylic paints. You could end up damaging the surface, that you are trying to paint. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. But most Enamel Paints are a little to thick to be used with an airbrush right away, so they have to be thinned. So it is the best choice for most artists when it comes to thinning Enamel paints for airbrushing. Brush straight from the tin. Acetone can be used for cleaning off enamel paints from brushes and other surfaces but if it is used as a thinner it can come to complications. Humbrol Enamel Washes can be mixed together to create additional shades to achieve the desired effect. There are several ways to approach tougher stains, such as using a baking soda paste or a Magic Eraser. There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Note that Metalcote colours are designed to be polished when fully dry. Airbrush with a suitable thinner such as Humbrol Enamel Thinners. Acetone can dissolve plastic, for example. eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'craftknights_com-box-4','ezslot_6',119,'0','0'])); Acetone can thin Enamel Paints but it is not recommended to use Acetone as a thinner. Aluminum Metallic Enamel Paint #56 by Humbrol Product Item #: AA0610 This item is an ORM-D / Limited regulated product and can only be shipped by ground. Airbrush with a suitable thinner such as Humbrol Enamel Thinners. Two thin coats are preferable to one thick coat. The second is – How to clean an airbrush after water based paints. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. Yes but only if the Enamel Paint is water-based. And I share my knowledge and my experience on this blog with you so that you can become a maker yourself. Water will only work for thinning water-based Enamel Paint and not for oil-based Enamel Paints. If it is an oil based enamel, use mineral spirits to clean out the paint, followed by a wash in water and detergent. % of people told us that this article helped them. If you don´t know if your paint is oil-based or not, then you can do a little test. Turpentine speeds up the drying time of many oil-based paints, so it can come to problems when using Turpentine as a thinner for airbrushing enamel paints. Clean enamel paint when needed. Please allow additional time for delivery. Two thin coats are preferable to one thick coat. To get rid of simple dirt and smudges, use a mild solution of warm water and dish soap. Lacquer Thinner can slightly melt plastics, for example. Same deal for lacquer. Depending on how the paint is being applied, wich an airbrush or a regular brush, the paint sometimes has to be thinned and sometimes not. This is probably the best choice for thinning Enamel Paints.Lacquer ThinnerPossible but not recommended. 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. Brush straight from the tin. I use Hardware store enamel thinner to thin and paint as well as clean up. You can also use commercial Enamel Paint thinners but they are mostly just specially mixed Mineral Spirits. If using non-Humbrol product we always recommend testing before applying to your model. Therefore, painting metal with enamel will result in a very durable object, regardless of what the object is. 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. Rinse the solution away with a sponge dipped in clean water. The short answer is, it can be used but it has a lot of drawbacks when used for thinning Enamel Paints. So I would just recommend using Mineral-Spirits if you want to achieve a consistent and good quality paint job. Lacquer thinner will dissolve almost anything (some acrylics excepted). Drying time. Turpentine also speeds up the drying time of most oil-based paints so if you are using it as a thinner for painting enamel paints with an airbrush then your airbrush may end up getting clogged. Substrate Airbrush with a suitable thinner such as Humbrol Enamel Thinners. The short answer is Mineral Spirits. Gloss: 1-2 hours Airbrush with a suitable thinner such as Humbrol Enamel Thinners. I clean with Wallyworld thinner even though it stinks then I use laquer thinner to finish cleaning. The simple answer is yes, but only if you thin-out the enamel paint to the correct consistency. I do that between changing colors as well as for the final cleaning of the session. Dust your walls and ceiling at least once per year with your vacuum's brush attachment. The washes can be applied to Humbrol Enamel and Acrylic paints. 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. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Can You Thin Enamel Paint With Lacquer Thinner. The short answer is, not always. 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. The thick coverage also makes enamel paint effective on wood, since it covers stains and lower-quality materials. Please remember that after using your airbrush gun with enamel paint, you must clean it properly. Matt, Satin, Gloss, Metallic, Metalcote and Clear finishes are available (finish varies by colour) Product Item #: AA0549 Brush straight from the tin. What Do You Use to Thin Out Enamel Paint? 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. If you want to use water to thin Enamel Paint, then make sure, that your paint is water-based. However, when cleaning painted surfaces, it is best to err on the side of caution and use less abrasive materials. wikiHow's. This article was co-authored by our trained team of editors and researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. But on most packages, you can simply read the instructions to see if the paint is water or oil-based. A solvent-based, fast-dry paint developed for use on plastic model kits but which can also be used on other substrates. Humbrol Enamel Thinner Bottle 1 oz Usage: Used to thin for brushing, airbrushing and brush cleaningONLY for Humbrol Enamel Finishes.The usual thinning ratio is 2 parts paint to one part thinner. So I would not recommend it. Brush straight from the tin. Thinner paint is also better for painting fine details and thicker paint is better for large even surfaces. 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. Can You Thin Enamel Paint With White Spirit / Mineral Spirit? Thinning Enamel Paint: With a List of Thinners That Work. If using non-Humbrol product we always recommend testing before applying to your model. When mixed with Enamel paints it could result in an uneven or dull finish. Note that Metalcote colours are designed to be polished when fully dry. No international shipping on this item. The same applies to oil-based enamel paint (more properly called ‘cold enamel’, familiar as the small tinlets from Humbrol or Revell) .. this is an extremely ‘model friendly’ paint … Especially not for painting plastics. Craftknights.com is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. You can also use Commercial Enamel Thinners but they are a little more expensive and most of the time they will achieve the same or very similar results. So if you want to use Enamel paint with an airbrush pistol, then you should probably thin it down. Enamel paint is durable and resistant to damage. Possible but the results can vary greatly. Drying time Gloss: 1-2 hours Learn more... 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