Mixed to ml

Thanks For Your Response

Craig:

I appreciate the information from your experience making a full liter based on the ml formula listed.

I'm pleased to hear that it works well as an airbrush cleaner as well as a thinner as cleaning the airbrush is the least pleasant task when airbrushing.

I wonder, do you use Vallejo model air paints, as that's what I'm transitioning to from Pollyscale as my supplies are used up?

Thanks!

Badger ModelFlex

Chuck, I am using Badger ModelFlex paints. They run about $3.75 US  a bottle. The colors/names replicate Floquil/PollyS ones. The paint is a bit thinner than say ModelAir or Vallejo paints. They cover well and lay nicely. They are a semi-gloss so no need to apply anything before decals. I am using DullCoat as a final sealer.

Badger paint as well

Model Air

I have been using Joe's high performance thinner with Vallejo Model Air paints. The paint goes on nicely and is very flat. The thinner works well. I usually use straight airbrush cleaner for cleaning after the painting is done. 

Don

The quantities are right

Thinner formulas with the typos removed

PLAY-IT-SAFE THINNER FORMULA (makes 32oz/950 ml)

• 53% distilled water (500 ml) 
• 21% vendor’s airbrush thinner (200 ml)
• 21% acrylic flow enhancer (200 ml)
• 5% acrylic retarder (50 ml)

Total cost is about $30 for one quart (950 ml) of thinner, or about 3.1 cents per milliliter. For flow enhancer, I like Vallejo’s airbrush flow improver [4-3]. It’s on Amazon here: amzn.com/B00QD780G0. For retarder, I use Golden’s retarder [4-4], amzn.com/B0009HAB58.
 

HIGH-PERFORMANCE THINNER FORMULA (makes 33.8oz/1000 ml)

• 55% distilled water (550 ml) 
• 20% butyl cellosolve (200 ml)
• 20% Armor All Auto Glass Cleaner (200 ml)
• 5% acrylic retarder (50 ml)

Total cost is about $18 for just over one quart (1000 ml) of thinner, or about 1.8 cents per milliliter. I get butyl cellosolve from Amazon in 8oz (237ml) bottles for about $15:  amzn.com/B017Q3PM0Q. The butyl cellosolve helps the paint go on smooth and level well, and helps it adhere to plastic and metal. This is thinner works very well as an airbrush thinner for the paints in this booklet. It’s similar to  Createx High Performance reducer/thinner.
 

SUPER-ECONOMICAL THINNER FORMULA (makes 32oz/950 ml)

• 74% 80-proof (40% ABV) vodka (700 ml) 
• 21% Armor All Auto Glass Cleaner (200 ml)
• 5% acrylic retarder (50 ml)

Total cost is about $13 for one quart (950 ml) of thinner, or about 1.3 cents per milliliter. This thinner formula is the most economical  – it’s made from cheap vodka, chemically known as ethanol. As a thinner, this mixture is quite funtional, but not quite as superb as the butyl cellosolve formula above. This formula is especially ideal as a thinner for brush painting. Do be aware this thinner formula is the most flammable of the three home-brew formulas given, making it more risky to use with an airbrush (but still much less risky than lacquer thinner).

Butyl Cellosolve

Hi Joe,

Having trouble finding a supplier of Butyl Cellosolve in Australia on google. Is there an alternative or will I need to stick to the "Play it Safe Thinner Formula".

Regards, Martin

Alternative to Butyl cellosolve in AU

Hmm. How about:

https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=butyl+cellosolve&ul_noapp=true

Alternative to Butyl Cellosolve on eBay

HI Joe,

Not sure how the dye in the engine coolant containing the ethylene glycol would go.

Regards, Martin

I don't follow ...

I don't follow you. What is this referring to?

Checked out eBay link

The only product on the eBay link containing Butyl Cellosolve (2-Butoxyethanol/ethylene glycol) was the engine coolant. The rest were quick to point out they didn't contain butyl cellosolve.

What about this link?

Re - What about this link?

Hi Joe,

Must be something to do with the location. The engine coolant came up when searching for Ethylene Glycol (Butyl Cellosolve by another name).

I had found that web page but assumed they would only be dealing with commercial quantities and figured a 44 gallon drum was probably a tad to much but I will contact them and see if they will deal in smaller quantities.

Thanks for your help and I will let you know how i get on.

Regards, Martin 

@ Martin

Butyl Cellosolve is not ethylene glycol nor is it propylene glycol.

This one came from eBay.

https://forum.mrhmag.com/post/for-joe-and-all-a-twist-on-the-hp-acrylic-solvent-12207667  I’m not sure why Joe hasn’t adopted (adapted?) this yet.

Nick (Chemist)

@ Nick

Thanks for putting me straight.

Still can not find it on eBay out here.

I have emailed a couple of the suppliers Joe dug up and waiting for a reply.

Regards, Martin

@ Martin one more time....

Hi Martin,

This is what I get here, a gallon from the same guy might cost less in the long run.

You might also search for 2-butoxyethanol.  The other thing I was thinking is that the non-colored propylene glycol should be available to make the HP solvent along with some distilled water.  The proportions are in the hyperlinked post I left above.

Good luck.

Nick

Not exactly ...

Well, it is if you make it a butyl ether:

2-Butoxyethanol other names:  

• Butyl cellosolve
• Butyl glycol
• Butyl monoether glycol
• EGBE (ethylene glycol monobutyl ether)
• Eastman EB solvent
• BH-33 industrial cleaner
• Solvaset

@ Nick and Joe

Finally found the supplier on eBay but unfortunately doesn't ship this product to Australia.

If I don't get an email response to my queries yesterday I will phone and see how I go. I have a supplier for the clear propyl glycol. Might try them as well for the butyl cellosolve.

It was that entry that had me thinking it was ethylene glycol.

Regards, Martin

@ Martin

Had a number of possibilities in Australia.  I googled Scientific suppliers in Australia and got a list.  Australian Scientific has what you want.  I’m sure others do also.  Try googling chemical suppliers in Australia also.

Nick

@ Nick

Thanks Nick.

The retailer I purchased my Isopropyl Alcohol and Acetone from who also sells Propyl Glycol tells me they have Butyl Cellosolve or one of the other names Joe gave me so will see how I go as they are only an hours drive up the road but will follow up on your suggestion so I have options.

Regards, Martin

Australain Supplier

Good Morning Nick and Joe,

Spoke to the supplier who I purchased my Isopropyl Alcohol and Acetone from and they have Butyl Glycol by the 5 litre (smallest quantity).

I am waiting for a call back from Aust Scientific with a price on two of their options but going by what they have quoted so far it must be a far higher quality than the other supplier. Lab work as opposed to cleaning I suppose.

Regards, Martin

@ Martin

Hi Martin,

Yes, there are different grades.  The cheapest one you can find will be fine.  Like anything a little shopping around might get a smaller quantity for the right price.

Off the wall shot.... try an auto body shop that paints in house or a chemical supply house for the computer chip manufacturing industry.

Good luck.

Nick

Curious...

I’m curious about the difference between this formula and the Createx High Performance thinner. Is it just cost or are there other advantages to mixing your own? Also,should one use this to completely thin to a wash for weathering?

Tom