Thinning Halfords Acrylics?

[cinqster]

Has anyone in the UK found a suitable medium for thinning these automotive spray paints please?

I want to decant some from cans but I've previously found some of their paints too thick for my airbrush,

Cheers,

John S.

[freakray]

Are they a true water based type acrylic or an acrylic lacquer?

If Halfords sells a lacquer thinner, you may try that, if they're a water based acrylic, try alcohol.

[cfcrules]

Halfords paints are automotive laquers and I've not foud any thinners for them, so I just spray them straight from the can.

[cinqster]

Forgot to mention I contacted the Halfords paint maufacturer a fews years back and they weren't sure what would be suitable either! They suggested using acetone which I'd have thought would be very dangerous both to the health of me and my models! LOL!

cfcrules,

I've found the paint sprays well from the can - it's good for large coverage but it would be nice to spray smaller parts with a little more control. The stuff can get very grainy from an airbrush because it dries so fast, even on low pressure/high flow.

[RallyRaider]

Sounds like it is a lacquer of some sort. So you will need something like acetone or automotive laquer thinners. Any hardware or automotive shop is likely to have some. Yes that kind of stuff can be very damaging to your health so a respirator and good ventilation are essential. Same goes when spraying the paint from the can.

[stevenoble]

Regular Cellulose/laquer thinner will thin Halfords paints.

[Verminator]

I concur as i've done it, Halford sell thier own cellulose thinner that will work, it may not be on the shelf just ask at the paint mixing desk.

[cinqster]

Thanks guys...I thought that cellulose and acrylic laquer thinners were quite different?

John S.

[lotus_man]

I don't often thin them as on the whole they seem OK, but when I have good quality laquer thinners does the job. You don't need much and I add it after leaving the paint to gas out in the jar for a while, otherwise it can fizz up when you mix in the thinners and that can get messy!