Thinning Humbrol Enamel

Andy43 · #1 02-13-2005, 09:51 PM

Hello, what do i use to thin Humbrol oil enamel? Or any oil enamel for that fact. Just in case you havent figured out already, im going to do a swirl and i beleive the paint needs to be thinned.

jski7 · #2 02-14-2005, 10:52 AM

Mineral spirits , or airbrush thinner , both should be available at your local hobby shop . Should be about the consistency of water when it's thinned enough . Hope this helps

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gitarudesu · #3 03-07-2010, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jski7

Mineral spirits , or airbrush thinner , both should be available at your local hobby shop . Should be about the consistency of water when it's thinned enough . Hope this helps

.

Hi there.. just want to ask.. can i premix the thinner in my humbrol paint so that i dont have to put it everytime i have to use it??

thank you for this wonderful info

Hikey Mikey · #4 03-08-2010, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitarudesu

. . .can i premix the thinner in my humbrol paint so that i dont have to put it everytime i have to use it??

thank you for this wonderful info

Sure you can, but most painters wouldn't do this because it's much harder to thicken paint than it is to thin. Like adding salt to soup, you can always add more . . . but it's tough to take it out once it's in.

Peace

Mike

michblanch · #5 03-08-2010, 11:29 AM

Also remember to add Borax to the water it releives the surface tension which helps the paint float on top.

The best paints I have used (I have tried alot of them from model paint to house paint to hobby paint) are automotive paint. House of Color make a great product but I think Kirker is the best for swirling.

Kirker has some incredible colors.

dgbaker33 · #6 03-09-2010, 08:37 AM

this should be moved to the mod section...

blackneuron · #7 03-22-2010, 05:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gitarudesu

Hi there.. just want to ask.. can i premix the thinner in my humbrol paint so that i dont have to put it everytime i have to use it??

thank you for this wonderful info

If you want to use it after months you should't, thinner will damage the paint over time.

sameyeam · #8 02-01-2011, 12:51 AM

I realize this is an old thread but was hoping someone might have a specific paint reccomendation for swirling. Kirker has some different products and I don't have any idea which I should be using. Urethane, acrylic enamel, something else? My 15 year old is nuts to try this. He's been warned that it could go very bad but he's determined. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

linuxpenguin · #9 02-01-2011, 02:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sameyeam

I realize this is an old thread but was hoping someone might have a specific paint reccomendation for swirling. Kirker has some different products and I don't have any idea which I should be using. Urethane, acrylic enamel, something else? My 15 year old is nuts to try this. He's been warned that it could go very bad but he's determined. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

I've been hearing oil paints lately and it makes sense. Floats on water, dries REALLY hard, and has vibrant colors.

sameyeam · #10 02-01-2011, 12:37 PM

I'm guessing that Urethane and or acrylic enamel might be oil based. Kirker auto paints were highly reccomended for swirling on this thread so I'm just hoping to narrow it down to a specific type. Thanks!

AlaskaBat · #11 02-01-2011, 01:08 PM

I'd go with acrylic. Yes--you want oil based paint.

sameyeam · #12 02-01-2011, 02:10 PM

Thanks for the advice. We'll do some experimenting and see how it goes.

Macka · #13 02-02-2011, 03:06 AM

It's harder than you think. Coming from someone who's tried and failed..... but will try again in the near future.

It would be a good art to perfect.

AlaskaBat · #14 02-02-2011, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Macka

It's harder than you think. Coming from someone who's tried and failed..... but will try again in the near future.

It would be a good art to perfect.

(In Yoda voice) Hmmmmmmmm, yes--to Macka you listen! Seriously though, just getting the right paints to work along with the mixture, the actual swirl process is something that takes a good bit of practice and spare wood to perfect. It is not as easy as it may seem. All of the guides and tuts are great for describing the process, but it is art to perfect. So many have tried a few times, then give up. If you're persistent--keep at it. Once you get your technique down, and that first good swirl--you'll be very gratified and future swirls will be easier from the lessons learned.

sameyeam · #15 02-02-2011, 03:31 AM

We had attempted some samples a few months ago and the results were all over the place. Mostly not good. Like a lot of things it will just take a lot of mistakes to learn how to do it right. I don't think it's a dark art or anything. If we find success I will share what I found that worked.