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What Exactly Is Tamiya Lacquer Thinner?
Chrisk-K
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 06:17 AM UTC
I'm amazed by how well Tamiya acrylics spray with Tamiya lacquer thinner (even when extremely diluted). Is it just thinned lacquer thinner? Or does it have some secret ingredients?
Precious_rob
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 06:38 AM UTC
Ive used regular store brand lacquer thinner with tamiya paints and have not had any problems with it whatsoever. So I'm guessing there isnt really any secret indigents to Tamiyas brand
SdAufKla
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 06:40 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Ive used regular store brand lacquer thinner with tamiya paints and have not had any problems with it whatsoever. So I'm guessing there isnt really any secret indigents to Tamiyas brand


+1 - Same here. I just use old ordinary Kleen Strip lacquer thinner that I get at Wally World or Home Depot / Lowe's.

Works perfectly.
Chrisk-K
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 07:05 AM UTC
I'll use Tamiya acrylics + their lacquer thinner only for camo painting. I'm not sure if Tamiya acrylics withstand regular lacquer thinner.

Tamiya lacquer thinner is much milder than regular lacquer thinner. So how does one make regular lacquer thinner mild? I could order Tamiya lacquer thinner if I wanted to, but $10 shipping for a $7 item is hard to justify even if I buy two bottles.

P.S. The reason why I want to use Tamiya lacquer thinner only for camo painting is that my wife hates the smell of lacquer thinner! I do have a spray booth, but you can't completely eliminate the smell.
SdAufKla
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 07:15 AM UTC
Well, if you're convinced that Tamiya lacquer thinner is something special, then have fun...

Like I said, I use ordinary lacquer thinners with Tamiya acrylics, and have for years with no problems. I use it to thin them every time I spray them for what ever purpose - base coats, camouflage or glazes.

But, if you don't believe me, then there's nothing else I can say.
retiredyank
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 08:27 AM UTC
I have used several different lacquer thinners with Tamiya and have had no problems. Nice even coat, every time.
Blackstoat
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 08:27 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Well, if you're convinced that Tamiya lacquer thinner is something special, then have fun...

Like I said, I use ordinary lacquer thinners with Tamiya acrylics, and have for years with no problems. I use it to thin them every time I spray them for what ever purpose - base coats, camouflage or glazes.

But, if you don't believe me, then there's nothing else I can say.


I believe you Mike
Chrisk-K
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 10:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Well, if you're convinced that Tamiya lacquer thinner is something special, then have fun...

Like I said, I use ordinary lacquer thinners with Tamiya acrylics, and have for years with no problems. I use it to thin them every time I spray them for what ever purpose - base coats, camouflage or glazes.

But, if you don't believe me, then there's nothing else I can say.


I believe you. What can be so special about lacquer thinner?As I wrote, I better use mild lacquer thinner like Tamiya's because the queen of my house doesn't like the smell of regular lacquer thinner.
junglejim
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 11:15 AM UTC
It's a synthetic lacquer thinner - that's why it won't harm styrene unlike regular lacquer thinner, which is petroleum derived.

Jim
spoons
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 11:49 AM UTC
what i want to know is our limey celluose thinners same as your
american lacquer thinner?
chumpo
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 12:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Ive used regular store brand lacquer thinner with tamiya paints and have not had any problems with it whatsoever. So I'm guessing there isnt really any secret indigents to Tamiyas brand


+1 - Same here. I just use old ordinary Kleen Strip lacquer thinner that I get at Wally World or Home Depot / Lowe's.

Works perfectly.

Sometimes you have to be carefull that the lacquer thinner does not melt the plastic .
grimmo
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 10:32 PM UTC
might be off topic, but what is the difference between the lacquer thinner and the acrylic thinners? a couple of you have said you use the lacquer thinners when spraying acrylics. I just use the acrylic thinners. is there a difference?
retiredyank
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Posted: Thursday, March 20, 2014 - 11:43 PM UTC
I have never had lacquer thinner attack painted plastic. I've run Floquil, MM Dullcoat and Tamiya acryls thinned with off the shell stuff and no damage.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 - 02:16 AM UTC
Never had lacquer thinner attack plastic, resin, or metal.

I have had superglue de-bonder 'melt' resin, and attack plastic.
SdAufKla
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Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 - 03:10 AM UTC

Quoted Text

might be off topic, but what is the difference between the lacquer thinner and the acrylic thinners? a couple of you have said you use the lacquer thinners when spraying acrylics. I just use the acrylic thinners. is there a difference?


While most acrylic paints are water based (water soluble), Tamiya's acrylic paints are cellulose thinner based (alcohol and lacquer thinner). Water will dilute these thinners in the paint, but it will not reduce the binders in the Tamiya paint. Tamiya's acrylic paints should be reduced with either alcohol, lacquer thinners, or both.

Other acrylics, like Vallejo (Model Color and Model Air), are water based, but even those require that additional acrylic binders be added back into the solution when the paints have been reduced with water. If not, their adhesion after drying will be poor. Most of the proprietary acrylic paint thinners are formulated to reduce that brand's paints properly.

If you're using anything other than the manufacturer's recommended proprietary thinners, then you have to know and understand what you're working with before making substitutions.
1721Lancers
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Posted: Friday, March 21, 2014 - 05:36 AM UTC
For the Tamiya acrylic range I use plain isopropyl alcohol. I get this at my local chemists for 1.60€ for a 250ml, and you can thin it down with water if desired.

Paul
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