There are numerous brands available on the market, which can be categorized into three types: acrylic paint, lacquer paint, and enamel paint. Generally, acrylic paint is referred to as water-based, while lacquer and enamel paints are considered oil-based.
Toxicity:
Most acrylic paints are considered non-toxic and safe to use, whereas lacquer and enamel paints may require proper ventilation due to their potential toxicity.
Thinners:
|
Paint type |
Example |
Thinner |
Cleaner/thinner |
|
Lacquer Paint |
Mr. Hobby – lacquer |
Lacquer thinner |
Lacquer thinner Acetone |
|
Acrylic Paint – water based |
Vallejo |
Water Alcohol Acrylic thinner |
Lacquer thinner Alcohol Hot water Acrylic thinner Acetone Enamel thinner |
|
Acrylic Paint – Alcohol based |
Tamiya – acrylic |
Water(partially) Alcohol Acrylic thinner |
Lacquer thinner Alcohol Hot water Acrylic thinner Acetone Enamel thinner |
|
Enamel Paint |
Tamiya – enamel |
Enamel thinner |
Lacquer thinner Enamel thinner Acetone |
It may seem that paints can only be thinned by their specific thinners, but this is not entirely true. For instance, lacquer paint can also be thinned with acetone, although acetone can dissolve plastic(ABS/ASA) and may leave residue after thinning the paint.
Water-based acrylic paint can be thinned with water, but the surface tension of water is higher and may cause tears when used with an airbrush. Hence, it is recommended to stick with their reducer. Additionally, all acrylic paints become water-resistant once cured, so remember to clean your airbrush after use.
Alcohol-based acrylic paint (e.g., Tamiya) can be thinned with water, alcohol,or its reducer. it is designed to provides a better surface smoothness and thin layer if compare to tradition acrylic paint.
Enamel paint, like lacquer paint, is considered oil-based and can be thinned and cleaned with enamel thinner/lacquer thinner/lighter fiuld. Usually being used to draw panel line as it offers superior ability to flow. its super low viscosity allow user to outline the shapes of model.
Performance:
Lacquer paint typically dries faster and spreads easily on the surface. It does not form a rubber-like plastic when dried, reducing the chance of clogging the airbrush. Additionally, lacquer paint colors usually have higher contrast. The primary drawback is its strong odour and damage to some plastic.
Acrylic paint, on the other hand,it provides more room of error as it can be wiped away with water easily if uncured. Arcylic paint is usually considered harmless and user friendly. Also, colour-shift paint is easier to be found in acrylic paint.
Extra:
Although this post uses the term “dry” for both lacquer and acrylic paint once they become touchable, their drying processes are fundamentally different. Acrylic paint doesn’t simply dry—it actually cures, making it insoluble in its original thinner. Lacquer, on the other hand, never truly cures; it only dries. So a bottle of acrylic paint can be expired but you can always save your lacquar paint by adding thinner into it.
Recommendation:
Acrylic paint, lacquer paint is fun but its thinner is lethal to ABS-based print. worst part is it doesn’t crack right away until user apply certain amount of force and there is no sign it is damaged even if it does.
For example, TAMIYA lacquer thinner contains butyl actate that is capable to turn your ABS print as brittle as biscuit.
