Running out of supplies is a nightmare situation for any artist, especially mid-way through a project.
You may be partway through an ambitious airbrushing piece when you realize that you have no more thinner. So what do you do? Do you put things on hold to restock, or do you use your airbrush cleaner as a substitute?
Today we’ll discuss whether or not you can substitute your airbrush thinner for airbrush cleaner.
Technically speaking, you can use airbrush cleaner in place of airbrush paint thinner as the chemical makeup between the two is commonly near to the same. However, while there is the possibility it will be effective, there is no guarantee it will work.
That being said, some airbrush cleaning agents do have a significantly stronger chemical makeup then reducer, especially those cleaners intended for removing dried on stubborn paint.
In this case cleaner likely won’t work in place of reducer, as the chemical base is so strong it will react negatively with the paint, commonly causing the paint to morph into a cottage cheese texture, rather than a smooth thinner liquid.
But for the most part, common mild airbrush cleaners compare very closely to airbrush paint thinners in terms of chemical makeup.
However, Truth be told, its far more reliable to stick with the thinner approved for the paint you’re using or use an alternative airbrush paint thinner substitute like distilled water (For water-based paints).
Advantages Of Using Airbrush Cleaner As Paint Thinner
A lot of artists will use airbrush cleaner for thinning airbrush paint. Those that understand how to use airbrush cleaner correctly can get some great results. The potential benefits of using this solution are as follows.
1) Airbrush cleaners contain powerful solvents.
Solvents are the most important chemical when using thinning agents and cleaners. In the best cases, these chemicals will break down paint and create a more fluid like liquid that is a lot easier to work with. The chemicals then evaporate as the paint dries. In theory, the right cleaner used in the right ratio can provide the same effect as thinner / reducer.
2) Using airbrush cleaners as thinners is cost-effective.
Another reason that some artists will use a cleaner as a thinner is to cut costs. You could spend more money on two separate products for thinning and cleaning, or you could find a safe and efficient cleaner that does both.
Disadvantages Of Using Airbrush Cleaner As Paint Thinner
There are potential benefits in substituting airbrush thinner for cleaner where you might end up with a pretty good result. However, there are some drawbacks to keep in mind.
1) Airbrush cleaner is often a lot stronger than airbrush paint thinner
You have to remember that you aren’t working with the same product when you switch to a cleaner, so you are going to get different results.
You could find that the mixture is a little too powerful and that the solvents that clean away paint end up dissolving the polymers in the paint. When this happens, you have potentially ruined your artwork.
Assuming you didn’t test the mixture on a spare (throw away) canvas beforehand. Always test when experimenting before applying it to your final artwork.
There is no guarantee your chosen airbrush cleaner will react nicely with your paints.
2) The potency of the airbrush cleaning solution is also a health hazard
It isn’t just the paint you have to worry about when choosing to use a cleaner instead of a thinner. Cleaning solutions can be pretty strong in terms of their odor and chemicals used. This isn’t something you want to breathe in while spraying paint around.
So, if you do decide to thin paint with airbrush cleaners, do so with an appropriate protective mask and in a well-ventilated area. Also, be careful not to get the fluid onto your skin when adding it to the paint.
3) Airbrush cleaners may contain other cleaning agents
Finally, you need to consider the more complex chemical make-up of these cleaning products. The solvents are effective when used correctly.
But, there may be other elements like soaps that react with the paint or canvas, or that leave some form of residue. If you aren’t completely sure what a product will do to your artwork, it is best to leave it alone.
Best Alternative Options For Thinning Acrylic Airbrush Paint
So if using airbrush cleaner as paint thinner doesn’t work out, what other options do you have?
You have 2 major options if your airbrush cleaner reacts negatively with your paint:
- You can pause your work and restock with the paint specific thinner / reducer you’ve been using at a later date.
- Or you could use another alternative product as we’ll discuss here.
Obviously, the best products are dedicated acrylic mediums from top brands that match the paint you’re using.
However, access to such is limited or non-existent so here are some great alternatives:
- Distilled Water – Under most circumstances, water-based airbrush paints can be thinned down using a little bit of distilled water. Though its basic, a large majority of production airbrush paint thinners are about 50% (give or take) distilled water. Though, do be careful not to use too much, as water alone if used in too great amount will reduce the paints’ ability to adhere well to surfaces. Using too much water alone makes the paint binder poor (which is the glue in the paint that holds the pigment together).
- Home Brew – There are some homemade airbrush thinner options out there that many use. This commonly consists of a concoction of household cleaners or polishes, some rubbing alcohol, and a bit of distilled water. Here is a link to some of my favorite homemade airbrush thinners and cleaners that I’ve had success with.
Though nobody but those making the airbrush paint thinners on the market today know what ingredients make up the product. Many believe that some of the home brew airbrush paint thinner recipes hold a majority of the ingredients commonly used in the production reducers. That, or similar ingredients.
A lot of airbrushing artists get great results with using just distilled water. This is recommendable as a clean thinner for water-based paint with no nasty chemicals.
Others like to use acetone or rubbing alcohol, but like using your airbrush cleaner, these used by themselves can lead to negative reactions with the paint. These are a bit more of an assault on the senses but can be effective when diluted down using distilled water.
It is a good idea to experiment on lesser projects to see which you prefer as a secondary thinning solution. Then next time you run out of your main thinner, you have a backup.
Getting The Ratio Right
Whether you’re testing a home brew airbrush paint thinner, distilled water or airbrush cleaner, you have to be careful with your ratios. You want just enough to create a workable liquid for the airbrush without it getting too thin and losing its impact.
A 1:1 ratio could be far too much with airbrush cleaner, but just right using your usual paint thinner. Start with small amounts and add as needed. You can always add more, but you can’t take it away.
Conclusion
Can Airbrush Cleaner Be Used As Airbrush Paint Thinner?
The bigger question here isn’t whether you can do this, but if you should. Objectively, the chemicals in cleaners are enough to thin paint and allow for a workable liquid for spraying and commonly work just like reducer would.
But there is a risk of it not turning out as expected, it is important to consider the potential downsides and to understand precisely what you are using first.
Alternatively, if you run out of airbrush paint thinner then look to see if you have any distilled water, acetone, or rubbing alcohol first. If not, you could try using your cleaner as long as you do so in a safe environment and you test the product with your paint before applying it to your final piece.
There are no guarantees that it will work, but you might find that it is the quick fix you need.
No matter what, I always suggest testing the alternative paint thinner you’ve selected with a small amount of paint using a small throw away cup or something of the sorts. You need to ensure the liquid will mix with the paint without causing it to react in any strange way.
Best if you apply the alternatively thinned down paint on a scrap piece of material to ensure the paint is functioning as it should. And be sure to let it dry as it could leave residue behind…
I hope you were able to find some value here! If you have any further questions regarding the airbrush do be sure to take a look around the website. Airbrush Insider is dedicated to helping all in the airbrush community!
This is Colt signing off!
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