Paint decanting

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raifenton
Posts: 38
Joined: Fri Jul 03, 2009 7:05 pm

Paint decanting

Post by raifenton »

Having just onto air brushing buildings, using acrylic paints, what do members tend to use when they decant paints for mixing and spraying? It's a messy business at the moment!

Rai Fenton
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BrianMoore
Posts: 384
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Location: Plymouth, UK

Re: Paint decanting

Post by BrianMoore »

Rai,

Welcome to Planet Airbrush. Usually I just mix the paint (always acrylic) in its original glass bottle, then carefully tip what I want into the airbrush plastic plug-in container or glass bottle. I have a paper towel handy to wipe the lip of the paint bottle, and it's usually not messy.

I then use a glass pipette, about half the thickness of a Bic pen, and about 5" long, to add a squirt of Tamiya acrylic thinner from the plastic bottle it comes in. Got a few of them from eBay. There's a big selection on there. The pipette can also be used to transfer paint if required, but I rarely do it that way.
Brian Moore
raifenton
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Re: Paint decanting

Post by raifenton »

Thank you, Brian. It's reassuring that I am going about things in the best way - I shall just have to be a bit steadier in pouring paint from paint jars!

Rai Fenton
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torikoos
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Re: Paint decanting

Post by torikoos »

Instead of tipping, use the same pipette. That's what I do, that way you can control the amount and also makes it easier to mix to a 'formula' , and get a mix you might have made before so you can have a fairly accurate colour match.

It's also less messy. You can also get plastic pipettes from several sources, Model Junction also sells them, and I'm sure that there are other cheaper options too.

Koos
Koos Fockens -Devon UK. North American Model Railroading
Age is just a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, then it doesn't matter.
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torikoos
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Re: Paint decanting

Post by torikoos »

In addition to using pipettes, I use these bottles obtained from RS, to put mixes and thinned paints in.

part number :461-0572 , they come in packs of 10. (the stated quantity of 1 is for 1 pack).

http://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/laborator ... 4E4F4E4526
Koos Fockens -Devon UK. North American Model Railroading
Age is just a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, then it doesn't matter.
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warbonnetuk
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Location: Horley, Surrey

Re: Paint decanting

Post by warbonnetuk »

I use disposable shot glasses (available from large Tescos, Poundshops etc) to blend paint and thinner to free up glass jars for storing mixes for later use. Overall proceedure I (try to) follow is:

1. Mix paint in jar
2. Decant mixed paint into shot glass with pipette
3. Add thinning agent with another pipette
4. Mix paint and thinner thouroughly
5. Decant paint thinner mix into colour cup of airbrush

Cheers

Dan
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raifenton
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Re: Paint decanting

Post by raifenton »

Thank you Koos and Dan

I've only used pippettes for thinners so far but as suggested I will try them for paints as well - hopefully easy to clean! A particularly nice Pippette I use with built in "sucker" is at:

http://www.air-craft.net/acatalog/Transfer-Pipette.html

98p each "2ml graduated polypropylene pipettes work like a large eyedropper to precisely measure and dispense paint, resins, solvents and other liquids into mixing containers. Ideal for dosing paint with thinners or additives!"

Regards

Rai
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