How to Spray Acrylics.

[rogergperkins]

I have had satisfactory results thinning Polly S paints with distilled water so I could spray with an airbrush.
Having said that, I suspect that the formulations of the Polly S paints have changed over the years certainly from
my early use in 1975 for brush applications.   Significant changes in the organic solvent occurred with these paints
and screen printing inks because of potential adverse health effects from overexposure......in industrial versus hobby uses.

I feel certain that Testors has changed the formulations of Polly S since that brand came into their line.
I have certainly seen variations in color or pigment blends that are more significant than should be allow to occur in lot to lot variation.

[peteski]

I have had satisfactory results thinning Polly S paints with distilled water so I could spray with an airbrush.
Having said that, I suspect that the formulations of the Polly S paints have changed over the years certainly from
my early use in 1975 for brush applications.   Significant changes in the organic solvent occurred with these paints
and screen printing inks because of potential adverse health effects from overexposure......in industrial versus hobby uses.

I feel certain that Testors has changed the formulations of Polly S since that brand came into their line.
I have certainly seen variations in color or pigment blends that are more significant than should be allow to occur in lot to lot variation.

Polly S and PollyScale are different formulations.  I think that's been mentioned earlier in this thread.  Polly S has been out of production for several years now.

[wazzou]

I used to use distilled water.  I then switched to washer fluid and now use Windex.  I can never find the same washer fluid over and over again and sadly I was just robbing from the stuff I used in the cars rather than keeping it exclusively for painting as I just don't do it often enough.  I might give distilled water and denatured alcohol a go.  You say the ratio is 1 to 1 water/alcohol?

[Hornwrecker]

I use windshield washer fluid for thinning Pollyscale paint.  I think I bought a gallon of it many years ago for a buck.  Luckily I kept it in the shop, didn't use it for the car, so I still have many years supply left.  The blue dye in it doesn't seem to affect color, even when shooting white or yellow.

[rogergperkins]

Current bottle labels: "POLLY Scale"
The general appearance of the label seems the same color and layout as what I initially purchased in the 1974 forward period
at various LHS in MN. I disposed of all my inventory in 2005 when we moved to IL and started fresh.

My recollection was that in the mid 1970's FLOQUIL was the brand of paints with "organic solvents."
The same manufacturer offered "water based" acrylics under POLLY S brand.
I do not know when TESTORS acquired both brand names or if they may have quietly owned them both from day one.
My apologies if I mislead any one.

[peteski]

Current bottle labels: "POLLY Scale"
The general appearance of the label seems the same color and layout as what I initially purchased in the 1974 forward period
at various LHS in MN. I disposed of all my inventory in 2005 when we moved to IL and started fresh.

My recollection was that in the mid 1970's FLOQUIL was the brand of paints with "organic solvents."
The same manufacturer offered "water based" acrylics under POLLY S brand.
I do not know when TESTORS acquired both brand names or if they may have quietly owned them both from day one.
My apologies if I mislead any one.

RPM http://www.rpminc.com/consumer.asp is the parent company that owns Testors, Floquil, and other paint brands like Rustoleum.
 Floquil hobby paint line used to be separate from Testors but RPM merged them several years ago (so nobody acquired anybody per se).   They have also been changing the formulation of their hobby paints.

Polly S (the original) and Polly Scale (the current) are both water-based acrylic paints but they use different formulations.  Polly S used to be much thicker consistency and it also has quite different odor.   Today's Polly Scale seems similar to the Model Master Acryl paints (probably done during the pain line merger).

The original Floquil Railroad colors were organic solvent based paints (and still are).  Their formula has also changed few times over they years (even before the Testors/Floquil conglomeration).  Last few formulas have been styrene-compatible (the original was not).

[engineshop]

That's going to depend on the rest of what you're using.  If you have the exact brush/needle size, paint mix and air supply as Jim, then you should spray exactly the same distance as him as well.

With my Paasche VL's largest needle and paint thinned to milk consistency, I can spay 6" without issue and with good coverage.  I can also drop a needle size and spray closer or keep the big needle and just dial back the paint 'action'.  If I tried spraying at 2" with the large needle, I'd get pooling of the paint.

It's a balance that has to be found.

Jason

Jason
I just noticed with my models, the further away I go, the rougher the surface, no matter what needle size, since the droplets of the acrylic paint dry before they hit the plastic. I actually use this fact and paint streets on very hot days and keep the airbrush far way.
I noticed on those car restoration shows, the painters hold the airbrush gun very close to the metal and there needle size is way bigger. I believe the secret is in more air and less paint (double action gun only).