Enamel Thinner/Cleaners GONE???

[zxturbo]

Hello, I am New here and this is my first post. I never use forums, but I am desperate to find an answer. I am hoping a community of more experienced model builders could help me.

Ever since the covid 19 spread in the U.S. I haven't been able to find Testors Universal Enamel/Thinner. Only the small bottles at a crazy price. It seems like no website at alll has the cans of this. They are all out of stock. Is there something I am missing about this isse? Also is there a good replacement that I can use to clean my enamel paint brushes and thin my enal pain for my airbrush?

 

[espo]

I don't know if your state is starting to let some stores open now and in the coming weeks, but in some areas that is happening and that may solve your problem. Another thought may to check Amazon as they seem to offer most anything you can think of, and there're many online model supply sites that may be able to help you with your needs.  

[935k3]

Use Lacquer Thinner instead.

[Belugawrx]

I've always used the plain old paint thinner from the hardware store...works great, and alot cheaper !

[Dave G.]

Ya you can cut enamels with lacquer thinner from the hardware store, just make sure it's not the new green label synthetic stuff. You might even like how it sprays better ( I get a tremendous gloss from that with Testors or MM enamels when airbrushed). It will also clean your airbrush great. For brushes I'd get mineral spirits and you can use that to spray with as well or to cut the paints just slightly for brush painting.. I actually do a blend of that and hardware store paint thinner sometimes and enamels go down nice with that from the airbrush too. I'm not a fan of hardware store paint thinning alone for spraying, the paint want to flow nice but will crater, looking almost like fish eyes but it won't do that if it's mixed 50-50 with mineral spirits and thin with that combo.. Now you get the nice flow out, a little fast tack up and no craters. Same with lacquer thinner as the thinner. I haven't bought the Testors thinner since the mid 1970's lol !!! You can get a full quart of these other products for about $9 each.

[Ctmodeler]

Local Auto zone has lacquer thinner for like 7 a quart. Thin testors enamel for airbrush all the time with it. Works great

[Dave G.]

1 hour ago, Ctmodeler said:

Local Auto zone has lacquer thinner for like 7 a quart. Thin testors enamel for airbrush all the time with it. Works great

That's a good price, didn't know they carried it. I checked NAPA, they have quality LT but forget the price, want to say it something like $14 or more a quart. So I just stick with Kleen Strip.

[Miatatom]

Walmart carries lacquer thinner.

[Dave Van]

Mineral spirts from HD or Lowes works well with enamel.  Super cheap compared to Testors. 

[peteski]

The Testor's thinner is very similar to mineral spirits.  Those both are slow-drying thinners.  Lacquer thinner (used by many modelers as airbrush thinner) also works and it dries much quicker.  So, depending on what you need, you can choose which type of thinner to use.

[oldscool]

I'll cast another vote for lacquer thinner. All I've used for years.