Which Craft Paint Do You Prefer?

[Miatatom]

I use them for interiors and the brand doesn't matter much there. I'm curious if anyone has used them enough on bodies and found that they prefer one brand over another and why?

[Zippi]

I use craft acrylic paints on all my bodies.  Since I use Rust-Oleum Flat Gray primer I like the Anits's brand since it is made by Rust-Oleum.  I also use the Delta Ceramcoat paint.  I just finished this 34 pickup and it was airbrushed with FolkArt acrylic paint since the Anita's brand didn't have the color I wanted.  

[Snake45]

Zippi, what are you thinning the Folk Art with for airbrushing? I'm thinking of trying one of these soon. 

[Zippi]

23 minutes ago, Snake45 said:

Zippi, what are you thinning the Folk Art with for airbrushing? I'm thinking of trying one of these soon. 

50/50 with Windex.

[SCRWDRVR]

They are the same 2 brands I have used and I used the Apple Barrel Colors one time. I didn't have issues with any of them topping with Dupli-color clear. Also I have thinned with Windex and once with just water and had no issues, I let my color dry for about an hour after last coat and put Dupli-color adhesion promoter on before I clear.

 

[Snake45]

1 hour ago, Zippi said:

50/50 with Windex.

Thanks! I'll try that. 

[Dave G.]

On 10/30/2021 at 9:28 AM, Zippi said:

50/50 with Windex.

Windex can get the job done and sprays pretty well. I liken it to hardware store paint thinner in enamel though, which can crater . That's a phenomenon much like fish eyes where you get these round circles where paint separates from the surface. I notice this especially with Apple barrel paint and in that case still much prefer my own blend of thinner I make up, which doesn't do that.

But ( always a but right !) my blend is dog dung in DecoArt lol.

60% bottled or filtered or distilled water.

40% 91 IPA

For every 3 oz of this blend put 4-6 drops of Liquitex retarder

For every 3oz of that blend put in a trace amount of Dawn dish washing liquid ( I mean a trace amount, not even a drop from the bottle, I use the pointy end of a wooden barbecue skewer and just get a film on the end and mix that in), this breaks surface tension in the paint mix.

This blend Works in most acrylic paints but DecoArt doesn't like the alcohol. And many craft paints come closer to spraying like solvent paints with this blend.

[Dave G.]

On 10/30/2021 at 7:18 AM, Zippi said:

I use craft acrylic paints on all my bodies.  Since I use Rust-Oleum Flat Gray primer I like the Anits's brand since it is made by Rust-Oleum.  I also use the Delta Ceramcoat paint.  I just finished this 34 pickup and it was airbrushed with FolkArt acrylic paint since the Anita's brand didn't have the color I wanted.  

Nice color combo, great job !

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, Dave G. said:

Nice color combo, great job !

Thank you sir.

[Miatatom]

4 hours ago, Dave G. said:

Windex can get the job done and sprays pretty well. I liken it to hardware store paint thinner in enamel though, which can crater . That's a phenomenon much like fish eyes where you get these round circles where paint separates from the surface. I notice this especially with Apple barrel paint and in that case still much prefer my own blend of thinner I make up, which doesn't do that.

But ( always a but right !) my blend is dog dung in DecoArt lol.

60% bottled or filtered or distilled water.

40% 91 IPA

For every 3 oz of this blend put 4-6 drops of Liquitex retarder

For every 3oz of that blend put in a trace amount of Dawn dish washing liquid ( I mean a trace amount, not even a drop from the bottle, I use the pointy end of a wooden barbecue skewer and just get a film on the end and mix that in), this breaks surface tension in the paint mix.

This blend Works in most acrylic paints but DecoArt doesn't like the alcohol. And many craft paints come closer to spraying like solvent paints with this blend.

What ratio of thinner blend to paint do you use?

[Dave G.]

5 hours ago, Miatatom said:

What ratio of thinner blend to paint do you use?

Well Tom, I don't really go by ratio but if I know a certain paint well and have used it long enough a formulated ratio then may come to light. I mix till when I wipe mixed paint up the side of the mixing cup it returns to the pool of paint below in 1-4 seconds. And adjust from there according to how it sprays.

Ratio is tough with multi brands of craft paint, not to mention even between colors as viscosity in the bottle varies greatly before you even begin to thin.

[Zippi]

8 hours ago, Miatatom said:

What ratio of thinner blend to paint do you use?

I've airbrushed Testors in the little bottle with lacquer thinner 50/50 before and had good results.

[Dave G.]

39 minutes ago, Zippi said:

I've airbrushed Testors in the little bottle with lacquer thinner 50/50 before and had good results.

Ya that works, Testors enamels are pretty consistent on viscosity. I usually go a little short of 50/50 personally, slightly less thinner, so maybe 55/45 paint to thinner.

Craft paints though are inconsistent on viscosity. Probably among the thinnest is Craft Smart and the thickest Colortek ( spelling could be wrong, too lazy to go look lol).

[TransAmMike]

Though I've gotten hooked on Createx pearl colors (also an acrylic) I do like and have gotten some nice paint jobs with Anita's also.  I don't specifically measure the paint to thinner ratio. The rule of thumb is mix to consistancy of 2% milk but I just add enough to get a good spray out.  Windex, Auto Windshield washer fluid, Alcohol all work pretty much the same.

[Dave G.]

10 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Though I've gotten hooked on Createx pearl colors (also an acrylic) I do like and have gotten some nice paint jobs with Anita's also.  I don't specifically measure the paint to thinner ratio. The rule of thumb is mix to consistancy of 2% milk but I just add enough to get a good spray out.  Windex, Auto Windshield washer fluid, Alcohol all work pretty much the same.

I agree with the consistency. But with the thinner what you say may be the case with Anita paints but if you use multi brands you will absolutely see differences in behavior between the brands and thinner you use. And some acrylic paints are ammonia based, others are not. As I mentioned before don't mix ipa alcohol with DecoArt.

[Bainford]

47 minutes ago, Dave G. said:

As I mentioned before don't mix ipa alcohol with DecoArt.

Don't mix it with Craft Smart, either. It turns into a lumpy, gooey, coagulation.

[hedotwo]

I've used different brands of craft acrylics and for me I prefer Folk Art.  Not sure why but the price difference isn't very much and it's always mixed and laid down good.  And I've always used plain 'ol washer fluid about 50/50 but usually just play it by ear until the consistency is like thin milk.

[Dave G.]

2 hours ago, hedotwo said:

I've used different brands of craft acrylics and for me I prefer Folk Art.  Not sure why but the price difference isn't very much and it's always mixed and laid down good.  And I've always used plain 'ol washer fluid about 50/50 but usually just play it by ear until the consistency is like thin milk.

I use a bunch of different brands of craft paints and I feel the quality of FolkArt is a cut above many others as well.. DecoArt is good too but but you just have to do a thinner with no ipa in it.

[Miatatom]

Where is Folk Art sold?

[Dave G.]

18 minutes ago, Miatatom said:

Where is Folk Art sold?

Micheals stores, seen it in Walmart too.

[TransAmMike]

And good old Hobby Lobby who has all the brands.

[hedotwo]

1 hour ago, TransAmMike said:

And good old Hobby Lobby who has all the brands.

Seems like Folk Art has the best selections/shades as well.  Hobby Lobby is where I get them too.

[Zippi]

HL is where I get all my acrylic paints.  I like the Delta Ceramcoat paints as well as Anita's and FolkArt now since it came out pretty good on my 34 pickup. 

[Dave G.]

I'll have to try the Anita, it's one I haven't shot. Ceramcoat is fine with my thinner blend I mentioned above.

I shot DecoArt with Windex today. Not thrilled with how that layed down but it dried decent. Just a bit of texture that some 3500 will take out easy. I force dried it between coats with hot air. Actually I was thinking as it is it would be good for mohair or fabric interior. For a body it would need the fuzzies scuffed off is all. The color and evenness is fine.

Edited November 2, 2021 by Dave G.

[Andrew McD]

Zippi - Love the tow truck.  Color choices and quality of build look outstanding!