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Heating paint; Do you do it?
Topic Started: Sep 4 2016, 02:24 AM (1,003 Views)
dknights
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The court of LAST RESORT!
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About 30 years ago I read in a Verlinden book ythat he recommended heating your enamel paint before airbrushing. I've done it a few times over the years and it really does work well, I don't know why I don't do it every time I paint. I have vowed to do it consistently in the future.

Do any of you heat your paint before airbrushing? Does it work with acrylics?
David M. Knights
Fortes fortuna adiuvat

14 Finished: Special Armor V-2, Airfix P-51
15 Finished: SBS Gladiator engine
16 Finished: Brengun C2 Wasserfall, Merit SS-N-2 Styx, World's smallest diorama, Airfix Hurricane.
17 Finished: Japanese Carrier Deck, Belcher SS-4, Italeri AB41, PLAN Type 039A (not 72nd scale)
18 Finished: NONE
The bench:Platz T-33, Trump. T-34/85, Meng F-106, Airfix P-51 #2, Airfix P-40
Revell MiG-21F-13, Ace Citroen V-11
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Big Kohona
Hero
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First time I've even heard of doing that. Interesting...
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J.C. Bahr
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Hero
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I had heard of this before too and recall trying it with acrylics... letting the bottle soak in hot water a while before spraying and it did seem to make a difference. Had totally forgotten about that until you brought it up.
J.C. Bahr

"A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP" - Leonard Nimoy
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Mark Schynert
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Yeast
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I'll warm up lacquer rattle cans that way in the winter months, since they live in the garage year round.

I have very few enamels (jars and a single tin of Humbrol) and rarely use them, so the notion of heating them doesn't come up. And acrylics behave fine when I thin them.
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dixieflyer
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Hero
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Yes, it's an old method used in painting beyond scale modeling. I've done it with spray cans for painting projects aside from modeling, and when applying Testors Dullcote from a rattlecan.
All Francois was recommending was a practice used by painters, particularly those that paint with an air gun/spray can, for years.
I've only tried it with spray cans. Never tried it with paint in an airbrush. Thanks for the reminder.

Warren
"History is the lie we all agree upon."
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Big Kohona
Hero
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A question on this, so, if you have heated the paint for airbrushing, realistically, just how long does it exactly stay warm for? I am sure one is not putting this in a pot of boiling water until steam (paint fumes... :P ) are rising off.

I would think that by the time you have transferred the paint over to the airbrush and start painting, the paint must loose a fair bit of whatever heat it has. So, just how much of a difference does this process really make?

And how many times can you reheat the paint before it affects the paint to the point where it is ruined and not useable anymore?

Are there any articles on the net that offer more detailed info on this process? I am truly curious.
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dixieflyer
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Hero
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You're just warming it up a bit Cliff, not so much heating it. It makes the molecules happy. B)

Warren
"History is the lie we all agree upon."
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datguy
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Beast
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It certainly helps with mixing Testors enamels. I haven't done it with acrylics.

My method is stupefyingly simple, but it does carry risk. After I make sure the lid is on tight, very tight, I will drop the jar in my trouser pocket for 10-15 minutes (or more) .

It's 30 years and and I haven't lost a pair of trousers to paint yet yet...

D
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InchHigh
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It's a good day to build.
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Honey, is that paint in your pocket again or are you just happy to see me? :lol:
Jeff

Time spent modeling is not deducted from your lifespan.

I spent most of my money on beer and women. The rest of it I just wasted.
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dixieflyer
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Hero
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Badda-bing! Badda-boom! Yes, isn't he great folks? He'll be here all week, and don't forget the buffet, it's great.
"History is the lie we all agree upon."
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renscho
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Administrator
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I sat a tin of Humbrol on a heater grating in the living room once. Within fifteen minutes I heard a loud "POP"!

Never did that again.
Robert E. Rensch
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dogsbody
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Beast
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Many decades ago, when I lived on the other side of our continent, I lived with my parents in an old house ( built 1888 ). I usually built my models downstairs where it was warmer, especially in the winter months. My supplies, as meager as they were back then, were kept in my upstairs bedroom, where it was noticeably cooler. If the paint container ( Testors bottles and Humbrol tinlets ) felt cool to the touch, I would just hold them in my hand for a few minutes til they felt warm. If/when I thought about it first, I would sit my box of paints near the wood stove to warm up first. They always seemed to brush better when warmed to at least proper room temperature or just a bit more.


Chris
"What young man could possibly be bored
with a uniform to wear,
a fast aeroplane to fly,
and something to shoot at?"
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dknights
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The court of LAST RESORT!
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Big Kohona,Sep 4 2016
10:53 AM
A question on this, so, if you have heated the paint for airbrushing, realistically, just how long does it exactly stay warm for? I am sure one is not putting this in a pot of boiling water until steam (paint fumes... :P ) are rising off.

I would think that by the time you have transferred the paint over to the airbrush and start painting, the paint must loose a fair bit of whatever heat it has. So, just how much of a difference does this process really make?

And how many times can you reheat the paint before it affects the paint to the point where it is ruined and not useable anymore?

Are there any articles on the net that offer more detailed info on this process? I am truly curious.

I use a coffee cup warmer. I thin the paint in an empty mixing jar, then put it on the coffee warmer until the mixing bottle is hot to the touch. Then I transfer the paint to the airbrush. It seems to retain the benefits of warming for my usual airbrushing time. (10-15 minutes)
David M. Knights
Fortes fortuna adiuvat

14 Finished: Special Armor V-2, Airfix P-51
15 Finished: SBS Gladiator engine
16 Finished: Brengun C2 Wasserfall, Merit SS-N-2 Styx, World's smallest diorama, Airfix Hurricane.
17 Finished: Japanese Carrier Deck, Belcher SS-4, Italeri AB41, PLAN Type 039A (not 72nd scale)
18 Finished: NONE
The bench:Platz T-33, Trump. T-34/85, Meng F-106, Airfix P-51 #2, Airfix P-40
Revell MiG-21F-13, Ace Citroen V-11
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Big Kohona
Hero
[ * ]
Thanks everyone!

dknights,Sep 4 2016
04:33 PM
I use a coffee cup warmer.  I thin the paint in an empty mixing jar, then put it on the coffee warmer until the mixing bottle is hot to the touch.  Then I transfer the paint to the airbrush.  It seems to retain the benefits of warming for my usual airbrushing time. (10-15 minutes)

Excellent idea David, I'll have to give this a try now ^_^
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tigermoth
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Wayne Brinker, Langley B.C.
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"I use a coffee cup warmer. I thin the paint in an empty mixing jar, then put it on the coffee warmer until the mixing bottle is hot to the touch. Then I transfer the paint to the airbrush. It seems to retain the benefits of warming for my usual airbrushing time. (10-15 minutes)" - dknights

Good idea David. They also keep water for decals warm and in a pinch will keep a beverage like tea or coffee warm.
Wayne Brinker, Langley B.C.
De gustibus non est disputandum.
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