Using blue Windex as acrylic thinner, cleaner?

[wm3798]

Thanks guys, feedback much appreciated!
I did try the Windex we had at home with Vallejo Color, and it does seem to work pretty well, although it foams like a sonofagun.
Lee, just what do you mean “auto washer fluid”? Windshield washer fluid? Auto washer?
Thanks much,
Otto

Exactly.  Washer fluid such as one might use in an auto's windshield washer.  Available at Woolworth, Woolco, Kresges, McCrory's, Pep Boys, Hardware Fair and other fine retailers.  (Also at Wawa, Sheetz, and every other gas station nationwide)

[fire5506]

I don't know what the difference is, I'm just going by what he said and trying to help so no one has any problems.
Richard

[davefoxx]

So, the blue tint of Windex or windshield washer fluid doesn't affect the color of the paint?  Asking for a colorblind friend.

Thanks,
DFF

[learmoia]

So, the blue tint of Windex or windshield washer fluid doesn't affect the color of the paint?  Asking for a colorblind friend.

Thanks,
DFF

If you can notice it... your very NOT color blind!!!.....

[wvgca]

if using blue windshield washer fluid as a thinner and/or a cleaner be sure to check the label. most regular branded washer fluid contains up to thirty percent methanol .. some brands may contain no methanol.

[Spades]

I'm just curious why use the Windex and other like ilk?   Isopropyl  alcohol is about the same price in bulk and free of the superfluous ingredients such as dyes, etc.   To me it seems like carving off cast on grab irons with a small hatchet.  Sure it may work, but there are much easier ways.

I posted this in an earlier thread.

This is what I use.  Just distilled water, isopropyl alcohol, a little flow improver and a little flow retarder.

[Doc Frankenfield]

Ammonia is a preservative for latex and latex type products, it will act as a retarder..cleaner,, thinner
Alcohol will thin most acrylic paints for airbrushing but will accelerate drying time,,,, (one of the reasons I don't like alcohol for ballast, it evaporates too soon and will tend to leave a crust rather than penetrating the ballast load)

ammonia, use parsons non sudsy or commercial, thin with distilled water,  use that mix for thinning paint,  straight for cleaning.
Alcohol, for thinning you can get away with cheap vodka, I tend to buy fuel grade and thin with H2O.
 you have to test the waters with various paints, some require a level of acetone, some will work with ammonia based (windex), others work just fine with alcohol.
mix a small amount with thinners of choice and brush a wet coat on plexiglass, let it dry, if you get gelling in the cup you have the wrong reducer, if it stays wet too long, likewise,
the reduced paint should dry without splitting, globing or creating "fish eyes" that is little dots where the color doesn't take.
experiment with the paint you have as all are different compounds.

avoid tap water as Chlorine will make paint gel.

[peteski]

Ammonia is a preservative for latex and latex type products, it will act as a retarder..cleaner,, thinner
Alcohol will thin most acrylic paints for airbrushing but will accelerate drying time,,,, (one of the reasons I don't like alcohol for ballast, it evaporates too soon and will tend to leave a crust rather than penetrating the ballast load)

Alcohol will make some brands of water-based paints curdle.  I don't remember now which brands.  Might have been Polly S or Polly Scale.