Using Window Washer in Paints

[womblenz]

Hi Guys

This is a simple/basic question I have seen mention of using WW fluid as a mixer for paints.

So what type and mix rate do you use at

Thanks

Cheers Warren

[Mark4]

Hi Guys

This is a simple/basic question I have seen mention of using WW fluid as a mixer for paints.

So what type and mix rate do you use at

Thanks

Cheers Warren

Warren,

It's probably near pure isopropyl alcohol - easy to find in the US but a bit harder (and a whole lot more expensive) in our part of the world.
Be careful with alcohol and airbrushes. Alcohols can be corrosive (ask me how I know!).

[tom mann]

I switched to Reverse Osmosis water.  The blue tint in WW fluid shows up sometimes.

[DKS]

Windshield washer fluid is usually a mixture of water, ethanol, ethylene glycol, dye, and sometimes other stuff. I'd take Tom's advice.

[tom mann]

Distilled water is fine too, but we have an RO hookup since we're not on city water.

[ednadolski]

Windshield washer fluid is usually a mixture of water, ethanol, ethylene glycol, dye, and sometimes other stuff. I'd take Tom's advice.

Windshield washer fluid contains methanol, which is toxic:

"Methanol is a highly toxic alcohol commonly found in automobile windshield washer solvent, gas line antifreeze, copy machine fluid, fuel for small stoves, paint strippers, and as an industrial solvent (Budavari 1996B; Suit 1990). "

http://www.antizol.com/mpoisono.htm

Bottom line:  check both the label and the MSDS.

Ed

[ednadolski]

Distilled water is fine too, but we have an RO hookup since we're not on city water.

Do you do anything to reduce surface tension, to keep washes from beading up?

Ed

[DKS]

Windshield washer fluid is usually a mixture of water, ethanol, ethylene glycol, dye, and sometimes other stuff. I'd take Tom's advice.

Windshield washer fluid contains methanol, which is toxic:

"Methanol is a highly toxic alcohol commonly found in automobile windshield washer solvent, gas line antifreeze, copy machine fluid, fuel for small stoves, paint strippers, and as an industrial solvent (Budavari 1996B; Suit 1990). "

http://www.antizol.com/mpoisono.htm

Bottom line:  check both the label and the MSDS.

Ed

Some contain methanol. But because of its toxicity, it's being replaced by ethylene glycol.

Checking the label is still advised, however.

[tom mann]

Distilled water is fine too, but we have an RO hookup since we're not on city water.

Do you do anything to reduce surface tension, to keep washes from beading up?

Ed

No - not a problem if 1) the surface is not smooth and 2) you use oil paints.

[womblenz]

Thanks guys

Cheers Warren

[ednadolski]

Some contain methanol. But because of its toxicity, it's being replaced by ethylene glycol.

Any specific brands?  I've been keeping an eye out, but haven't seen any like that yet.   (Could be a regional thing?)

Ed

[DKS]

Some contain methanol. But because of its toxicity, it's being replaced by ethylene glycol.

Any specific brands?  I've been keeping an eye out, but haven't seen any like that yet.   (Could be a regional thing?)

Ed

There's a bazillion brands, and you may be right about it being regional; I think they need to be labeled with poisonous ingredients, so check the label. I just looked at a bottle I had on hand, which was branded for the supermarket where I got it, and it had methanol.

[havingfuntoo]

Can I please ask why you would be using window wash for diluting paints? (it is a genuine question)

What advantages woulds be gained rather than using small portions of the actual raw materials used to make up window wash? Is it lack of availability of those raw materials? 

Window wash is usually a combination of a surfactant, an alcohol and water. Glycols are added to offer an anti fog property and some also use ammonia to help with the grease cutting properties of the product. I would think some of these materials would present as a problem to the paints consistency after being combined with it and would leave a residual coating on the models surface. 

[amato1969]

Excellent question!  I use only airbrush medium - a mix of acrylic, retarder, and flow agent.  Works like a charm, and no hazardous chemicals:

http://www.liquitex.com/Products/fluidmedairbrush.cfm

  Frank