Humbrol Paint Question

Cookie_Monster

I've a load of those little humbrol paint tins. They are been resurrected after many years

Can you thin these with white spirits? Or if not what should I use

Most have them have been sitting around for a good fer years, 5-6 maybe. Any issue with using these that a good shake won't sort out?

coolwings

CM: use cellulose thinners with those, if they are the original enamel paint.
The odour would confirm they are the same.

FiSe

I'm using white spirit on all, but clear, Humbrol paints without any issues. I have used it for many years, definately more than 5-6 and no problems. The thing with cellulouse thinner in them is, that it could damage the plastic, if the intended use is for plastic painting.
Give them a proper shake and a frew minutes of 'bottom stirring' and they'll be fine.

coolwings

Painting plastic always poses a problem.

I now use water soluble acrylic paints over plastic, but enamels can work, some of the solvents in enamels though can attack the plastic, others don't.
I never tried white spirit in enamels yet, so that's a good idea Fise.

Whatever you try, if preparing to paint something important and it's made of plastic I strongly advise taking a small piece of the same plastic material, and painting a line of stripes of each paint colour, both thinned with solvent and neat paint, and leave for at least 4 hours to observe no damage. Such a "test card" always tells you what you need to know.

I have on occasions sealed an easily damaged white foam model with diluted PVA as a primer, 2 coats of watery PVA, then painted over with a paint that was capable of slightly damaging the foam underneath. It's a "bravery moment" that works if you carefully primed first.