Here’s the scenario we all face when using acrylic paint in a sprayer/airbrush — it gets clogged, which is frustrating. Acrylic paint is tricky because it dries quickly, rendering it thicker for the sprayer to work correctly. So, does acrylic paint need to be thinned for a sprayer?
Acrylic paint does need to be thinned for a sprayer to ensure it doesn’t clog. When using a paint sprayer or an airbrush, you should always consider thinning your acrylic paint to have a smooth painting experience. However, you shouldn’t thin your paint too much to avoid flaking when it dries.
The rest of this article will discuss why acrylic paint needs to be thinned for spraying. I’ll also provide some tips to keep in mind to avoid any sort of technical difficulties while using a paint sprayer/airbrush with acrylic paint. So, Does Acrylic Paint Need To Be Thinned for a Sprayer? Well yes, and we will explain the why and the how.
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Why Acrylic Paint Needs To Be Thinned for Spraying
When in a thick state, acrylic paint clogs the sprayer/airbrush, which requires thinning it a little bit to avoid such a thing from happening. Clogging your spray gun/airbrush can damage it, which is something no one desires. Therefore, thinning your acrylic paint can spare you a lot of trouble.
Generally speaking, using distilled water is enough to thin your acrylic paint. However, you might want to consider using a professional thinner, flow improver, or binder medium, depending on what you’re painting.
So, the takeaway is to consider using an appropriate substance to thin your acrylic paint before pouring it into a spray gun or an airbrush, especially if the brand you’re using is relatively thick. Once you get used to the process of thinning your acrylic paint accordingly, you’ll rarely experience any sort of technical difficulties. What you’re aiming for is a consistent liquid with low viscosity.
If you want to see how it’s done by professionals, I highly recommend you watch this video by Brad Angove
where he explains how to set up your spray gun for acrylics:
Additionally, this short YouTube video by tsMeaDMaDe shows you everything you need to know about how to thin acrylics for airbrush use is explained.
If you’re not sure if your acrylic paint needs to be thinned, you can always ask a professional, or even the store you bought the acrylic paint from. They should be able to tell you the best substance to add to the paint to thin it or even suggest a different acrylic paint brand that’s already thin.
How Do You Dilute Acrylic Paint for Spraying?
To dilute acrylic paint for spraying, add no more than 10% distilled water to the paint when using a sprayer, and only add more if that doesn’t give you the desired consistency. As a general rule of thumb, the water content shouldn’t exceed 50% on absorbent surfaces and 30% on other surfaces.
While plain distilled water can do the trick just fine, using other substances to dilute your acrylic paint when using a sprayer/airbrush is recommended. For example, if you use a binding medium, you can take more liberty at thinning your paint without compromising the quality.
I must note that some acrylic paint brands are already thin and don’t usually require adding anything else. You just pour the paint into the spray gun’s container, and you’re good to go.
What Can I Use To Thin Acrylic Paint for Spraying?
You can use water or an acrylic medium to thin acrylic paint for spraying. When working on absorbent surfaces, water can do the job just fine. However, when working on other surfaces, you might consider using an acrylic medium.
Too much water can affect the ability of the plastic molecules of acrylics to bond. That’s why using acrylic mediums is a better choice. Acrylic mediums also ensure that your paint won’t lose its glossiness. Diluting your paint with too much water can make it look dull.
As a beginner, using water isn’t highly recommended because you can easily mess things up by adding more water than you should. You must experiment with the process for a while before you get used to it, and thinning your acrylic paint becomes an intuitive process.
I should note that when using an airbrush, you must use high-flow acrylics and mediums to avoid any clogging-related issues like complete stoppage or spattering.
I recommend this Golden High Flow Drawing Set (available on Amazon), which is highly acclaimed, not just by me. Golden products are made in the U.S. and are very reliable among professional artists who work with acrylics.
Last update on 2024-12-03 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Is the Best Thinner for Acrylic Paint?
The best thinner for acrylic paint is binder mediums, professional acrylic thinners, and distilled water. As for the substances you shouldn’t use to thin your acrylic paint, the list includes tap water, salt water, and spirits.
Some people also like to use wood glue (PVA Glue) plus water to thin their acrylic paint, but that’s not quite recommended when using a sprayer or an airbrush.
One thing to keep in mind whenever you want to work with acrylic paint is the surface you’ll be working with. While acrylic paint is versatile and can stick on almost any surface, absorbent surfaces allow for more thinning using water. Using a binding medium is practical when the surface you’re working with isn’t absorbent. You might need more specific instructions to make acrylic paint smooth on plastic.
Final Words
Many acrylic paint brands are already thin and don’t require extra thinning. However, if the acrylic paint you’re using isn’t thin enough in your sprayer, thinning it is ideal. You can thin most acrylic paints using water, but an acrylic medium might be best in some cases.
This article has given you a rough map on how to navigate yourself around thinning your acrylics before pouring them into your spray gun/airbrush container. Hopefully, you’ve learned some good tips on how to deal with this matter properly.