If you guys use this paint do you always thin it down and by how much?
I've used other paint and it works but, Testors works the best for me.
Thinning depends on the paint, Acrylic - use water, enamel- use mineral spirits.
I use an eye dropper to drop a few drops of thinner in a jar, stir it up and try it again. Too thick and its hard to work with, to thin and it wont cover well. Best to work on a scrap shaft to work out your formula. I've also noticed one color may be thicker than another and require more thinning.
Getting the proper consistency is one of he tricks to good cressting, makes fine lines so much easier and the paint will level itself out smooth.
Eric
I rarely thin it unless the bottle is getting well used and it starts getting thick. If you do thin it, add a very small amount of the thinner solvent at a time to make sure you don't get it too thin for good coverage. A very good quality brush helps it flow too.
It is all i use. I usually thin the colors i use for wider bands or if after time when it thickens up
I've used Testors Model Airplane paint for cresting & haven't had any problems with it. I didn't thin it.
Frank
Do you seal it with anything after creasting. Does anyone use testors on aluminum?
The only colors that I do not thin are silver, gold, copper, bronze. I thin most all the rest. If you want thin lines you have to thin it. It;s all by feel and the brush you are using. If you have to force the paint on it's too thick. It needs to flow off your brush. It's different for everyone. When it gets too thick I throw it away. I have been using it for over 25 years. I seal it with Zip Guard and I use it for wood, aluminum and carbons.
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How long for the enamel stuff to dry, I am practicing on dowel rods.?
I wait overnight.
QuoteOriginally posted by PeteA:
Do you seal it with anything after creasting. Does anyone use testors on aluminum?
I've used it on aluminum, but it's been so long since I've shot anything but woodies, I don't remember much about it other than it worked well.
I didn't seal it with anything even when using it on wood.
Frank
How long for the enamel stuff to dry, I am practicing on dowel rods.?
With the Zip Guard, I can dip right after the last arrow is crested. I don't have to wait 24 h
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v462/Cbireley/CurtisarrowsCoral1.jpg)rs.
I usually thin it a little, seems to go on easier. I have enamel Testors.
I let it dry overnight (every coat gets 24 hours to dry) I usually find two coats of the Testors to make a nice finish. White under the colors seems to make them brighter. Once the cresting is on and dry, I put a couple coats of water based wipe on poly over the top for protection.
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I didn't thin it at all, just mixed it well. It's pretty old stuff too.
I thin it only when it needs thinning. Like others have said, you can tell when it needs it.
I dip mine in water based poly a couple hours after cresting.
Trap
I'd let them dry for a day, if I didn't they'd smear. Actually I kind of like it for cresting. I made sure I only had a little on the brush or else it'd gob on & I'd have a big blob on the shaft, & it'd thin down to almost nothing. I'd make a couple of dips in the Testors to do one line because I didn't thin it.
Frank
How would Testor's hold up if you wiped a coat of Minwax Wipeon Poly over it? I've always wanted to crest but never followed thru with trying it.
All my arrows get dipped and the finish runs off. I never had a problem with testors running off. If wiping on the clear I would wait 24 hours. I hear that some colors run with certain clears. Not with Zip Guard.
Craig, is Zip Guard water based?
There can be issues between cresting and finishes but most are avoided if everything is allowed to dry overnight before the next step.
One I have not figured out yet is, I first used testors silver enamel(oil base) for fine/border lines. No matter how long I let it dry..days..it ran off when dipped in MW poly (oil base). None of my other cresting did(all oil base), just the silver. I switched to acrylic silver and all is fine now.
Eric
Is there any benefit to acrylic? I have always used enamel. Can they be mixed on same arrow as in acrylic over enamel or vice versa?
White, aside from clean up with water, I dont think so. I use 99% enamel and acrylic silver for reasons stated above. I think the enamels flow and cover better.
Eric
Zip Guard is a water base poly. I can use it to clear over any paint. It goes on like water. it's cloudy and then dries clear. There can be bubbles all over the shaft and will dry smooth. I get it in the gloss finish and steel wool it to make it satin. I only need 2 coats, one over stain and one over crown and crest. Years ago I tried other water base poly's and had some run the paint. Zip Guard does not. I only dip and can do a dozen at a time.