Global Scale Modeller

Is the white spirit sold by AK, Ammo etc for big bucks the same as ordinary white spirit from the hardware store?
Or does it contain other secret chemicals to make it less aggressive?

It's probably odourless terpenoid. It's a slightly less potent than white or mineral spirits.
The hardware store may or may not have it, but it seems like a stocked item in any art store.
And yes, it's far cheaper. It seems most common in .5L or 1L bottles. Here, a quick web search shows the 1L is about $22 (last I checked the Canuck Buck was about par with the AussieLar (should I trademark that?) compared to $9 for the little jars from AK, etc.

ForbesHutton wrote:It's probably odourless terpenoid. It's a slightly less potent than white or mineral spirits.
The hardware store may or may not have it, but it seems like a stocked item in any art store.
And yes, it's far cheaper. It seems most common in .5L or 1L bottles. Here, a quick web search shows the 1L is about $22 (last I checked the Canuck Buck was about par with the AussieLar (should I trademark that?) compared to $9 for the little jars from AK, etc.

I don't mind the stink! Is it safe to use white/mineral spirits on plastic models though, if the have a coat of Aqua Gloss?

Augustus wrote:
I don't mind the stink! Is it safe to use white/mineral spirits on plastic models though, if the have a coat of Aqua Gloss?

Yes. You can use mineral spirits to safely wash your model.

The AK spirits is probably a better pick than the liter drum you can get at a hardware store. The hardware store stuff is not as gentle as an artist's spirits.

I grabbed some white spirits from a hardware store, so far they haven't mistreated me but I've been pretty careful about them. Solid coat of aqua gloss that's had time to cure, cotton bud dipped but not over-saturated and run over a towel first. As said above, the AK stuff might be formulated to be more forgiving, most purpose made model supplies are, but I think you need to go with what you feel most comfortable with.

Either way, it's better than lighter fluid...

Edit: some words

Lysus wrote:I grabbed some white spirits from a hardware store, so far they haven't mistreated me but I've been pretty careful about them. Solid coat of aqua gloss that's had time to cure, cotton bud dipped but not over-saturated and run over a towel first. As said above, the AK stuff might be formulated to be more forgiving, most purpose made model supplies are, but I think you need to go with what you feel most comfortable with.

Either way, it's better than lighter fluid...

Edit: some words

On my first build I just used hardware store white spirit. It seemed OK on the pin wash but when using it for streaks seemed to take the whole lot off. I had watched a vid by AK-Interactive and it said to let the streak wash dry for a couple of minutes, but that the longer the better. I left it to dry for a couple of hours. So maybe it was too strong for that part. Anyway I've now put through an order for AKs odourless turps which it says is a bit softer than their own white spirit so hopefully I'm fully covered now.

That sounds about right. I haven't done any streaking yet, just panel lining. It will, as you said, take away whatever it touches. Which for panel line clean up is perfect. Streaking, not so much.

I think you made the right choice.

I use oderlous turps from an artist's shop but it's expensive in the UK, although not as expensive as 'special' modelling stuff and a bottle should last you for ever.

Avgas wrote:I use oderlous turps from an artist's shop but it's expensive in the UK, although not as expensive as 'special' modelling stuff and a bottle should last you for ever.

Expensive here too.
I actually use a reasonable amount and a 100ml bottle doesn't go far. Especially if you knock the wash over like I just did. I then went shopping online and found a 1000ml bottle for the same price as my small one, plus a little freight . So that is a mile in front of going into the local art supply shop. I will probably see about some paint from them as well at a later date.

digger303 wrote:

Avgas wrote:I use oderlous turps from an artist's shop but it's expensive in the UK, although not as expensive as 'special' modelling stuff and a bottle should last you for ever.

Expensive here too.
I actually use a reasonable amount and a 100ml bottle doesn't go far. Especially if you knock the wash over like I just did. I then went shopping online and found a 1000ml bottle for the same price as my small one, plus a little freight . So that is a mile in front of going into the local art supply shop. I will probably see about some paint from them as well at a later date.

I've been using odourless too from the local hobby store, the price isn't too bad but it does save on getting that heady feeling from sniffing the fumes all day.......It should last a while as long as you don't knock over the bottle, lol.

I use bog standard white spirit with no issues, just don't get the ecospirit, utterly useless.