left over paint bottles...

[siracerjon0]

so im pretty new to the modeling scene... but i've completed 2 models already and am now working on my third and im starting to have a lot of empty testors enamel paint bottles... and i was wondering if they are usefull for anything... and if so... what is the easiest way to make them spotless and clean? i've cleaned 2 using a wired brush and paint thinner but its a lot of work... think they are dish washer safe? lol

[MR_M]

  Hi sira, first of all it saves you buying empty bottle from the shop which someday be use as a paint mixer or storage. Second for me, ill always do the hardway, cleaning it with thinner (commercial) type, not the airbrush paint thinner coz its very costly using for cleaning... commercial type thinner is cheaper.... i don't think... you want to miss up your kitchen dishwasher or to prevent food poisoning on your plates and glass? lol 

[siracerjon0]

hmm touche... you've got a point... i might try getting a bowl of super hot water and let them sit in there a while... (cuz when we used to have chickens thats how we used to get the crud off of the eggs xD)(man i hate chickens.)

[rx-slinger]

You should see if your local hobby shop carries testor's ELO Paint and decal remover or something simliar. Testor's comes in a 8oz can and works well on enamel and acrylic paints I have not tried it on lacquer paint yet. just put some in to ur bottles let it sit for a few hours depending on how much is in there then scrub it and repeat untill the paint is removed then clean with soap and water.

[Alan Britten]

Hi siracerjon0

I keep my used Jars and have been doing so for awhile. With acrylic I fill the jar with Windex allow it to soak for the night then rinses in the bath room sink. Everything else general auto thinner, I personally do not find this job hard with this method...     

[R.C.]

sounds like everybody does this too.  I have mounds of old bottles.  Always useful as the guys said for mixing custom colors.  (when I make custom colors I write the paint ratios on the bottles so I don't forget how to make them if they turn out well) All you need to clean out the enamel paint is enamel thinner or something stronger.  Enamels are oil based so cheap lacquer thinner should work I believe, and if not you're only out a possible waste bottle anyway.  They already said this but I agree that cheap powerful solvents are cheap.  Kinda dangerous to breath in, but cheap.  Let em soak for a few hours, drain them wherever you dispose of such liquids, and wipe em clean with somethin like non fibrous rags or paper towels.  I use the blue automotive ones, they work the best and are durable.  Like dog poo durable.

[Tatsumi67]

Yeah its been siad but an empty bottled that effectively stores paint (just because it can be capped does not mean it stops it from drying out) are a God send for custom mixes and airbrushing. I keep an empty testors bottle full of a pre thinned Chrome Silver mix and it's really alot easier.

To clean them out I usuall soak the glass in thinner and swab it out.

[siracerjon0]

ya thanks for the info... we have a lot of commercial cheap thinner so im gonna go put my jars in a big jar of thinner... thanks ill let u know how it works out...

[Tatsumi67]

ya thanks for the info... we have a lot of commercial cheap thinner so im gonna go put my jars in a big jar of thinner... thanks ill let u know how it works out...

Yup, I have three jars I work from: a jar of virgin thinner, a jar of soaking/swishing thinner and the waste thinner that I can no longer use.