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Hi there, I'm in need of some advice with thinning metallics, pretty new to all this so i could be doing it completely wrong
When i add water to mine they tend to go quite horrible and need mixing up almost within a few seconds of stopping mixing, so i need to keep mixing evertime i need to dip my brush in it which tbh the first few times is fine but when there's alot to do it gets really annoying. I've tried less water but still it's the same.
So how do you guys thin them, am I being a div thinking they would be the same as the normal paints or is this just how they are?

They're Vallejo metalics btw

Casper_J wrote:They're Vallejo metalics btw

There's your first problem...

Vallejo paints don't thin well with water. It seems to make the pigment separate out. That's counterbalanced somewhat by the fact that they generally don't need a lot of thinning. From my experience, it's mostly their whites and greys that go thick.

I've had nothing but poor results from Vallejo's metallics, though. The coverage is poor at the best of times, and they definitely don't like being thinned.

Metallics, (other than Tin Bitz and sometimes Dwarf Bronze) are one of the things that GW beats Vallejo on, and thinning with water doesn't seem to bother them.

Ahh ok thanks alot, I'll see about getting some GW ones next time I'm in town.

You can use floor wax to thin out the paint without watering it down but i only use GW's metallic paint. Honestly check out the p3 wet pallet i have been using that as of late more than wax

You can also thin the metallics using gloss varnish (either Vallejo or gw is fine), or using vallejo's paint thinner, which should be sold at the same place you're buying the metallic from.

Any of these mediums will stop the metallic particles from separating out

I have good results from the Vallejo (model color / model air) Metals. You really do need to shake the crap out of them before use though as they do settle. Cutting them with glaze medium also works nicely. Water does make them settle quickly so you'll need to remix frequently - don't mix up a lot at a time, work in small batches.

Thanks for the replies