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I have an Iwata eclipse airbrush with a sparmax ac-27 compressor. What do you guys use to thin gw paints through your airbrushes? I've been using water and windex and it doesn't work great. I've been getting a lot of clogs at the nozzel.

I have an iwata cs and a basic compressor. I use all Vallejos and GW, old n new. U need an airbrush thinner. Even an homebrew works,is distilled water and IPA (isoetc etc alcohol) there is a recipe somewhere on dakka

They now offer the pre-thinned stuff works pretty well but is kind of expensive (as most of their stuff it) I just use water it works pretty well. I don't use windex though... that might affect it. I also use thinner when there is alot to be used (paint).

The simple solution in the short run is Vallejo Airbrush Thinner. One bottle ready to go.

I hope the Windex was ammonia-free else you might run into problems in the long run.

Better and cheaper solution (in the mid-long term) is to make your own thinning solution.

Step 1 Materials:
Get an empty bottle (I use an empty Isopropyl Alcohol bottle for reference)
Get a small dropper bottle
Buy some Matt Medium
Buy some distilled water
Buy Flow-Aid
Buy Slow-Dry
Buy empty cups to mix your paint.

Step 2 the mix:
You will fill the empty bottle up 2/3 with Matt Medium and 1/3 distilled water.

Add one cap full of Flow-Aid
Add one cap full of Slow-Dry

Shake for mixing and pour into the dropper bottle.

Step 3 The thinning
Different paints will require different levels of thinning and I am not talking about different companies. Some colors will simply thin better than others. This mean there will be alot of trial and error to get thigns just right. Hence the small empty paint cups.

If you are not satisfied you can always add 2 drops of flow-aid or slow-dry into the dropper bottle if you think you still have too much trouble.

Yes I know it seems like alot of stuff to buy and get but considering you will use it up by the drop...It will last you a VERY long time.

Vallejo thinner is great but it will get more expensive in the long run than making your own thinner.

This is my advice, take it or leave it

That does seem like a lot of stuff. If it works though it will be worth it - it will save me a lot of time. TY.

I use vallejo thinner for my standard water based acrylics. It may cost slightly more than mixing my own but it's still a pretty insignificant cost compared to the rest of my hobby. I add a bit of drying retarder for reaper paints which I find more annoying to spray.

For alcohol based acrylics, tamiya and gunze, I use gunze mr color self leveling thinner.

For enamels I just use whatever thinner the company sells (testors thinner for testors paint, humbrol thinner for humbrol paint).

I use createx wicked airbrush reducer. It's really amazing stuff! It keeps the paint from sticking to the brush and helps a ton with keeping everythig clean.

I hope this helps!