When people talk about a apaint retardent, what do they mean. Is this a way to thin paint and help from cloggs. I cant figure out a good way to keep from clogging. Any help would be appreciated.
A retardor helps in slowing the paint drying process down. You use a few drops when you put paint in you cup and mix it up. It does not thin the paint down. retardor means simple is retards the the drying process.
If you want to thin the paint down some there are many ways of doing this, water, rubbing alchol, windex to name a few. But don't add to much or you will ruin the molecular stucture of the paint.
The retarder is part of whatever paint system you use--You buy it just like you can buy thinner, sealer, or gloss.
With polytranspar, it's #WA 1001, or FP1001, with Lifetone it's LT-901, or HM-901, with wildlife colors it's WC805.
A few drops is usually sufficient.
As Frank said, retarder slows down your dry time, so take this in to account when layering colors or touching your fish.
If you use Hydromist, I would recommend using Acetone to prevent clogging,(I mix my detail black almost 50%) The acetone helps clean your airbrush tip as it is sprayed through, and it evaporates fast, so your paint will dry faster than using retarder.
I think the same principle applies to polytranspar, although I don't use that paint system.
I DO know that acetone is totally incompatible with Translatex paints,
if you like those paints, keep the acetone far away, don't even clean your brush with it.(it will solidify the paint and clog your brush instantly)
Good Luck
Dave