Originally Posted by SammyXp
I've always simply used water to thin Faskolor. Any particular advantages to using Windex or Alcohol?
Begin science lesson.
Water has very strong polarity within the molecule, where the oxygen atom attracts each electron from the two hydrogen atoms to fill it's electron shell. Because of this, the oxygen atom gains a negative charge and the hydrogen atoms gain a slight positive charge. Each molecule then aligns itself somewhat readily to the adjacent molecules, so that one H2O's positive region aligns to another H2os negatives region. This is called a hydrogen bond, because hydrogen's positive region is sponging off another molecules negative oxygen region. Though really really small, it's actually a very influential force in molecular behavior. It's responsible for water expanding as it freezes because the molecules align themselves in a rigid geometric pattern rather than just crushing together in a compact, efficient way (like most liquids do when they solidify).
Hydrogen bonds are also the cause of surface tension in water. Water has incredibly high surface tension. You see this when you overfill a glass, or view the miniscus in a beaker, or if you've ever tried to use water as a lubricant (not so good). Water, when sprayed on a surface, especially a clean surface with few imperfections, will bead, because the bonds between the water molecules are stronger than any atomic attraction to the lexan.
Rubbing alcohol does not share these properties with water, but it does mix readily (unlike oil). Rubbing alcohol also has a lower vaporization temp, thus is evaporates faster than water at lower temperatures. You notice this if you ever spill rubbing alcohol on yourself. The alcohol absorbs energy (heat) in order to jump from one phase (liquid) to another (gas). This is also why people sweat (it evaporates, which cools you down, acting as a radiator).
If you thin with rubbing alcohol, it has a lower surface tension than the same volume of just water. Paint won't bead as readily, even though it's more viscous (flows easier), plus, as an added bonus, it dries a little faster (not cures faster, dries faster, there is a difference).
Basically, you CAN thin with water, but there is no reason to, and certainly no benefit.
End science lesson.
hope you learned something.