AK Interactive 3rd Generation Thinner 100ml – 3GEN Airbrush Reducer
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Prevents Tip Dry and Airbrush Clogging – The most common frustration with acrylic airbrushing is paint drying at the needle tip and clogging the nozzle mid-session. This thinner is formulated to lower paint viscosity without evaporating as quickly as water, reducing tip dry and keeping the airbrush spraying cleanly through long sessions.
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1:1 to 2:1 Thinner-to-Paint Ratio – AK's recommended starting ratio is one part thinner to one part paint for most airbrush work, shifting to two parts thinner for finer detail at lower pressure. This produces the "milk consistency" airbrush painters look for, with smooth atomization and no spider-webbing on the surface.
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Pairs With the Full 3GEN Ecosystem – Compatible with AK 3GEN acrylic paints, 3rd Generation varnishes (Matt, Satin, Gloss, Ultra Matt 100ml), and 3rd Generation primers. The older 60ml AK varnish line (AK183, AK190, AK191, AK192) uses AK-712 Acrylic Thinner instead — a different chemistry for a different product generation.
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Brush Application Also Supported – While airbrush thinning is the primary use, this also works for brush application when extending working time on a wet palette or creating thin glazes and filters. A few drops added to paint on the palette delays drying and improves flow for blending.
📝 Product Description
Most airbrush problems with acrylic paint trace back to one issue: the wrong thinner. Water is cheap and accessible but evaporates quickly, leaving paint to dry at the needle tip and creating the "tip dry" that interrupts spraying every few minutes. Generic airbrush thinners reduce viscosity but often strip the binder that makes paint adhere to the model. AK Interactive 3rd Generation Thinner is formulated specifically for AK's 3GEN acrylic line — it lowers viscosity for clean atomization while preserving paint adhesion and slowing the drying that causes needle clogs.
The 100ml dropper bottle contains enough to dilute dozens of 17ml paint bottles at typical 1:1 to 2:1 working ratios. For cleanup, AK recommends AK11505 Perfect Cleaner — this is a thinner, not a cleaner, and leaves residue in airbrush channels if used to flush between colors. Keep one bottle of each on the workbench for proper airbrush maintenance.
💡 How to Use
For airbrush thinning, start with a 1:1 ratio (one drop of thinner per drop of paint) in a mixing cup or on a palette — not directly in the airbrush paint cup. Stir gently with a toothpick or mixing stick. Correct consistency looks like skim or whole milk: thin enough to flow easily, thick enough to leave a visible film when a drop runs down the inside of the mixing cup. For finer detail work at lower air pressure, increase the thinner ratio to 2:1. For brush application, add 2-3 drops per paint working pool on the wet palette to extend open time. Clean brushes with water after use, and clean the airbrush with AK11505 Perfect Cleaner — using this thinner as a cleaner leaves residue that builds up over time.
📐 Specifications
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Brand: AK Interactive
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Product Name: 3rd Generation Thinner
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Product Line: 3GEN Acrylic Ecosystem
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Style Number: AK11500
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UPC: 8435568304994
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Product Type: Airbrush and Brush Thinner / Reducer for Acrylic Paint
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Volume: 100ml Dropper Bottle
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Recommended Ratio: 1:1 thinner-to-paint for standard airbrush work, 2:1 for fine detail
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Compatible With: AK 3GEN Acrylic Paints, 3rd Generation Varnishes, 3rd Generation Primers
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Not For: Older AK 60ml varnish line (use AK-712 instead), enamel or lacquer paints
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Companion Product: AK11505 Perfect Cleaner (for airbrush cleanup between colors)
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Country of Origin: Spain
