I know balsarite recommends ironex to be used as a thinner, but does anyone know of a substitute that would be more readily available and most likely cheaper. I have a full can that is pretty new but definately needs to be thinned.

I use premium lacquer thiner from the harware store.

I recently had the same issue, so I decided to use what was in my shop and see which worked best. I tried MEK, acetone, laquer thinner, mineral spirits and xylene. The MEK worked best, but I had to let it sit in a sealed glass jar for a few hours. I had no luck with the other solvents. I've read that nitrate dope thinner is the same as Ironex, but I've never tried it. Use face and lung protection. Nasty stuff!!

Paul

I think I have some Nitrate thinner floating around. I will give that a try. Thanks.

Hi!
I have used acetone!
But why use Balsarite at all???

Balsarite is great stuff. I am using a full scale fabric on a very large model and the fabric nees to be adhered somehow. I am going to use Balsarite as opposed to doping the whole aircraft. It will not smell as bad! Try it, you will like it.

Hi!
Ever tried Oratex or Oracover???

It is the same thing as "WorldTex" and SolarTex (BalsaUSA sells Solartex).

Why not just make the small skip to STITS? I switched to their light fabric and related liquids for covering with it, and it works great.
Sort of like "the real thing", if you know what I mean.

Acetone works for me with Balsarite.