Some nail polish remover is composed entirely of acetone, and can be safely used to thin paint. Acetone is a colorless, volatile, and flammable liquid; it is often used as a solvent for synthetic fibers and plastics; it used for thinning polyester resin, removing nail varnishes, preparation of metal before painting. There are very few solids in MinWax, thinning just makes an already thin product even thinner. In contrast, latex paint is water-based and should be cleaned up and thinned only with water. However, you can go as far as half mineral spirits and half poly. Gamsol is an excellent solvent for thinning oil paints and other media and is available in 32-ounce and 1-liter bottles. Paint thinner; Acetone is a high-strength solvent for many plastics, and is also used for thinning oil-based paints and resin, as well as cleaning up after they’ve been used. Paint thinner is a solvent used to clean oil-based paints. She works primarily en plein air on the streets of Rome, and also travels for private international collectors on commission. Adding mineral spirits violates the VOC regulations. You should test first. It will dry a little slower is all. Clean your brushes and your palette with CITRUS THINNER (made with orange peels). Can be use to remove dirt and grease from parts and surfaces before painting. Dilute Wood Stain with Water. OIL PAINTING MATERIALS Thinner. Paint Your Car With Rustoleum: Do you have a fun car that you just KNOW will go faster with a brand new paint job?This method is based on the idea of using a foam paint roller to put many layers of Rustoleum on your car. Water is a thinning agent in these stains that are made up of water-compatible artificial resins. 2. This makes it excellent for removing paint, but less ideal for thinning. You may want to thin your polyurethane for a variety of reasons: because you want to your finish coats to be less heavy, because the polyurethane has thickened over … Turpentine is no longer necessary. It is a solvent that is exempt from regulations. To help you thin oil based paints, we will discuss all the necessary steps today. It will be fine. Any hardware store employee will tell you that acetone is a solvent and used for thinning paint or removing adhesives and glues. Matte appearance, wipe on, wipe off. Here's What Cleans Everything Up. Why don't you try some MinWax Antique Oil? The paint thinning process needs to be handled with care because oil, latex, lacquer and enamel based paints can require different paint thinners and treatment for optimum results. Thin your oil-based polyurethane with mineral spirits. Check the label to see what ingredients are in your nail polish remover before using it as paint thinner. To thin oil paint for a home improvement project, mix 2 parts oil paint with 1 part turpentine. It does well for thinning the material. Used to dissolve and remove non-oil-based paint. It’s is similar to paint in its composition and mixes well with oil-based paints. The oil based can be thinned with paint thinner (mineral spirits). Often including some very slow-drying types. Will improve brushing qualities when painting. Some nail polish remover is composed entirely of acetone, and can be safely used to thin paint. Acetone is a powerful solvent for both oil-based and latex-based paint, and can be used to remove uncured paint from a wide variety of surfaces. While latex-based primers and paints are convenient and versatile, oil-based primers and paints still are good choices in certain applications. Don't worry about it. Thinning paint that’s just been freshly opened allows the painting pro to account for temperature, room humidity and absorbency of the surface being painted. Adding acetone to varnish, or oil stains and glazes, has less effect on the drying because these products cure primarily by the absorption of oxygen, not by solvent evaporation. So, if you paint oil-based paint on top of a latex paint without priming first, the latex will flex so much underneath that the oil-paint will quickly fail. Oil-based paints should be thinned or cleaned up only with petroleum or mineral-based products. It should also tell you what thinning ingredients you can use, but in case it doesn’t, mineral spirits or turpentine are usually good options. Don't ask me why it's exempt. Water-based finishes, however, tend to coagulate when acetone is added. If the weather is humid you might want to stay with the acetone. Stir the paint and thinning mixture together with a palette knife, and you're ready to paint! Lacquer thinners come in two general categories: cleanup thinner and, for lack of a better term, true lacquer thinner. Paint Thinner is the most widely used paint solvent for thinning of oil-based paints, varnishes, and enamels. Except, I used a professional airgun and only 2 coats. Acetone is very volatile and evaporates very quickly, therefore you will have very short working time and drying time if you use straight acetone to thin lacquer. Based on manufacturer’s recommendations its good to avoid products such as lacquer thinner or mineral spirits for thinning – although you can use them for the quick clean-up. Acetone is an organic compound. Need to remove non-oil based paint or epoxies? It's not recommended, however. It's a solvent found in some nail polish removers. The usual ratio is about 3 or 4 parts varnish to one part of the mineral spirits. Mineral spirits will work fine and won't adversely speed up the drying time but you may draw the ire of the VOC black-suit dudes. She founded Sketching Rome Tours in 2012 where she teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome. Also effective as a clean-up solvent for brushes, rollers and spray equipment. Typically, when you are thinning out oil-based polyurethane or oil-based varnish, you will be working with mineral spirits. Use paint thinner if you're spraying an oil-base enamel with an airless sprayer. First of all, you need to think about ratios. Acetone evaporates faster is all. Cleanup thinner is probably mostly acetone and so it will behave similarly. This is for you. Paint is divided into two categories: oil-based (or alkyds) or water-based paints. I'd like to know myself. Acetone … The … It is used in pharmaceutical industries as an excipient in some medicine. "Paint thinner" can be pretty much any mix of aromatic solvents. Latex paint and oil-based paint expand and contract at two different rates. No relation to traditional oil-based enamels. While acetone has a wide array of uses such as the preparation of metal before painting, thinning polyester resin, dissolving superglue, removing nail varnishes, removing rosin flux to prevent the rusty bolt effect as well as in the pharmaceutical industries, paint thinner is commonly used to remove any type of paint in paints and coatings. If you’re a model car or train enthusiast, you can use acetone to dissolve paint and glue from old models, degreasing them at the same time before repainting them to look like new. Rustoleum products used to have their own proprietary "thinning oils" and cautioned not to use anything else. I want to spray the paint on an old riding mower instead of rolling it. You can't thin latex paint (water-based) with paint thinner (oil-based) or lacquer thinner. Can you use mineral spirits to thin polyurethane? It can also be reused several times when stored properly. Kelly Medford is an American painter based in Rome, Italy. Other odorless thinners are inferior. The good news is that thinning oil-based paint is not hard if you do it correctly. Uh, acetone is the only VOC compliant solvent readily available in stores that can legally be added to oil based paint. I am rolling and tipping my 13' whaler this week, should I thin the rustoleum with mineral spirits or acetone. She studied classical painting, drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy. Acetone is a powerful solvent for both oil-based and latex-based paint, and can be used to remove uncured paint from a wide variety of surfaces. Polyurethane is a common modern wood finish that can be purchased with either an oil or a water base. Flammable and evaporates easily. Re: Thinning Rustoleum Oil-Based Paint Re: Thinning Rustoleum Oil-Based Paint That's a GREEN thing. For thinning it, you will need to get some acetone which will thin the paint properly. It's really only useful for cleaning brushes unless you don't care about drying time at all. I'm using a small electric dewalt paint sprayer that uses the plastic cup that screws into the spray gun. If you are painting oil-based paint on top of latex paint then you have to prime the latex first. Acetone is becoming more and more prevalent as a paint thinner or thinner component because of increased air emission regulations (VOCs). It is a must to know the steps of thinning to get maximum output from painting. Automotive paints are generally lacquers or catalyzed compounds. Water-based stains are commonly known as "latex Stains". 2 – Wipe as much excess paint out of the brush with a rag, or in my case a dish towel. This solvent works very well at removing oil-based paints, enamels and acrylic paint. It also dissolves two-part epoxies and thins fibreglass resin and most ad hesives. Scoop some oil paint onto your palette, then use an eyedropper to apply 1-2 drops of the linseed oil and mineral spirit mixture to each color. Acetone is more of a paint stripping material that will change the nature of paint. You need water for latex paints, turpentine or varsol of other "paint thinner" for oil paints, alcohol for shellac, and laquer thinner for lacquer. Keep reading to learn how. How To Thin Oil-Based Paint. If you intend to do painting with the spray gun, you need to know how to thin oil based paint for spray gun properly. You can't thin lacquer with oil or water. Any Poison Control Center employee will tell you it's perfect for removing superglue from one's fingers. Mineral spirits are better for thinning paint. However, if you are going to use oil-based products, you will need to know how to properly use paint thinners or solvents to thin paint, and clean brushes and other equipment when you’re done. 1 – Find some oil paint and dunk your brush in it. Gamblin Gamsol Oil. How much acetone should I mix with 1 Qt. The tacky stage may be reached quicker, but the product still has to go through the longer oxidation process. 3 – Fill a cup with a cup or so of acetone, I happened to have a can of it on hand from that time I tried to cut a bottle with string. Most oil-based paints that you buy will give you instructions on how to thin your paint. Paint Thinner: It also contains a less pure form of mineral spirit with chemicals like naphtha, acetone, glycol ethers, xylene, etc. 1. Many people have avoided oil paint because of the odor and toxicity of the turpentine that was necessary for cleaning. I have read to thin it with whatever the can lists to use to clean up with, (which is mineral spirits) but I have read here to use acetone with rustoleum paint up to 10% when roll and tip and up to 25% when spraying. of Rustoleum Oil-based paint for spraying? Whether you're painting a house or a model train, a solvent like acetone is great for removing unwanted paint drips and cleaning old brushes. Be purchased with either an oil or a water base the usual ratio is about or! Do n't care about drying time at all streets of Rome together with a,... Pretty much any mix of aromatic solvents paint with 1 Qt be purchased with an! Time at all or lacquer thinner or removing thinning oil based paint with acetone and glues very well at removing oil-based paints be. You 're spraying an oil-base enamel with an airless sprayer and other media and is in. Voc compliant solvent readily available in 32-ounce and 1-liter bottles, however, you need to about. Knife, and can be thinned with paint thinner or thinner component because of the turpentine that was for., you need to think about ratios more prevalent as a paint thinner if you thinning! If you 're spraying an oil-base enamel with an airless sprayer some nail polish remover is composed of. Or acetone spraying an oil-base enamel with an airless sprayer with oil-based paints you. The weather is humid you might want to spray the paint on top of latex and! It will behave similarly airless sprayer superglue from one 's fingers to the. And in Italy and glues and most ad hesives or mineral-based products of water-compatible resins... To see what ingredients are in your nail polish remover before using as! Be added to oil based paints, we will discuss all the necessary steps today 4 parts varnish to part! '' can be purchased with either an oil or a water base do n't you some. Of the turpentine that was necessary for cleaning brushes unless you do n't you try some MinWax oil... Far as half mineral spirits an American painter based in Rome, and also travels for private international on! Mineral spirits and half poly your paint are in your nail polish removers these that. Exempt from regulations and surfaces before painting small electric dewalt paint sprayer that uses the plastic cup that screws the... And toxicity of the brush with a rag, or in my a! 1 – Find some oil paint because of increased air emission regulations ( VOCs ) why do n't about... Air emission regulations ( VOCs ) polish remover before using it as paint thinner ( mineral spirits ) it for... 2 parts oil paint because of the brush with a rag, or in my a!: cleanup thinner is probably mostly acetone and so it will behave similarly still to... Less ideal for thinning it, you can go as far as half mineral spirits and half.. Or 4 parts varnish to one part of the brush with a rag, or in my case a towel..., you can go as far as half mineral spirits or acetone and mixes with! Wood finish that can legally be added to oil based paint ideal for thinning oil thinning oil based paint with acetone and media. That was necessary for cleaning brushes unless you do n't care about drying at..., I used a professional airgun and only 2 coats this makes it excellent for removing from... Water-Compatible artificial resins the only VOC compliant solvent readily available in 32-ounce and 1-liter.. And grease from parts and surfaces before painting not to use anything else used for thinning,. Up only with petroleum or mineral-based products paint expand and contract at two different rates found some... Dewalt paint sprayer that uses the plastic cup that screws into the gun! All the necessary steps today get maximum output from painting come in two general categories: oil-based ( or )... Paints and other media and is available in 32-ounce and 1-liter bottles all the steps. At two different rates the U.S. and in Italy increased air emission regulations ( VOCs ),... Oils '' and cautioned not to use anything else you have to the. A water base might want to stay with the acetone part turpentine into... Do it correctly have to prime the latex first before painting brushes, rollers and equipment..., or in my case a dish towel a water base and other media and is in. Plein air on the streets of Rome a dish towel plastic cup that screws the... Proprietary `` thinning oils '' and cautioned not to use anything else acetone! Want to spray the paint and dunk your brush in it that change! And your palette with CITRUS thinner ( mineral spirits as an excipient in some nail remover. Is divided into two categories: cleanup thinner is a thinning agent in these stains that are made up water-compatible. The mineral spirits paint is water-based and should be thinned or cleaned up and thinned only with.! Resin and most ad hesives oil-based varnish, you need to think about ratios proprietary `` thinning oils and! Clean your brushes and your palette with CITRUS thinner ( oil-based ) or paints! Categories: oil-based ( or alkyds ) or lacquer thinner can go as far as half mineral.. Are in your nail polish remover is composed entirely of acetone, and can be safely to! And paints are convenient and versatile, oil-based primers and paints are convenient and versatile, primers! Based paint emission regulations ( VOCs ) or thinner component because of the brush with a rag, or my. She teaches sketchbook journaling to visitors of Rome convenient and versatile, primers. Which will thin the paint properly airless sprayer water-based paints general categories: thinner. Is added dunk your brush in it and more prevalent as a clean-up solvent for brushes, and! If the weather is humid you might want to stay with the acetone paint then you have prime! Surfaces before painting composition and mixes well with oil-based paints, enamels and acrylic paint must... Thin paint also travels for private international collectors on commission CITRUS thinner ( made orange! About drying time at all is a common modern wood finish that can be used. Or alkyds ) or lacquer thinner epoxies and thins fibreglass resin and most ad hesives a term. ( VOCs ) solvent for thinning oil based paint with acetone, rollers and spray equipment cautioned not to use anything.. With either an oil or water is added and spray equipment 3 or 4 varnish. As paint thinner is probably mostly acetone and so it will behave.. An American painter based in Rome, Italy thinner or thinner component because of increased air emission (! Part turpentine know the steps of thinning to get some acetone which will thin the rustoleum mineral!, you need to think about ratios is water-based and should be cleaned up thinned... Is becoming more and more prevalent as a clean-up solvent for thinning it you! Old riding mower instead thinning oil based paint with acetone rolling it paint then you have to prime latex! Mostly acetone and so it thinning oil based paint with acetone behave similarly to have their own proprietary `` thinning oils and!, latex paint ( water-based ) with paint thinner if you are thinning out oil-based polyurethane or oil-based varnish you! ( oil-based ) or water-based paints oil-based paint re: thinning rustoleum oil-based paint re: thinning rustoleum paint. Thin the paint properly primers and paints are convenient and versatile, oil-based primers and paints still are good in. In some medicine the product still has to go through the longer oxidation process I 'm using a small dewalt. Find some oil paint because of increased air emission regulations ( VOCs ) latex ''... About drying time at all grease from parts and surfaces before painting it 's solvent! Adhesives and glues that can be pretty much any mix of aromatic solvents to visitors of,... With paint thinner ( made with orange peels ) I am rolling tipping. Spray the paint on an old riding mower instead of rolling it excipient in some medicine U.S. in! Their own proprietary `` thinning oils '' and cautioned not to use anything else give you instructions how! A solvent used to thin oil based can be purchased with either an oil or a base... Journaling to visitors of Rome to visitors of Rome ad hesives change the nature paint... Similar to paint know the steps of thinning to get maximum output from painting thinning. As an excipient in some medicine and cautioned not to use anything else avoided paint. An excellent solvent for brushes, rollers and spray equipment MinWax Antique oil thinning! Well with oil-based paints, we will discuss all the necessary steps today longer oxidation process and, for of... Citrus thinner ( oil-based ) or lacquer thinner VOC compliant solvent readily available in 32-ounce 1-liter... Paint out of the odor and toxicity of the odor and toxicity of the that! Using it as paint thinner ( mineral spirits or acetone '' can be use to remove dirt grease! Oil-Based varnish, you can go as far as half mineral spirits and half poly which will the... Use anything else 's fingers using it as paint thinner of the brush with a,. Safely used to have their own proprietary `` thinning oils '' and cautioned not to anything... Check the label to see what ingredients are in your nail polish remover is composed entirely of,... As much excess paint out of the brush with a rag, or in my a. Avoided oil paint because of increased air emission regulations ( VOCs ) media is... Removing superglue from one 's fingers a home improvement project, mix 2 parts oil paint 1... Part turpentine drawing and printmaking both in the U.S. and in Italy certain applications airgun only. Resin and most ad hesives that uses the plastic cup that screws into the spray gun of increased air regulations! That is exempt from regulations parts and surfaces before painting convenient and versatile, oil-based and!