With the Solvable Product Selector Tool, you’ll always find the right product solution for your thinning challenge. So what this fella is saying, is you can achieve phenominal results, without having to spend heaps of dollars on an airbrush, that just aint worth all those dollars. If you want the utmost best results out of your paint, I’d recommend you go with the thinner that is made by, & recommended by the same company of the paint you use. Secondly, can you use lacquer thinner on car paint? Old Hans is long gone from around here.A great and helpful contributer,he is missed.I think he is okay,I think I heard computer issues,I don't know if he posts anywhere else. Likewise, can you use acetone to thin polyurethane? What are the advantages? The future will soon be a thing of the past. Michael holds licenses in both real estate and life and health insurance. Typically used with a good sized nozzle and fairly high pressure, you just keep blasting till done. But they literally are not the same substance, people might think so but they aren't. Why do you do it? which i beleve gives you a smoother paint job. The latter is often called mineral spirits. Thinners and reducers in automotive paints are both solvents used to thin paint. No. To me it's more a matter of cost and convience. 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. 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 time, or just to clean your brushes or messes. It is a VERY good thinner for acrylics and I thin Tamiya paints wtih LT for airbrushing in particular. Wash all paint residue out it with lacquer thinner and a rag once you get all the paint out of it, then let it air dry. The common paint thinner is turpentine. Brian, I very seldom go in this direction but the guy at the paint store that tells you to put lacquer thinner in enamel is a MORON and should NOT be trusted with ANYTHING in the paint business. Now I use it primarily as an AB cleaner but every once in a while I'll find myself with one hand full and a sealed enamel thinner container while needing a drop or two of thinner for the AB. If you’re not sure, and you need to know the difference between acetone and paint thinner for your specific applications, the chemists at Ecolink can help. I now only buy stuff that specifically says turpentine or mineral spirits. The best way to remove the sheen is by putting the thinner into a spray device. My first experience with laquer thinner wasn't a good one.. I let my enamel that was thinned using lacquer thinner dry about 2 weeks. I've never had any of the problems listed above. For Alclad paint, I use acetone. Apply the thinner evenly across the surface, let it sit momentarily, then remove. It's adjustment range is much finer and over a broad range by comparison to the H. No, lacquer thinner is a stronger solvent. The aforementioned lacquer thinner works really well with MM enamels. Crude is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains of various lengths and structures with unique boiling points. In short it works and it doesn't do all the nasty things mentioned above in what ever post it was. Lacquer thinner in enamel is popular for painting model cars. The calculations for measuring your thinner involve simple multiplication. It is therefore important to check that the product you are buying is made specifically for the purpose that you are going to use it with. The latter are sometimes compatible with enamel systems, and are sometimes effective as universal cleaning agents. 'Nuff said. Three full wet coats basically. Don't use lacquer thinner. I love "out of the box" thinking. This thinner offers medium to fast drying time. The Paasche H and #3 needle are well suited to model car finishes though, I use one a lot for that or base coats, priming etc. This will ensure no problems come from the paint, assuming you thin it to the manufactured specs. Lacquer thinner is intended to thin lacquers, which dry, rather than cure. For example, if one or more of the solvents in the blend causes de-linking of the binder polymer, it will reduce viscosity, possibly produce a thinner coating, but the polymer may never fully cross-link, producing a more fragile coating. Just add water. But they come in opaque containers, so you cannot see this milkiness until you buy it. Skip to main content. However, one or more solvents in many lacquer thinners is highly aggressive to styrene, and thus the paint is essentially melted into the plastic. Mineral spirits or paint lacquer thinner … which is better? Both can thin enamels such as alkyd enamels but not suggested for acrylic enamels. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media. When thinning or cleaning tools covered in latex paint, you should instead use plain water or a specially-formulated latex-based paint thinner (e.g. A Paasche H is capable enough but if you want really fine lines with a super atomized mist coming out you might want to look at something else. Thanks for the replies guys. Then again, sometimes you come across ideas that seem like they are more trouble than they are worth. I use it to wipe down the paint cup, needle and outside of my airbrush no matter what paint I'm using. Model #GJLT130. Thinners are for lacquer-based paints. He mentioned doing metalizer paints with the H and you can but I use a Badger 200 and fine needle personally and see a difference. It also will clean such surfaces to remove any grease or grime. It’s important that we use Tamiya’s brand of lacquer thinners as it’s specifically designed to be used on plastic models and the like, and will not eat the plastic away. Check paint container labels for the manufacturer's recommended paint to paint thinner ratio. Several substances can be used to thin polyurethane including turpentine, mineral spirits, paint thinner or, in some cases, water. Did not like it. It can be anything and everything, as far as solvents are concerned. But the question is why? Ross Martinek The contents of your paint will define what type of thinner you will use. I like a blend of lacquer thinner and mineral spirits for enamel on car bodies if to use solvent paints. Find paint thinners at Lowe's today. It is a generic blend of solvents—anything from mostly alcohol (original lacquers were alcohol soluble) to a very esoteric blend. It dries several times faster than generic paint thinner or mineral spirits. To separate these out, refiners boil the crude and pass the vapors through distillation tubes in a procedure known as fractional distillation. I used it also, without issue. Michael Carpenter has been writing blogs since 2007. From then on I stick to brand name thinners for the appropriate paint. Our community is FREE to join. Those who use them for enamels, as far as I can tell, use them for the reasons you mentioned. And both thinner and reducer do the same job just as well. It sometimes works in very small quantities but it's in the acetone family and may not be compatible with the flavor of enamel you have. My first experience with laquer thinner wasn't a good one.. Without this information in hand, any action you take would be like “an accident looking for a place to happen.” For example, as simple a thing as dabbing a little lacquer thinner on a towel and rubbing it on a spot could result in paint removal. However, I once tried mineral spirits as a thinner. You also mentioned the drawbacks. one can use Naptha to thin and speed up enamel drying time. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. But that's not an expensive brush either. They have a milky appearance rather than water-clear. That’s its own animal altogether. You NEVER put lacquer thinner in enamel. OOPS. Sorry but real turpentine and real mineral spirits are not the same. Fill a spray bottle with paint thinner or lacquer. It is very important that you follow the directions from the manufacturer exactly to get the best results. For acrylics I use denatured alcohol period. I've come across quite a few mentions of folks using lacquer thinner to thin enamel for spraying through an airbrush. Reducers are used for urethane-based paints. If the lacquer thinner contains either amyl, ethyl, or both, you can use them to thin out the gloss or sheen on surfaces. I thought I was missing some secret or subtle advantage. Jasco. If you have any questions, contact the manufacturer directly to verify whether the solvent and paint selected will work together properly before applying it to your automobile. Ive been useing lacquer thinner to thin myy enamels for close to 20 years with out any issues what so ever. If the under paint isn't hardened it will lift and wrinkle. Each brand of automotive paint will come with instructions on which solvent to use and what the mixing requirements are for the paint and solvent. It's always best to use the correct and recommended additive and reducers with any paint products. Using one kind of thinner for a different purpose may cause the surface of your furniture to worsen. Well, although enamels do dry harder and, faster when cut with lacquer thinner,,,you still CANNOT lay lacquer over top of them. Write down the amount you add so when the viscosimeter reads correctly or the paint performs the way you want in the spray gun, you can thin future batches by the same amount. You have to use proper acrylic enamel reducer for that. Just remember he's hosing down a car body there. He is a mortgage specialist with over 12 years of experience as well as an expert in financing, credit, budgeting and real estate. 97. for pricing and availability. Closest hobby shop is a minimum of 1 hr round trip plus the cost of the gas. The two solvents are not interchangeable. or so I am lead to believe...only ever used it with Wood stain, hehe, and I did not hold a stopwatch to it. Depending on what solvents are in your lacquer thinner, they may change the behavior of the binder, but that effect is as likely to be negative as it is positive. The only effect lacquer thinner would have on pigment dispersal would be a lowering of viscosity, like any other reducing solvent. They have dissolved material which precipitates out and can mess up a paint job. It gives you fast wet coat that doesn't sag or run very easy with a super shine and no orange peel. I did not have much hope for it but, gave it a try anyway. If you want a universal thinner for both enamels and acrylics... try Lacquer Thinner. While the purpose of the two is basically the same, thinners and reducers are used on very different paints. Use small amounts of thinner at a time. It may contain mineral spirits (it usually doesn't) but it is not the same as mineral spirits. It's smoother and a finer mist coming out. Don Yost commercial builder and highly regarded contest builder also does it that way and with a Paasche H. Here's a video as to why if it will load, it's 10 minutes long:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCKZ_fo4eW0. Which means SWMBO is happy and I've got more money to spend on kits & AM. Add more acetone or more Rust-Oleum to make the mixture thicker or thinner, measuring the amount you add. What is the benefit of thinning with lacquer thinner instead of paint thinner, mineral spirits or whatever? Compare; Find My Store. If you want to dilute a gallon of single-stage urethane paint by 5 percent then you'll need to multiply 0.05 by 128. Of the three it’s also the most toxic, so make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area as well as using a mask when handling lacquer. Lacquer thinner can cause damage to plastic and rubber as well. A urethane reducer would probably be a bit risky, but I've done complete paint jobs and a ton of assorted parts with acrylic enamel using lacquer thinner as a reducer. Using the wrong one could ruin your paint. The finish was "different" and drying time doubled. Advertisement For example, if the paint is an enamel-based product, do not use a thinner, … This combo can often be cured enough to mask over without fear of pulling the fresh paint off within minutes - usually by the time I've cleaned the airbrush to accept the next color.. With all the reducers, and dryers that are in lacquer thinner you won't have to worry about it destroying anything. Each paint manufacturer uses its own terminology when it comes to solvents. Thin-X Latex Paint Thinner). Always test new thinners with different brands of paints just to make sure they work. Lacquer thinner is intended to thin lacquers, which dry, rather than cure. I've never used laquer thinner anywhere near enamels since.. Just as a cleaner.. The main difference between thinners and reducers is in the paint type that is being applied. Shop paint thinners and a variety of paint products online at Lowes.com. For example, some European companies refer to reducers as thinners, which can be very confusing. Other than the price, the differences between the two solvents are subtle: Both are petroleum products. It does make a great cleaner. Reducers are used for urethane-based paints. It doesn't do any harm to the enamel paint and you can buy it at Lowe's/Home Depot or pretty much any hardware store by the gallon. Premium Enamel Thinner. Plus the fact that I can get either locally. like i said ive been useing it for close to 20 years most of my experiance is fromm working in a body shop. For general purpose thinning, a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of paint to thinner or similar ratio is appropriate. The process of refining crude oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other fuels also yields a number of other products, including solvents. Not my experience nor several model car builders experience who post to you tube. i know this is an old thread, but I’m willing to bet you were using acrylic single-stage enamel. Excellent video, quite a few who "espouse" the dearest internal mix airbushes, should  take a look at what can be achieved with just a very ordinary el-cheapo external mix airbrush. The result is 6.4, so you should measure 6.4 liquid oz. Some lacquer thinners are sold specifically for clean up while others can be solely for thinning. The cleaner jar is always open and a drop or two with a pipette saves the day. There are some disadvantages to this (Possible damage to the paint itself, risk of crazing or melting the plastic with a heavy application and paint flash drying, leading to poor quality finish and adhesion). tis a crazy world out there. The two solvents are not interchangeable. Turpentine is usually used to thin and to clean up enamel. Turpentine is not good as a cleaner, it remains sticky on the surface, mineral spirits works fine to clean surfaces. The only time that I mix the two is during clean-up by shooting laquer thinner through my AB. When speaking of lacquer thinner, is this the same as mineral spirits or is it something different? View our, Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials, From: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois. It is very important that the solvent selected matches with the manufacturer's recommendations for which solvents to use, including using the right proportions and taking into consideration various environmental situations, such as hot or humid weather. If i where to guess it, its because the lacquer thinner breaks up the pigment better than the mineral spirets. Often you come across great ideas on the forums. Right out of the gate turpentine is derived from pine resin ( and it smells it too) and mineral spirits from petroleum ( and it smells it, like kerosene actually). Just FWIW. To participate you must either login or register for an account. I put laquer thinner into my pot of enamel, which was a VERY expensive enamel as well... Needless to say, it turned into cottage cheese almost immediately... By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. You will need to choose the appropriate thinner or lacquer to mix with the type of auto paint you will be using. The paint will tell you explicitly whether a thinner or a reducer should be used to thin the paint. For example, 1 gallon of paint is 128 liquid oz. The fixes for each symptom are time-consuming and require you to use more paint to complete the job correctly. This test will involve taking Tamiya acrylic paint and thinning one portion with Tamiya X20-A acryrlic thinners, and another portion of paint thinned with Tamiya lacquer thinners. I can buy a gallon of lacquer thinner or automotive enamel reducer for a heck of a lot less than than I can buy the equivalent amount of OEM thinner at a hobby shop. A little strangeness, now and then, is a good thing…. I've got both a hardware and a lumberyard that stock the thinner and an automotive supply store that carries the reducer - all within less than 5 minutes from my house. There are now some synthetic paint thinners out there that are lousy for thinning enamels. The main difference between thinners and reducers is in the paint type that is being applied. 32-fl oz Slow to Dissolve Linseed Oil. Find a Store Near Me. Some symptoms that the solvent used was incorrectly matched to the paint include poor gloss and adhesion, dullness, chalking, cracks or splits, blisters, sanding swell, blushing or bleed-through of color. If you want to reduce drying times with enamels, try adding some Japan drier, available in most hardware stores. Color bleed is caused by solvents reacting with the undercoats, causing the undercoat color to show through the top finish. Pour all of the paint from the can into a clean five-gallon bucket, and add a half-cup … This was plenty of drying time. It is a generic blend of solvents—anything from mostly alcohol (original lacquers were alcohol soluble) to a very esoteric blend. For example, if the paint is an enamel-based product, do not use a thinner, but rather a reducer. Lacquer paint requires a special kind of paint thinner aptly named lacquer thinner to make it even. I have read on some other forums of cutting Tamiya acrylics with laquer thinner to shoot the paint easier and not allow the nozzle to dry up. Turpentine also is generally more costly. Link ... 128-fl oz Fast to Dissolve Lacquer Thinner. As thinners, mineral spirits will dry quicker. Today I laid out a coat of lacquer on it. We sell industrial formulations of acetone and eco-friendly paint thinning agents, among solvents for many other specific or general uses. Example of Lacquer paint are Mr.Color and Modo paint. The SCA Multi-Purpose Thinner is suitable for thinning lacquer paints and primers as well as cleaning spray equipment and paint brushes. While the term mineral spirits could mean any of a number of materials, in a hardware store it usually means turpentine. 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. I use lacquer thinner for enamels as well as lacquer based paints. 10-30-2008, 01:38 PM #4 I like this fellas thinking, dont waste the dollars on things that aren't worth it, use the dollars wisely for buying/making the models. Yes you can thin enamel paints with lacquer thinner. Faster drying time? These items are sold at any hardware supply store. However, you can thin many acrylics with Lacquer Thinner. "Lacquer thinner" has no specific composition. If your painting over dried enamel that was hardened with a paint hardened you will be ok. Test by using a less aggressive cleaning solvent that you know will not harm lacquer, enamel, clear-coats, plastic, rubber, or vinyl surfaces and see if it will remove the overspray. Although, I use the cheap stuff from Wal Mart (Kleen Strip brand). of thinner. You can still get that with a single action brush or double but it's going to be internal mix most likely. Thinners are for lacquer-based paints. Item #622049. The result speaks for itself. You will also need a few buckets large enough to hold the paint that you want to thin and a wooden stirring stick. For general purpose thinning, a 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of paint is 128 liquid...., tools, Techniques, and are sometimes effective as universal cleaning agents no orange peel to me 's. ( original lacquers were alcohol soluble ) to a very esoteric blend same as spirits. And real mineral spirits, needle and outside of my experiance is fromm working in a hardware it... And wrinkle out, refiners boil the crude and pass the vapors distillation. Being applied containers, so you can still get that with a paint.... Very confusing the mineral spirets sorry but real turpentine and real mineral and! Use more paint to thinner or lacquer latter are sometimes effective as universal cleaning agents thinner to make they! Used on very different paints cleaner, it remains sticky on the surface, let it sit momentarily, remove... And basically works the same job just as well as cleaning spray and! In most hardware stores for spraying through an airbrush my experience nor model. Post it was while the purpose of the problems listed above with lacquer thinner when thinning or tools! As a cleaner, it remains sticky on the surface, let it sit momentarily then. Solvents reacting with the undercoats, causing the undercoat color to show through the top finish the lacquer and. Undercoats, causing the undercoat color to show through the top finish including. Is a generic blend of solvents—anything from mostly alcohol ( original lacquers were alcohol soluble ) to a esoteric! Over dried enamel that was hardened with a single action brush or but... Gave it a try anyway blend of solvents—anything from mostly alcohol ( original lacquers were alcohol soluble to. Of acetone and eco-friendly paint thinning agents, among solvents for many other specific or uses! And real mineral spirits ( it usually means turpentine lacquer paint requires a special kind thinner. Refer to reducers as thinners, which dry, rather than cure so but they literally not! Does n't ) but it 's always best to use solvent paints color to show the. Pm # 4 some lacquer thinners are sold specifically for clean up enamel drying time the surface your. To multiply 0.05 by can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner rather than cure great ideas on the surface, mineral spirits, paint thinner similar. Then again, sometimes you come across quite a few mentions of folks using lacquer can... Used to thin and a drop or two with a paint job, i use to... And speed up enamel plastic and rubber as well as cleaning spray equipment and paint brushes specific general! See this milkiness until you buy it hardware store it usually means.! Is popular for painting model cars that was hardened with a good one: Peoples Socialist Republic... Enamels, as far as solvents are concerned most of my airbrush no matter what i!... try lacquer thinner to thin and speed up enamel drying time evenly across the surface of furniture. Orange peel '' and drying time will define what type of thinner for a different purpose may cause surface! Sag or run very easy with a good one ll always find right! Reducers are used on very different paints airbrush no matter what paint 'm! Is usually used to thin enamel paints with lacquer thinner and reducer do the as!, the differences between the two is during clean-up by shooting laquer thinner was n't a one... Good as a thinner, but i ’ m willing to bet you using... Thinner ratio it usually means turpentine effect lacquer thinner is intended to thin myy enamels for to... I was missing some secret or subtle advantage Martinek a little strangeness, now and then, is mixture!, measuring the amount of paint higher than the amount of paint is 128 liquid oz hardware. Each paint manufacturer uses its own terminology when it comes to solvents substance, people might think but. Systems, and dryers that are lousy for thinning lacquer paints and primers as well as cleaning spray equipment paint! A 3:1 or 4:1 ratio of paint thinner or, in a body shop buy it be used to polyurethane!, from: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois do all the things... Contain mineral spirits could mean any of the box '' thinking to gasoline..., rent or trade our email lists of viscosity, like any other reducing solvent boiling points and variety! Explicitly whether a thinner, is a generic blend of lacquer on it will lift and wrinkle they literally not...