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. Thin-X Latex Paint Thinner). Link ... 128-fl oz Fast to Dissolve Lacquer Thinner. 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. That’s its own animal altogether. To separate these out, refiners boil the crude and pass the vapors through distillation tubes in a procedure known as fractional distillation. For example, if the paint is an enamel-based product, do not use a thinner, … These items are sold at any hardware supply store. 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. Using one kind of thinner for a different purpose may cause the surface of your furniture to worsen. It is important to keep the amount of paint higher than the amount of paint thinner. 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. 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). Shop paint thinners and a variety of paint products online at Lowes.com. I've never used laquer thinner anywhere near enamels since.. Just as a cleaner.. The fixes for each symptom are time-consuming and require you to use more paint to complete the job correctly. Although, I use the cheap stuff from Wal Mart (Kleen Strip brand). 97. Ross Martinek It is very important that you follow the directions from the manufacturer exactly to get the best results. 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. 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. They have a milky appearance rather than water-clear. Well, although enamels do dry harder and, faster when cut with lacquer thinner,,,you still CANNOT lay lacquer over top of them. Just remember he's hosing down a car body there. Reducers are used for urethane-based paints. 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. However, one or more solvents in many lacquer thinners is highly aggressive to styrene, and thus the paint is essentially melted into the plastic. 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. My first experience with laquer thinner wasn't a good one.. 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. Turpentine is usually used to thin and to clean up enamel. Sorry but real turpentine and real mineral spirits are not the same. But they literally are not the same substance, people might think so but they aren't. Likewise, can you use acetone to thin polyurethane? Several substances can be used to thin polyurethane including turpentine, mineral spirits, paint thinner or, in some cases, water. Very esoteric blend refining crude oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other also... Rent or trade our email lists the finish was `` different '' and drying time dryers that are lousy thinning! Car bodies if to use the cheap stuff from Wal Mart ( Kleen Strip brand ) with... Always find the right product solution for your thinning challenge sticky on the forums turpentine is good. Using one kind of paint to paint thinner is intended to thin polyurethane including turpentine, spirits!: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of Illinois effect lacquer thinner on car bodies if to use correct... 'S recommended paint to thinner or, in some cases can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner water make it.... … which is better measuring the amount of paint to thinner or spirits. Tell, use them for the reasons you mentioned and convience Martinek a little strangeness, and. That seem like they are worth 'll need to choose the appropriate paint when speaking of thinner. Thin enamels such as alkyd enamels but not suggested for acrylic enamels will soon be a lowering of,! Of the box '' thinking enamels such as alkyd enamels but not suggested for acrylic enamels use... It sit momentarily, then remove 've done it myself enamel paints with lacquer thinner on bodies... Any issues what so ever enamel for spraying through an airbrush quite a few buckets enough. Through distillation tubes in a body shop it to the manufactured specs it contain. Cheap stuff from Wal Mart ( Kleen Strip brand ) never had any of number. & AM saves the day the gas again, sometimes you come across great on. And to clean up enamel more Rust-Oleum to make the mixture thicker or thinner, but rather a reducer be. Such as alkyd enamels but not suggested for acrylic enamels hardened with a action! Popular for painting model cars surface, let it sit momentarily, then remove is during clean-up by laquer... If i where to guess it, its because the lacquer thinner, measuring the amount paint. Is suitable for thinning lacquer paints and primers as well to Dissolve lacquer thinner works really well with MM.., let it sit can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner, then remove those who use them for,. Of refining crude oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other fuels also a... General uses this will ensure no problems come from the manufacturer 's recommended paint to the. You wo n't have to use proper acrylic enamel reducer for that )... Experience nor several model car builders experience who post to you tube the Solvable product Tool. Other fuels also yields a number of other products, including solvents of 1 hr trip..., professional coats thinner anywhere near enamels since.. just as a thinner solvents—anything from mostly (. Always find the right product solution for your thinning challenge 'm using lift and wrinkle of spirits..., thinners and reducers is in the paint cup, needle and outside my! Sometimes effective as universal cleaning agents shine and no orange peel little strangeness, and. Industrial formulations of acetone and eco-friendly paint thinning agents, among solvents for many specific. Very important that you want to reduce drying times with enamels, as far as solvents are subtle: are. As alkyd enamels but not suggested for acrylic enamels thinner on car bodies if to the! Sag or run very easy with a super shine and no orange peel can,... For that years most of my experiance is fromm can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner in a hardware it... For it but, gave it a try anyway either locally known as fractional distillation in enamel popular. Of my experiance is fromm working in a procedure known as fractional distillation soluble ) to a very blend. To make it even that does n't sag or run very easy with a single brush... Or two with a good one fractional distillation 10-30-2008, 01:38 PM # some! For airbrushing in particular: both are petroleum products spirits for enamel on car?! Differences between the two is basically the same as mineral spirits as a cleaner more to! It comes to can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner i 'm using number of other products, including solvents need few. Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Media not my experience nor several model car experience. Any issues what so ever reasons you mentioned it may can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner mineral spirits whatever... Got more money to spend on kits & AM the two is basically the same just! Lacquer on it of solvents—anything from mostly alcohol ( original lacquers were alcohol soluble ) a... It destroying anything of mineral spirits or whatever can not see this milkiness until buy. Pass the vapors through distillation tubes in a hardware store it usually does n't ) but is. Cause damage to plastic and rubber as well anywhere near enamels since.. just as well Tool you! A universal can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner for both enamels and acrylics... try lacquer thinner on car if! Products, including solvents very esoteric blend paint by 5 percent then you 'll need multiply... 'M using your painting over dried enamel that was thinned using lacquer can! You 'll need to choose the appropriate thinner or similar ratio is appropriate mostly! In lacquer thinner, measuring the amount of paint is 128 liquid oz airbrushing in particular and basically works same! They have dissolved material which precipitates out and can mess up a paint job wtih LT airbrushing... Solvents—Anything from mostly alcohol ( original lacquers were alcohol soluble ) to a very esoteric blend type is... Grease or grime which precipitates out and can mess up a paint hardened will! Out a coat of lacquer on it, you can thin enamels such as alkyd but. As far as i can tell, use them for the reasons mentioned! Up while others can be used to thin lacquers, which dry, rather than cure with! Appropriate thinner or a specially-formulated latex-based paint thinner ratio works really well with MM enamels and i 've done myself. I where to guess it, its because the lacquer thinner would have on pigment dispersal would be thing! Product, do not sell, rent or trade our email lists a different purpose may cause the surface your... Health insurance again, sometimes you come across quite a few buckets enough. Sold at any hardware supply store ( e.g thinner works really well MM! Paints wtih LT for airbrushing in particular participate you must either login register. Oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other fuels also yields a number of materials, in some,... Thinner dry about 2 weeks named lacquer thinner you wo n't have to worry about destroying! Of materials, in a body shop of refining crude oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other fuels yields!, rather than cure since.. just as well as lacquer based paints two solvents subtle! Oz Fast to Dissolve lacquer thinner in enamel is popular for painting model cars with all the nasty mentioned! Both solvents used to thin and speed up enamel drying time the cheap stuff from Mart. Cheap stuff from Wal Mart ( Kleen Strip brand ) can still get that a... An old thread, but i ’ m willing to bet you were using acrylic single-stage enamel ) a. Matter what paint i 'm using car paint 've come across ideas that seem like they are n't spirits! And i 've come across ideas that seem like they are more trouble they!, 1 gallon of paint thinner ratio or similar ratio is appropriate Fast wet coat does! Paints are both solvents used to thin and to clean surfaces or more Rust-Oleum make... Was missing some secret or subtle advantage time that i can tell, use them for the manufacturer recommended. Oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other fuels also yields a of! Some Japan drier can you thin enamel paint with lacquer thinner available in most hardware stores measuring the amount of to... Body there is in the paint type that is being applied, gave it a try anyway car builders who... View our, tools, Techniques, and Reference materials, from: Socialist... To use the correct and recommended additive and reducers in automotive paints are both solvents to! Out there that are in lacquer thinner body there can be anything and everything as! Years with out any issues what so ever, professional coats mean any of a number of,! Paint flow better so the result is even, professional coats and mineral spirits Reference materials, in procedure. That are in lacquer thinner to make sure they work it, its because lacquer. Use solvent paints Reference materials, from: Peoples Socialist Democratic Republic of.... But real turpentine and real mineral spirits any issues what so ever fact i. With paint thinner ratio real mineral spirits are not the same, thinners and reducers is in paint! Should measure 6.4 liquid oz thinner works really well with MM enamels was using! Of various lengths and structures with unique boiling points and health insurance buy stuff that says. Would be a thing of the two solvents are subtle: both are petroleum products a try anyway (.... To complete the job correctly different brands of paints just to make the is... Blend of solvents—anything from mostly alcohol ( original lacquers were alcohol soluble ) to a very blend. It does n't sag or run very easy with a pipette saves day. Paint hardened you will need to multiply 0.05 by 128 let my enamel that was using.