Have you ever thought that painting is a simple job? Maybe you’re right, but to make this job really simple, you have to have some insights into painting techniques like how to choose the suitable paint, how to make a beautiful color scheme, and above all, how to use paint thinner in a reasonable way.
Many people, especially amateur painters who are just getting started with the painting job, confess that they are in hot water when it comes to dealing with paint thinner.
Don’t be a painter who is completely in the dark about thinner and buy it depending on your preference and the price. Turn yourself into a paint expert who knows which paints and which thinner to use as this directly determines the quality of the painting job.
Sound difficult? Don’t worry! Keep reading this article and you will realize that being an expert on paint thinner is like eating a piece of cake.
How To Use Paint Thinner Effectively?
Paint thinner is a good but fastidious friend. It needs a careful procedure to fulfill its mission. Here are some steps you can apply to use paint thinner in the most efficient way. Let take a look.
Make the Right Choice
As mentioned above, paint thinner diverse in type and model. So, in order to have a perfect paint layer, you have to choose the right type. But how to call it right? It depends on the paint you use.
Each type of paint needs its own thinner. You can not apply paint thinner for water-based paint on oil-based paint. This will make your painting job become such a mess. So, remember to consult the instructions meticulously to make the right option. Believe us, The time you spend on this stage will soon pay off.
Create a Mixture of Thinner and Paint
You’ve probably heard the saying: “Just the best is best”. The above statement may be wrong in other cases but completely true to paint thinner. Each type of paint requires a specific ratio of thinner, you can find this information in the instruction of the paint you use.
Usually, the most common formula is to apply 1 amount of paint with 1 or 2 corresponding amounts of thinner.
If you mix too much thinner, the paint will be diluted, which can eventually reduce the surface coverage. At that time, the finished surface is not smooth and does not achieve the desired effect. Be careful and conform to the appropriate ratio suggested for better results!
Ensure the Thinness of the Layer
Apply one coat of paint to the surface you need to execute and make sure that the layer covers the entire surface. Check the thinness of the paint layer to see if it lives to the expectation or not.
If you still feel like that the coat of paint is not thin enough, you can add more paint thinner to the mixture. Remember that just a small amount is enough and then reapply the latter to the surface. Just like that, gradually, you will get the perfect mixture. Testing is an interesting task, isn’t it?
Use Suitable Applicators
The perfect mixture is ready, but if the process of applying it to the surface is not going smoothly, all your efforts will be in vain. For those who do not have home painting experience, choosing a paintbrush to perform painting job will surely make you wonder a lot.
You should buy high-quality paint brushes with a friendly and easy-to-use design. Make sure that they are suitable for all objects in your house. If all these requirements are met, it’s high time to get down to painting.
The Nature of Paint Thinner
The journey to become a professional who has profound knowledge in paint thinner is like a book will many chapters. So what is the first step? Well, undoubtedly, you have to know what the nature of thinner is. Let’s take a look at it’s basic information at first!
What is Paint Thinner?
In general, paint thinner has traditionally been referred to as a thinning agent because when mixed with paint, it makes the paint layer thinner. In terms of terminology, thinner is a substance used to reduce the viscosity of a mixture.
In addition to mixing to thin the paint, thinner can also be used to clean areas where the paint is dirty during construction. Paint thinner is usually a mixture of many different solvents.
When mixing thinner into the paint, it will dissolve the paint and create a new mixture with lower viscosity, making it easier to apply and creating a beautiful thin layer of paint as expected.
What may surprise you is that the paint thinner also saves the amount of paint needed. Some types of thinner even help reduce the drying time of paint layer. Great!
How Many Types of Paint Thinner are There?
Surely you have been confused when encountering thousands of different thinner brands on the market. However, when considering in more detail, paint thinner can be divided into three main types: lacquer-based, acrylic-based and enamel thinner
Thinner is a chemical mixture, and the interaction between thinner and paint is a physical and chemical process. Therefore, choosing which type of thinner to apply is not easy. You have to base on the specific instruction. Remember that random selection doesn’t work well in this case.
Is Paint Thinner Safe for Your Health?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is no!
Almost all solvents are toxic, whether natural or synthetic. Many types of paint thinner are very harmful, greatly affecting the health of users. Although they have a very pleasant aroma, they implicitly cause many harmful effects to our health such as dermatitis, blood cancer, nerve irritation or kidney damage.
Therefore, you need to be very careful when using such solvents by following the instructions for use and safety. Safety is the most important factor, right?
Tips For You
Safer Usage
As paint thinner is not entirely safe for your health, you need to have specific methods to protect yourself. Besides carefully consulting the instructions or follow the guide of skillful people, it’s highly recommended that you wear gloves and masks when exposed to paint thinner and abide by the instructions carefully.
If the solution gets into the skin and eyes, wash it out immediately with clean water and seek for medical help from your doctor. Don’t be subjective, subjectivity will cost you more than you think
Reviews Some Worth-trying Paint Thinners
The market today exists diverse types of paint thinner. Each type suits different paints and brings different effects. Let take a look at some specific types recommended below:
Thinner Mr.hobby: This type of thinner is the most popular with advantages such as fast drying, the ability to mix lacquer-based paints but the solubility is still not the best.
Thinner Gaia t-01: This type of thinner melts Gaia paint very well. It can be used to mix many lacquer-based paints. However, there i one disadvantage : it is quite difficult for amateurs to use.
Thinner Sunin7 metal th-09: This type of thinner is recommended for fast drying, it can also be used to mix a variety of enamel paints.
Spending time looking into the pros and cons of some paint thinners can help you get the expected results. So don’t mind doing this stage!
In Conclusion
We believe that after reading this article, you have gained more insights into paint thinner and the question: “ How to use paint thinner effectively” can no longer bewilder you.
Paint thinner is really a helpful tool to make your coat of paint more beautiful. However, it also has some disadvantages. So, great consideration is needed when it comes to using paint thinner for better results.
Thank you for your attention!
Peter Levick
ArchitectI am a licensed architect who is passionate about all things home improvement industries, I have been doing DIY painting projects and have developed lots of experience around home improvement over the 10 years.
