What solvents can be diluted with different types of paints? How to dilute paint before painting a car What is a solvent and why is it needed

Almost all types of colorants must be diluted before use, mixed with one or another solvent, which facilitates the application process and increases the level of protection of the coating against rust. The proportions of dilution depend on many factors.

Almost all paints need to be diluted with a thinner, but the choice of thinner depends on the paint and many other factors.

First of all, it is necessary to determine the degree of fullness of the paint. This indicator indicates the concentration of the coloring matter (the amount of solvent already present). The higher the degree of fullness, the more you can dilute. It should be noted that the process of painting with highly filled paint is much simpler, the consumption of material is reduced, it fits better, especially when it comes to painting on metal and protecting it from rust. This indicator is ranked by the following designations (from the least diluted to the most filled):

Types of coloring materials

This is the main factor that determines which paint thinner can be used.

acrylic enamel

Consists of several components. Before painting, it is mixed with a hardener and diluted with a thinner to the desired consistency. Suitable solvents for its dilution:

• R-12;
• 650 (quite soft, so suitable for many coloring products);

A versatile material, it is used not only for painting surfaces made of various materials, but also used as a primer against rust.

• toluene;
• xylene;
• white spirit (it is better to use artistic white spirit, since the usual one may contain impurities that precipitate).

Alkyd enamel can still be primed against rust

It should be noted that there are types of alkyd enamels that do not require dilution, for example, PF-15 and Extra. As an alternative to alkyd, oil-phthalic enamel can be used. By properties, it is similar to PF-115, but it does not have a pungent odor. This type has excellent consumption, bright colors and resistance to chemical and weathering.

Nitroenamels

Any type of solvent is suitable for this paint option, but it is better to use the one recommended by the manufacturer. When diluting nitro enamels, you can use the 646th (it is also suitable for soil), however, it should be noted that this is a very aggressive type of diluting agent and must be used carefully.

Water based paint

Alcohol or ether. It is important to remember that the water must be distilled, since in ordinary water, even in fresh water, there are a large amount of impurities of a salt nature, which, when the coating dries, can give a white coating. Alcohol may not be compatible with the dye, so it is necessary to check on a small amount before diluting the entire volume, if the test paint does not curdle after dilution with alcohol, then the substances are compatible and this thinner can be used.

If, when alcohol is added to the paint, it curls, then this paint is not suitable for dilution with alcohol.

Filler

The filler is the primer, the preparatory material is no less important to properly dilute than the coating that is supposed to be after it. The main task of the primer is to smooth out surface microroughnesses before painting, which is not only necessary for painting, but also protects against rust in the future.

If the primer film is too thin, then it will not be able to cover all the defects and depressions and a second layer will have to be applied, which leads to additional consumption. If the primer is too thick, its penetrating and rust-protecting ability will decrease, and again it will not be able to fill the unevenness on the surface. The material will begin to flake off and will not be able to spread, as a result of which, which will have to be removed by grinding.

Solvents that can be used for soil:

• solvent;
• xylene;
• a mixture of solvent or xylene with white spirit.

It should be noted that 20% thinner is added to one-component primers, and two-component primers are diluted in the proportions indicated by the manufacturer (2 kg to 1 kg, 3 kg to 1 kg, etc.).

When diluting paints and varnishes, you need to add thinner in small portions so as not to make a mistake with the proportions. This will reduce the consumption of both the product itself and the base material.

Insufficient amount of thinner increases paint consumption (kg/m2) and makes the coating uneven. Excess leads to smudges and stains, you have to reapply the enamel, which also increases its consumption.

To further resist rust and protect the surface to be painted, powdered metals can be added to the solution.

The proportion of added metal in powder to the paint thinner per 1 kg is determined individually, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.

When working with solvents, you must remember the precautions: use gloves and a mask, ventilate the room. If the solvent comes into contact with the skin or eyes, immediately wash these areas with warm water and soap and consult a doctor.

Repair is a laborious process, which sometimes drags on for a long time and because of this brings bad emotions. But if you have good and high-quality materials, you can quickly deal with this procedure. You always want to use materials that apply well and quickly. One of them is a water-based composition, but for some reason it may be thickened. How to dilute water-based paint? Read the breeding tips.

Water-based paint dries quickly enough. It is safe for people and animals in the painted room. It can be used for walls and ceilings. The composition is odorless, so it is pleasant to paint it, then it is not necessary to ventilate the room.

Before work, it is necessary to bring the surface to be painted into a prepared form, clean it from clearly visible defects and prime it.

The ceiling and walls, painted with paint, allow air to pass through, "breathe". After complete drying, the surface should be washed with a damp and clean cloth. After the water evaporates, a matte finish is formed.

The composition is very common and in demand due to such advantages:

• low price;
• fast drying time;
• lack of smell;
• ease of finishing work;
• the ability to change the color with the help of tints.

On the video: all about water-based paint.

How and with what to dilute?

Before staining, it is necessary to check the density of the composition. However, during repairs, it may still happen that the paint has dried or thickened a little. The question arises - how can water-based paint be diluted and should it be diluted?

The instructions that come with the kit usually indicate how to dilute water-based paint. It can be diluted with ordinary clean water at room temperature, or it can be distilled, which comes without unnecessary impurities. Alcohol is sometimes used for dilution, but in most cases the paint curls. Better play it safe and use water. How to do it correctly is written below.

How to dilute water-based paint with water

If the plane to be painted is large, and you need a lot of paint, then you can dilute it in the container in which the paint was sold. If a little finishing material is needed, then it can be diluted in a small, but still clean container. To make it more convenient to dilute water-based paint with water, use plastic containers that are easily made from ordinary bottles.

If the repair work is delayed, and the container is open, then a small amount of water can be added to the thickened composition. Remember that water is not considered a solvent. Or rather, call it a diluent.

Water-based paint should be diluted with water gradually, constantly mixing the composition to achieve the desired consistency. The paint must be completely mixed. Many people think that if emulsion paint is diluted with water, the composition will become worse. However, after application, the water evaporates and a smooth film remains on the wall, which in no way harms the appearance of the surface.

Before diluting the composition, you need to thoroughly mix the contents of the container so that all the paint has the same consistency.

The compositions are usually diluted by hand, but you can use an electric drill with a construction mixer.

Can the paint be applied to the wall after thinning? Yes, just make sure that the composition is well mixed. When diluting, it is recommended to put the container on a newspaper so as not to spoil the finished floor.

For the ceiling, all components are diluted to a thickish appearance, since the composition applied to the horizontal upper plane will splash heavily. But the paint still should not be very thick.

Good dilution in a deep and large container is facilitated by stirring with any long objects, such as a stick or board. Check if these materials are clean beforehand. Only in case of a positive answer they can be applied.

For walls, they usually make a more liquid paint, but you will have to increase the number of layers of the applied composition. Do not forget to pour the composition into a special tray.

A completely dried composition no longer makes sense to dilute. Like any building material, it has properties, and when it dries, it loses them. If the composition has the form of a paste, it is recommended to dilute it with hot water. You need to add not 5%, as is done for new paint, but about 15%. Then mix the composition, close and leave for 2 hours. This composition of the master is recommended to be diluted in proportions 1: 1 with fresh paint to increase adhesive properties.

Manufacturers advise changing the consistency of the material and diluting it for more convenient work with the composition. With the proper preparation of any building materials, the work goes quickly, difficult situations are not created, on which the final result of the repair work depends.

How to work with water-based paint (2 videos)

Paint thinning process and brands (23 photos)

Before you start painting a car or its parts, you must first prepare. If you omit the nuances of preparing equipment and cleaning the surface, then it remains only to dilute the paint. But here things may not be so clear cut. Let's figure out how to dilute paint for an airbrush.

Proprietary Blend

The bottom line is to use the manufacturer's instructions and its proprietary components. Practically - the best option, because. there are no problems with compatibility and dosage. As well as the purity of the components used. But there is one drawback - the high price.

To what extent should the paint be diluted?

First you need to establish the so-called degree of fullness of the paint. Conventionally, this is the concentration of the coloring matter, or, more simply, the amount of solvent already present. The higher the degree of fullness, the more it can be diluted. And the painting process itself with highly filled paint is easier, especially when applied to a car. This degree is ranked by the following designations (in ascending order of fullness) - LS, HD, HS, MS, UHS and VHS.

Solvent types

Solvents also differ. First of all, it's composition. Further, the degree of volatility, i.e. how fast it evaporates. It is wiser to stop here based on weather conditions. After all, even if the painting is carried out in a room with controlled parameters, the car will leave the street much earlier than the paint is completely dry. Therefore, for the cold season, it is more reasonable to use a solvent with high volatility, for hot seasons, with low volatility, and in the off-season, with medium volatility.

Save on solvent

However, you can save on the solvent by using fairly cheap domestic analogues. But this will require knowledge and information about the type of paint used, otherwise the result can be disastrous. Up to a complete repaint - when the wrong material is used.

To know what solvent to dilute the paint for the spray gun, you need to know what paint is used. At the same time, they are of the following types:

• Acrylic - the most common option, uses a special hardener;
• Alkyd enamels are rare in automotive applications;
• Nitro;
• Water-based - are becoming more common, due to environmental requirements.

acrylic enamel

Consists of several components. Before painting, it is mixed with a hardener and diluted with a solvent to the desired consistency. Considering the question - how to dilute acrylic paints, the best answer would be a special solvent intended for them. But you can save money and dilute with R-12 solvent, or 651st. However, the savings will be small, because. usually it requires only 10-15% of the volume.

How to dilute alkyd paints?

Alkyd enamels can be diluted with both P-4 solvent and pure toluene or xylene. Although the relevance of their use, in the automotive version, is gradually decreasing. With the tightening of environmental standards, it may even come to naught.

Nitroenamels

In principle, nitroenamels are not very critical to the solvent used. In any case, the one recommended by the manufacturer is better, but the 646th is often successfully used. Just keep in mind that this is a very aggressive type of solvent, so you need to work with it carefully.

We dilute water-based paint

As you can see from the name of the type of paint, it can be diluted with water, alcohol or ether. When using water, distilled water must be used. The fact is that even in fresh water there are many impurities, mostly of a salt nature. It is they who, when dried, form a white coating. In addition, it is impossible to predict how they will behave in relation to the components of the paint.

With alcohols and ethers, everything is also not simple. There may be incompatible options. In any case, it is necessary to try on a small part to make sure that the paint does not curl.

Theoretical justification

In general, it is not entirely correct, in the context of the method of their application, to call the substances used solvents. More correctly - thinners. The main difference between them is that solvents should, roughly speaking, wash off the paint well. And thinners have a different task - they must increase the fluidity of the coloring composition. But most of these kinds of substances contain a whole set of different components, from which they have universal properties. Therefore, they have long been called solvents in all applications.

Polarity

Solvents are either polar or non-polar. It depends on the orientation of the atoms inside the molecules. For example, water is a polar type. Benzene is non-polar.

However, the composition of a typical license plate solvent includes many substances, so they can also have a different degree of polarity. To know exactly how to dilute the paint for painting a car, you need to know exactly its composition. And this, due to the preservation of technical secrets by manufacturers, is rather difficult. Using a laboratory to determine the chemical composition and select a solvent is absurd. Therefore, it is more appropriate to check in practice.

To practically check, it is enough to take a small part of the paint and add a solvent to it, then mix it. If the paint has not curled up (divided into small lumps), then the use of such material is already acceptable. However, it may affect the mechanical strength of the final coating. Therefore, it is advisable to apply the diluted paint on a test surface and allow to dry, after which it is checked for its strength. If everything is in order, then you can start painting using this material.

Applications

The most common and used license solvent is 646 . However, it must be handled very carefully, because. contains a large number of different substances. In some cases, it can affect the paint negatively. But its use for washing the spray gun is fully justified. It perfectly washes the tool from the remnants of the coloring material, almost any type.

• White Spirit- this is the best option for degreasing the surface, in preparation for painting. But its use as a solvent is not the best option. But it is an excellent thinner for some types of paints, but for others it is contraindicated.
• Acetone- specific in application, both as a solvent and as a diluent. The fact is that acetone is effective only when working with polar substances. It does not react with non-polar ones, therefore, its use, in this case, is useless.

Why is it better to use branded products?

They use the same substances, hardly at a high cost. But the right ratio and a high degree of purification are already worth a lot. Those. branded solvent is exactly fully compatible with the paint, because the manufacturer knows its composition, and he can easily choose the right option, and this is especially important when painting your car with an airbrush.

In addition, purity is important for use as a diluent. Simple solvents sold in household stores can be quite heavily contaminated. Which in the end can affect the quality of the resulting paintwork.

It is also important that additives are added to specialized formulations to improve various properties. In general, these are retarders that slow down evaporation, which allows the paint to spread more efficiently. It is also common to add components that bind the pigment of the paint, which increases the stability of the characteristics.

Outcome

Of course, there is no better option than using the diluent recommended by the manufacturer. But you can try to save money by using cheaper components. With sufficient knowledge and practical verification, you can get results no worse. But the savings will remain.

Car paint thinner is one of the most important and indispensable components in painting work. There are a lot of them and only certain ones are needed for the correct dilution of the paint. So, in order not to be mistaken, how to dilute paint, acrylic or any other, we will consider the main types of solvents and their use.

In principle, diluent and solvent are the same substance. Both serve to bring the material to the required viscosity (paint, primer, liquid putty, base enamel, etc.)
The manufacturer always indicates which solvent is best used for painting cars. Each paint system has its own required hardener and thinner. Be sure to read the instructions on the back of the container before use. It will indicate what type of thinner to use, at what temperature and for what material.

It’s worth saying right away which solvents should not be used in order to dilute acrylic paint - these are organic 646, 647, 650, etc. When diluting paint or varnish with them, difficulties in painting can also arise. Use them only for washing or other tools. The price for them is not great for cleaning the most it.

Types of solvents and thinners, which one to choose?

If you have a question, how to dilute acrylic paint? There is only one answer, use any branded acrylic thinner. Even if it is of a different company than the diluted paint, varnish, primer, etc. Just don't use the ones mentioned above! Branded acrylic thinner is an order of magnitude more expensive than conventional thinners, but for high-quality repairs it is recommended to use them.

If branded acrylic is over or you want to save money, then you can use a domestic manufacturer of materials thinner P12 universal solvent. It has been successfully tested on almost all acrylic materials (lacquers, acrylics, primers, epoxies). There were no problems or defects. It can be safely considered as a universal solvent. P12 is "normal.

And so, the main criterion for choosing a thinner for diluting paint is the ambient temperature. It is necessary to determine the ambient temperature before painting and, as a result, select the right one. Temperature affects the drying time of the material. In hot weather, the solvent evaporates faster and the paint does not have time to spread. Defects appear, large shagreen, overspray. In cold weather, evaporation will be too slow, and there may be more debris.

There are three groups of acrylic thinners:

1. Slow
2. Normal
3. Fast

Therefore, for high-quality work, always choose a material for a certain air temperature.
If it is cold, then use a "fast" thinner at a temperature of 5 to 15 degrees. At normal temperatures from 15 to 25, "normal" is used. And in hot weather from 25 degrees, a slow one is needed. All numbers are indicative, see the manufacturer's instructions for exact definition. In the photo below, a series of thinners from Body 740 741 742.

It should be noted that there is no special thinner for varnish or for primer, acrylic. For their dilution, a universal acrylic thinner is used. But for the base enamel there is a solvent for the base. Although many use the usual universal.

Solvents for transition

In addition to universal ones, there is also a solvent for the transition. They are not designed to dilute varnishes and enamels. Their purpose is to make an inconspicuous transition between old and new paint or varnish. To do this, the transition thinner is applied from a paint sprayer or aerosol can to dry "dust" in the transition zone of varnish or acrylic paint.

It is extremely important to note that the solvent for transitioning over varnish or acrylic paint is "acrylic" and for transitioning through the base, it is also called "Binder" are completely different products. The binder for painting is something like a transparent base. It is used so that the metallic grain does not stick out like a "hedgehog" in the transition zone, but correctly "subsides", which will provide a high-quality invisible transition.

How to mix colors correctly.

For high-quality painting, the paintwork material must be of a certain viscosity, and in order to mix it correctly, there is a special tool:

Each has its own advantages and what to use is purely everyone's choice. The measuring ruler is reusable, it will last a very long time, unlike a measuring cup. Measuring rulers are double-sided (each side has a different mixing ratio). Basically like this: 2:1 and 4:1 and another option 3:1 and 5:1.
How to use a measuring ruler and a glass in the photo below, there is nothing complicated about it.
Be sure to read the instructions on the package before mixing paints, in what ratio to dilute the material. Below I will tell you in what proportions to mix various coatings.

Mixing acrylic paint "acrylic":

For Vika paint, this is a 4:1 ratio with a hardener and 20% -30% thinner. And for Mobihel 2:1 with hardener and 10%-20% thinner.

Base mixing:
The base paint is generally mixed 2:1. That is, the base itself and half of it is a solvent. It can also be mixed 1:1.

Varnish mixing:
With varnishes, almost the same story as with acrylics. Varnish is diluted 2:1 with hardener and thinner from 0% to 20%. Depending on what viscosity you need it.
All the above mentioned figures are approximate, they can change for certain needs and the type of work, and application technique. In general, see the instructions before use and there will be no problems.

To accurately determine the viscosity of paint, there is a special tool called a viscometer. The work of the viscometer: the viscometer is immersed in paint, taken out and noted for how long it takes to empty. As soon as the jet begins to drip, the stopwatch is stopped.
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How to properly dilute water-based paint is asked by many users. This question comes up quite often. Your right choice will guarantee a high-quality end result, as well as the durability of this coating. Thus, you will surely avoid all the complications that may lie in wait for you during construction work.

When to dilute

The composition, the component of which is water, is called a water emulsion. If you apply the solution to the surface, you will notice that almost all the liquid evaporates quickly. The material gets its properties thanks to special fillers, which create a painted surface.

The protective layer can be obtained after a short period of time, after complete drying. The duration of this process also depends on the material on which it is applied.

Modern hardware stores offer a wide range of water-based paints. When choosing, it is better to focus on brands of well-known manufacturers who value their name and ensure the quality of their products.

thick paint

If you opened a jar, and inside you saw a thickened composition or it is hard to mix. In these cases, solvents must be used. But you should not overdo it, because then the composition will begin to drain, forming smudges. The protective layer will become thinner and will not be durable, performance will drop sharply.

Difficult to apply

Excessive density can also be determined by a significant amount of the mixture that remains on the surface during staining. There are basically two ways to apply paint.

The first option is to use all kinds of brushes or construction rollers. In this case, the structure of the mixture should be sufficiently viscous. This will make it easier to manually process the ceiling or wall covering. The composition will not drain and will lay down in an even layer. If the paint is too liquid, then it will be extremely difficult to apply it.

The second option is spray guns or spray guns, which are manual or electric. Using such devices, you can work even on very large areas. They also make the whole process much easier for you and the paint lays down perfectly evenly. A feature of the tool is the spraying of the composition through a special nozzle under high pressure. That is why it is necessary to use a liquid consistency for devices. The dosage depends on the chosen tool model.

Storage violation

It will be necessary to dilute the composition if the terms or conditions of storage have been violated. This can happen if you open a jar and then close it poorly. After a while, all the dried material will be unusable. But sometimes it can be restored. To do this, you need to use special solvents, which we will discuss below. You can also dissolve the paint with PVA glue. But this is quite an expensive way.

Sometimes, after opening the jar, it is found that the composition is very liquid. In this case, you can let it stand open for a while, without a lid, so that the excess liquid evaporates.

The addition of a special hardener can also serve as a way out.

How to use water correctly

The main key to success is the choice of the most suitable diluent. For the process, completely different substances are used. Most often still use plain water. It is she who is the basis of this product.

If you have chosen water as a diluent, then you need to know exactly what parameters it must meet:

1. Primarily, You need to pay close attention to the temperatures. Most suitable liquid is at room temperature. If it is necessary to dilute the paint for outdoor use, then the temperature of the liquid should be slightly higher than the ambient temperature. It is worth remembering that in the heat it is necessary to add less liquid: the composition thickens intensely at low temperatures.
2. Best diluted with distilled water. It is not necessary to buy such a liquid, you can get it at home, there are many ways to do this. The most popular method of purifying water is boiling it. After that, the liquid should settle.

Distilled water can not only be made independently, but also bought at any hardware store. You can also buy this type of water in a pharmacy.

On the Internet, you can find advice that it is better to breed with the help of various solvents. Similar compositions are often used for oil paint. It is worth noting that this is absolutely impossible to do. This is completely wrong. If you add an oil paint thinner, the mixture will simply curdle. And worst of all, such a reaction will not happen immediately. It will take a long time and painfully to clean the walls.

Basic proportions

If you are doing the work yourself and for the first time, then you may have some difficulties. It is especially difficult to calculate proportions. First of all, you need to look for specific proportions on the label, and only then test the consistency on a test plot and make adjustments if necessary.

In order to properly dilute water-based paint, you should listen to the recommendations of experts:

1. In order to dilute the paint in the correct proportion, it is necessary to add no more than 10% of any liquid. This is one of the main rules. You can see the official instructions on the product label. The manufacturer calculates the volume as a percentage based on the properties of the base itself, as well as the absorbency of the coloring matter.
2. Breeding may be different, since the technology for performing work also varies. For example, the first coat of paint should be the thickest and therefore the minimum amount of distilled water should be added to it. The third layer should lay down well and therefore it should be as liquid as possible.
3. It is not always necessary to add distilled water for dilution. It significantly increases the overall consumption of the coloring matter.

Use a hand tool, then you can apply undiluted paint.

Some craftsmen dilute the paint to save money. At the same time, the decorative effect is significantly reduced. Laying with a spray gun from the foot is much easier, but this also increases the estimate. Be extremely careful in this matter when hiring workers.

After finishing work, there may be some amount of unused water-based paint. It should be poured from the tray into a clean plastic bottle and tightly closed with a lid.

It should be stored in a dark, cool place, but not below +5°C.

How to properly dilute the paint

You do not need to use any super-complex equipment for this. You will need the simplest devices:

• a container for diluting the coloring matter - it must be of a suitable size;
• mixer for more thorough mixing;
• construction spatula.