Cleaning paintbrushes or thinning paint for a furniture refresh typically requires no more than four to six ounces of solvent, so you shouldn’t need to purchase either mineral spirits or paint. Mineral spirits is great for cleaning paint brushes and wooden furniture. A small amount of mineral spirits can clean and polish furniture that has a layer of varnish, shellac, or lacquer. When used on tiles, it can clear scratches and skid marks. When painting, it is great for erasing mistakes. While both paint thinner and mineral spirits are petroleum-based solvents, mineral spirits is the more refined of the two. This increases its effectiveness while reducing odor, volatile organic. With most of the primer scraped away, and the rest of it completely softened, I followed up with my normal routine for cleaning oil-based products — pour mineral spirits onto the brush, work in thoroughly, squeeze as much out into a paper towel as possible, put a generous amount of grease-fighting dishwashing liquid onto the brush, work into.
- Cleaning A Paint Brush With Mineral Spirits Using
- Isdinceutics Mineral Brush
- How To Clean Your Paint Brush With Mineral Spirits
- Cleaning A Paint Brush With Mineral Spirits For Sale
Solvents and thinners are vital requirements for painting. Acetone and mineral spirits are two of the most common ones used. They are similar, but there are different uses where each one is best.
Confusing the matter is that many of the solvents go by similar names, but have different ingredients. And, some solvents have vastly different branded names but are, mostly, the same product.
While they are both solvents that are used as paint thinners, they are not the same thing. Mineral spirits are petroleum-based and are a common solvent for painting.
Acetone is also known as propanone and is an organic (carbon-containing) molecule made from combining benzene and propylene . After several intermediary steps, acetone is the remaining molecule. It is commonly used to remove fingernail polish and as a paint remover. Oil-based paints require solvents. From cleaning brushes to thinning paint, you’ll be forced to decide between a few different solvents.
In This Article I’ll Discuss:
Acetone or Mineral Spirits for Thinning Paint?
Mineral spirits are better for thinning paint. It’s is similar to paint in its composition and mixes well with oil-based paints. It does well for thinning the material.
Acetone is more of a paint stripping material that will change the nature of paint. This makes it excellent for removing paint, but less ideal for thinning.
Acetone or Mineral Spirits for Paint Removal?
Mineral spirits are incredibly affordable and work well for preparing a surface for painting. Acetone is a more aggressive paint thinner, thanks to its benzene origins. If you have old, dried-on paint that you are attempting to remove, acetone has the added advantage of being able to destroy the paint’s adhesion.
Acetone is one of the only solvents that can remove dried paint.
Should You Use Acetone or Mineral Spirits for Thinning Rustoleum?
Rustoleum is a brand name that is well known for preventing rust, by proactively applying it to exposed metal, you can keep metal products from rusting.
If you plan on spraying Rustoleum, it is recommended to thin it with acetone. If you are applying it with a brush, it will not need to be thinned, but it is still handy to have acetone on hand for cleaning up any runs or over application.
Is Acetone or Mineral Spirits better for cleaning?
Both of these make an excellent solvent for paint prep and cleaning a surface before painting. Acetone tends to be more aggressive and can remove old, dried paint.
Mineral spirits are generally more affordable and are readily available. Another good choice for gentle cleaning is denatured alcohol. Naphtha is another solvent that is a good step between mineral spirits and the more aggressive acetone.
![Brush Brush](/uploads/1/3/7/4/137447717/837422098.jpeg)
When you are done painting, many folks use mineral spirits or lacquer thinner to clean up their paintbrushes and equipment.
Should You Use Acetone Or Goof Off?
Goof Off is a handy product that is sold for the removal of paint and other sticky substances such as sticker residue. Their paint remover can be used to remove finishes and is generally high in acetone. Some of their older formulations used to employ Xylenes instead of acetone, but as paint has improved, the Goof Off brans has switched to the more aggressive acetone solvent.
What is Acetone?
Acetone is a colorless and flammable liquid. Also known as propanone, it is commonly used in the manufacturing of plastics and as an industrial solvent.
Acetone has the unique advantage of being mixable with water. This makes it an excellent and unique choice as a cleaning agent.
You’ll commonly find acetone on the bathroom shelf as a nail polish remover. It works well for removing nail polish as well as ink. Walking through the mall, you can smell the nail polish long before you reach it.
Cleaning A Paint Brush With Mineral Spirits Using
Aidra fox twitter pics. Acetone has the risk of being highly flammable. Do not smoke when using acetone, and be sure your hands are thoroughly cleaned before you light a cigarette.
The fact that there is a benzene ring of carbon atoms ion acetone makes this an organic molecule. According to the scientific classification, acetone is classified as a ketone in a carbonyl group.
Acetone is clear, aromatic (strong smelling), and boils at 133 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use it to thin polyester resins and dissolve two-part epoxies, fiberglass resin, or superglue. It is even used as an element in food additives to trigger certain metabolic processes, such as the liver breaking down fat.
What are Mineral Spirits?
Mineral spirit is a by-product of the petroleum distillation process. It is referred to as the “white spirit” of this process due to the lightweight nature of the solvent.
As a hydrocarbon, it does have similarities to acetone.
Mineral spirits gained popularity as a replacement for turpentine. Turpentine is made from tree sap, and mineral spirits were more effective and readily available, lending to their selection as a turpentine substitute.
There is a wide array of uses for mineral spirits from cleaning metal shavings and oils in a manufacturing environment, to removing rust from old metal with steel wool and degreasing and cleaning machinery.
Advantages of Acetone
Acetone has the advantage of being one of the few solvents that can remove dried paint.
It is good for degreasing equipment and for cleaning surfaces before painting.
As a solvent, it helps to break down paint and grease from the surface of plastic, glass, and wood. When dealing with stubborn grease or old paint, you can let it sit for a few moments as it can dissolve the gunk and becomes a more effective degreaser.
Disadvantages of Acetone
Acetone has the disadvantage of being harmful to the skin, to the lungs, eyes, and general health. One should wear gloves when using acetone.
Advantages of Mineral Spirits
There is less odor to it than there is to acetone due to a lower amount of VOCs or volatile organic compounds, making it better for users who are bothered by the strong smells of acetone. And, while it is still not recommended for contact with the skin, it is less likely to burn the skin or harm it if accidentally exposed.
Chronic inhalation exposure to mineral spirits is known to cause damage to the brain tissue and nervous system. Odorless mineral spirits are extremely popular for classroom use when doing art instruction of oil paints.
It is also not as good for stripping dried paint but serves an important role in paint thinning.
Is has a higher flashpoint than acetone as well, which makes it less flammable.
What Are Lacquer Thinners?
Lacquer thinners are similar to the other solvents. It is good for degreasing and cleaning. There is more customization to their formulations, which means that one lacquer thinner might be good for thinning paint while another one is better suited for cleaning or paint removal.
Lacquer thinners often contain acetone and are highly-flammable.
With all of these products, it would be wise to wear a respirator, but few painters ever do.
Conclusion
Acetone is one of the more aggressive types of solvents and is great for stripping paint. Mineral spirits are gentler and good for thinning paint and day-to-day use.
Isdinceutics Mineral Brush
Knowing the difference can allow you to choose the gentler mineral spirits when cleaning a surface that you don’t want to be damaged, and the more aggressive acetone for when you need to remove old paint.
Author:
Zachary Drumm
![Spirits Spirits](/uploads/1/3/7/4/137447717/676108106.jpg)
Hey! My name is Zachary Drumm! This site allows me to try these tools out, piddle around in the garage, and create fresh content for you. When it comes to tools, home improvement, and being a “shade tree mechanic,” you’ve come to the right spot.
Haven't any of you had any professional training at all?
I don't want to steal your thunder Kelly, but this is not Best Practice.
Don't ever put paint thinner into plastic. It will melt most kinds. Why risk a mistake? Old glass salsa jars exist for brush cleaning. label one, put some glass marbles like the flower arranging ones into the bottom to work the brush against. (Plain, not coated with shiny stuff. It'll dissolve) Trying to clean oil based paints out of brushes by just stirring them around doesn't work. If you're desperate a crumpled piece of window screen will work too but it's hard on bristles so this is not a default. Paint thinner is very flammable and an ugly toxin so you want to keep it stingy and the stuff needs to go to Hazardous Waste Disposal. Wipe those brushes really well!
If you're doing fine arts painting go buy a proper brush cleaning pot. A big size one would be good for pro house painters. Solvent sits in it for weeks and it has a sieve to work the bristles over. Paint solids drop below it. The top keeps fumes in and evaporation almost nill over weeks. Minimal exposure, clean brushes. Now wash them! I wash up to thirty brushes a day in the studio; it's just doing the dishes.
Do NOT use a surfactant/ detergent 'soap'. Use a real soap, a chemically designated soap, with oil or fat in it. You can put it on a cellulose sponge and work the brushes across it to work up a lather, or just work them against your palm. If you use bar soap swipe the brushes across it. The soap cuts the oil, and the fat base conditions the bristles.If you wiped out the paint and rinsed in thinner properly there's very little to wash out. More like a post gym shower then wrestling gunk. You don't want paint in a sink drain or on the back patio. Rinse well. If you do this correctly you'll get to wear brushes out instead of throwing them away. And bristles are chosen for this exposure so they'll get better. It's just like washing your hair. Squeeze out the water and shape them, air dry.
This works for synthetic brushes too. Do not leave soap in the bristles as it will contaminate your paint next time and make a bad paint film. As for exotic paints like epoxy? Yes, use nitrile gloves and a respirator! Outside. But if the stuff is hydrocarbon based a fat soap should work too. Acetone on brushes will kill them fast, so make sure thats a really Best Practice. Again- a soap may work better. Most bristles need the conditioning.
If your brushes start to get that gunky icky feeling, soaking them in that inexpensive liquid oil soap from the grocery store (Also best for regular washing after painting) is like a spa treatment. Leave them in for two or three days. It's magic! Paint in the ferules is a ruined brush, but as regular maintenance this is amazing. I have ten year old mongoose thats still sweet. I also paint a lot.
Do not use soap on watercolor brushes. Just rinse.
How To Clean Your Paint Brush With Mineral Spirits
This is the method professional painters use; It keeps solvent use to an absolute minimum. Reusing a cup or 12 ounces of thinner instead of blowing through gallons of it reduces exposure and that stuff has lead in it. Among other scary things. Don't use it on skin either. Paint'll fall of in 48 hours if soap or olive oil doesn't get rid of it.
Cleaning A Paint Brush With Mineral Spirits For Sale
Even if you use a thinner only system like the guys who paint cars using industrial paints, a cleaning pot will use less thinner and reduce your chemical exposure. They can be used in series. You can eyeball them at the big online art supply stores, and I shop at industrial supply so don't think they don't interchange. ;-D I'll try to post instructions for the homemade version.