New York|How to Use and Apply the Many Varieties of Solvents
Advertisem*nt
SKIP ADVERTIsem*nT
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
Supported by
SKIP ADVERTIsem*nT
HOME REPAIR
By Edward R. Lipinski
A SOLVENT is a substance, usually liquid, that will dissolve another substance. All do-it-yourselfers buy and use a number of solvents. Some are used for cleaning, others to thin paint, shellac or varnish. Choosing the right solvent can make a job easier; using the wrong one can damage tools or a project.
Turpentine is one of the few solvents not made from petroleum distillates. It is produced by distilling the oleoresins from pine trees. It is also known as spirits of turpentine or simply turps. The best grade is called pure gum spirits of turpentine.
Turpentine has more solvency than mineral spirits. Care should be taken when using it to thin oil- or alkyd-based paints; otherwise the paint could be overthinned, which can cause it to run or drip. Even though turpentine is less toxic than petroleum-based solvents, it can still cause an allergic reaction.
Mineral spirits, also called ''white spirits'' (trade names include Varnolene and Texaco spirits), is a petroleum distillate specifically manufactured as a substitute for turpentine. Most painters prefer it as a paint thinner because it costs less, is not so sticky and has a less offensive odor than turpentine. Still, mineral spirits do have an odor that some people may find unpleasant. They may prefer to use odorless paint thinner.
Turpentine and mineral spirits are good brush cleaners, and turpentine can remove paint that has hardened slightly. Mineral spirits will dissolve only paint that is still fresh. Naphtha is a petroleum solvent similar to mineral spirits but with a greater volatility; it is used chiefly as a paint thinner or a cleaning agent. Naphtha is a more powerful solvent than mineral spirits, so less is needed to thin the same amount of paint. But it also makes paint dry faster and may make it hard to blend strokes or brush out drips.
Naphtha is highly flammable; when using it, work in a well-ventilated area -- out-of-doors, if possible -- and wear rubber gloves and a respiratory mask. It can quickly dissolve wax layers, but naphtha can also penetrate through the wax and seep under veneer. There it will dissolve the glue, causing the veneer to loosen.
Advertisem*nt
SKIP ADVERTIsem*nT
