The painting world is filled with very sticky material. And that sticky paint can be very difficult to clean off. So there are plenty of solvents used by commercial painting contractors to help clean their tools.
From denatured alcohol, to mineral spirits, to turpentine, to xylene. These are all solvents frequently used by commercial or industrial painting contractors. But knowing which solvent to use can be perplexing.
And the reason is that there are many different types of paints. From alkyds, to acrylics, to epoxies and urethanes. They all have different chemical properties. And depending on those properties, it will require a different type of solvent to break apart that paint.
And even though there’s a surplus of solvents to select from, mineral spirits and denatured alcohol are some of the most commonly used solvents.
Mineral Spirits
Mineral spirits, which are also known aswhite spirits,are a petroleum sourced mixtures of aliphatic hydrocarbons. They are also known as a weaker solvent, which makes it pretty ideal for residential use.
Being aliphatic, means that it is slow evaporating, which also makes it suitable for removing alkyd paint. So when you’re painting some trim or baseboard with Kilz or other types of alkyd coatings, you’ll want to atleast have some mineral spirits to clean up any paint that might get on your clothes or furniture.
Denatured Alcohol
When painting with coatings stronger than just alkyd paint, then denatured alcohol will be a good option.
The main ingredient in denatured alcohol is ethenol, which is an excellent solvent, acting as a stain-remover, thinner and cleaner.
But not only can it clean, it can break down resins. So if the applicator is coating with urethane or epoxy, it’s a wise idea to have some denatured alcohol on stand by, because it has the chemical properties to breakdown those resins.
In conclusion…
Solvents are important to have when dealing with alkyd, or 2 component paints. But knowing which solvent to use is the hard part. Because there isn’t just 1 solvent that can be used across the board. Each one has its own specific purpose, that can tend to each specific paint. So be aware of which paint is being applied, so that you know which solvent to use during the project.
FAQs
Xylene Paint Thinners
Xylene is what is known as a hot solvent paint removers. It is primarily used as a paint stripping solvent that can dissolve other substances. Along with other solvents, xylene is also widely used as a cleaning agent, a thinner for paint, and in varnishes.
What is the difference between a solvent and a paint thinner? ›
What's the difference between a thinner and a solvent? Not much. The thinning capacity of a product refers to its affect on the consistency of the paint or lacquer with which it's mixed. Solvency refers to the capacity of a substance to break down the resins and binding agents in paint and lacquer.
Is xylene the same as turpentine? ›
However, xylene will be better at dissolving aromatic compounds and turpentine will be better at dissolving aliphatic compounds.” I would just add that Turpentine, being a product with natural origin, is more expensive than xylene, and that alone is a drawback for me.
What are the solvents for paint? ›
Conversely, lacquer-based paints require stronger solvents to speed the drying time. The most widely used aromatic hydrocarbons solvents in paint are benzene, toluene, mixed xylenes, ethylbenzene (BTEX), and high flash aromatic napthas; aliphatic hydrocarbons include hexanes, heptane, VM&P naphtha.
What is a substitute for xylene solvent? ›
Naphthenic solvents are clearly the best choices for replacing xylene and other aromatic solvents. When combined with solvent recycling, they can help ensure your lab is both safe and running cost-effectively.
What is the closest thing to xylene? ›
Common xylene substitutes include:
Naphthenic: Naphthenic solvents are known to perform at higher rates than xylene.
Is lacquer thinner the same as solvent? ›
Lacquer thinner, also known as cellulose thinner, is usually a mixture of solvents able to dissolve a number of different resins or plastics used in modern lacquer.
What is lacquer thinner used for? ›
Lacquer thinners are excellent for cleaning brushes, sprayers and other lacquer application tools and equipment after use. Other uses include bank wash, compounders, mat wash, petroleum thinner, polishes, printing inks, rotogravure, rubber, rubber cement, solvent, staining and varnish.
Why is xylene illegal? ›
Results of studies in animals indicate that large amounts of xylene can cause changes in the liver and harmful effects on the kidneys, lungs, heart, and nervous system.
What not to mix with xylene? ›
Xylene does not mix well with water; however, it does mix with alcohol and many other chemicals.
Xylene is an organic chemical compound. It is also known as dimethylbenzene or Xylol. It is one of the three isomers of dimethyl benzene.
What is the strongest solvent to remove paint? ›
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) offers a unique combination of low toxicity and high solvent strength, making it an ideal solvent for stripping paint from a variety of surfaces. DMSO is the best alternative to solvents rated hazardous such as methylene chloride and NMP (N-methyl pyrrolidone).
What are the 3 most common solvents? ›
Common examples of solvents include water, ethanol, methanol and acetone.
What is the best paint solvent? ›
The best solvent to thin oil - based paints is mineral spirits . Mineral spirits , also known as white spirits , is a petroleum - based solvent that is commonly used to thin oil - based paints .
Can xylene be used as paint thinner? ›
Xylene can be used to thin specified oil-based paint, lacquer, varnish, epoxy, adhesives, anti-rust, porch & deck paints and synthetic enamels. Xylene will also remove certain adhesives, and is an excellent solvent for cleaning tools and equipment immediately after use.
Is there another name for xylene? ›
Medical Management Guidelines for Xylene. Synonyms include dimethylbenzene, methyl toluene, xylol, and mixed xylenes.
