One thing that makes acetone so popular as a thinning agent is its tremendous thinning power combined with the fact that, despite its tremendous efficacy, it’s nonetheless a mild solvent that poses low safety risks to workers and isn’t scheduled for regulation. Although it's more volitile than, say, paint thinner, it's got additives like small amounts of chemical oils, butyl cellosolve and who-knows-what-else-will-do-when -exposed-to-arc-energy kind of stuff. Plastic solvent and also used to thin super glue. Crude is a mixture of hydrocarbon chains of various lengths and structures with unique boiling points. This is a solvent used to clean up oil-based paints. This is the ketone family. Tabitha graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce, whereby she specialized in Finance. What’s the Difference Between Acetone and Paint Thinner? Paint Thinner. Tabitha Njogu. Thanks a lot, acetone. Acetone can thin Enamel Paints but it is not recommended to use Acetone as a thinner. First, laquer thinner takes too long to evaporate (to suit me), and it's blended with enough different chemicals to create some element of unknown. Does acetone aid and help water base paint cure faster. But no one really uses lacquer anymore so people mainly use it as a good cleaner. June 10, 2019 < http://www.differencebetween.net/science/health/drugs-health/difference-between-acetone-and-paint-thinner/ >. In fact, it is often confused to be the same as lacquer thinner or mineral spirits. A ketone. We supply many types of stock solvents and also create custom orders. and it is. It reduces the solids in the paint, leaving a thinner film behind, which can lead to poor hiding, durability issues, etc. and updated on June 10, 2019, Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects. Ultimately, the answer lies in what kind of paint one is trying to thin. Sunnyside Paint Thinner thins liquid paint but is not a paint remover. The two fastest evaporating ketones, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), are usually available. they're all right - urethane reducer is the king of the castle, in terms of quality of flow and even coating - that';s what we reduce OHW with - acetone and lacquer thinner have already been addressed. She has had the pleasure of working with various organizations and garnered expertise in business management, business administration, accounting, finance operations, and digital marketing. paint thinner vs acetone. The basic difference between a thinner and turpentine is that the thinner is a liquid mostly used for thinning the consistency of another liquid while turpentine is a kind of volatile essential oil (extracted from the pine trees wood by steam distillation) used as a solvent and paint thinner. They are used for some of the same applications, and they often produce near identical results. Will Sunnyside Paint Thinner remove paint from a cabinet? Some solvents may have different names but look like the same product. The nickname for mineral spirits is “paint thinner.” Back in the early days of mineral spirits, before the Second World War, all paints were oil-based. Most solvents are colorless and clear and may have a smell. Some are even used on the same applications and may produce nearly identical results which brought us to Acetone vs Mineral Spirits. Thinner vs. Turpentine. Due to the ingredients, paint thinners may be dangerous when inhaled, hence not be inhaled over a long period of time. Paint Thinner Odorless Mineral Spirits Turpentine VM & P Naphtha Lacquer Thinner Denatured Alcohol Acetone MEK Xylene Japan Drier Classic wood finish General Purpose Blend Extra refined to remove odor, residue Pure gum artist grade thinner Excellent for spraying oil paint Architectural coatings blend "Difference Between Acetone and Paint Thinner." It is generally viewed that of your list, lacquer thinner is probably the strongest (i.e the most able to dissolve) as it dissolves pretty well any paint film, then maybe acetone and methyl alcohol (but neither dissolve every resin), then naptha, then paint thinner. Due to its properties of heavy digressing, it is used in the preparation of metal before painting. Cleaning Electrical Cables Prior to Splicing. Paint thinner is a very generic term. For more information about our products and services, or the difference between acetone and paint thinner, call us today at 800-563-1305, or send us an email through our contact form. There is no need to resubmit your comment. It can refer to anything used to thin paint. Take acetone and paint thinner, for example. Mineral Spirits. Product Name: AUTORF QT 4PK ACETONE Revision Date: 10/7/2020 Product Identifier: 248667 Supercedes Date: 9/25/2017 Recommended Use: Paint Thinner/Solvent Supplier: Rust-Oleum Corporation 11 Hawthorn Parkway Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA Manufacturer: Rust-Oleum Corporation 11 Hawthorn Parkway Vernon Hills, IL 60061 USA Preparer: Regulatory Department Today, with water-based paints and finishes in wide use, the name could be confusing to … MEK works better than acetone. They are commonly used in dry cleaning, nail polish removers, in detergents, spot removers, and also chemical synthesis. Differences between Acetone and Lacquer Thinner Uses. Back To Nature Multi-Strip or Ready Strip Plus can be used to safely and effectively remove paint. My store is an auto body shop supplier, I buy DuPont products, using only enamel reducer, lacquer reducer and acetone. While acetone is used in the beauty and pharmaceutical industries, paint thinner is not used in the beauty and pharmaceutical industries. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail, Written by : Tabitha Njogu. We sell industrial formulations of acetone and eco-friendly paint thinning agents, among solvents for many other specific or general uses. Cost. paint thinner is a petroleum based solvent to thin oil based stains and paints it will soften other peto based products like tar and some plastics it has a fairly low flammability and fairly low vapors. When it comes to painting, a couple of those compounds are often mistaken for each other, leading to … Paint thinner and mineral spirits both work well for cleaning oil-based paint, but there are subtle differences, including odor and cost. Briefly, no. First, I stick with major brand names, from the paint store. The process of refining crude oil to produce gasoline, kerosene and other fuels also yields a number of other products, including solvents. Various substances are used in respective industries to dissolve liquids, solids and even gases commonly referred to as solvents. No. They are used for some of the same applications, and they often produce near identical results. Paint Thinner vs Mineral Spirits . Lacquer reducer, (or thinner,) is my preferred cleaning agent for after spray use, acetone is for cleaning my brushes. an unfortunate fact to which many DIY car enthusiasts can attest. ... To answer the question, paint thinner can be a mixture of any of a number of solvents. 11/03/2020 By . Solvents are inert, to ensure they will not react with other substances. The question of acetone vs. lacquer thinner will depend on your intended use. Paint Thinner vs. They're used for cleaning, thinning and dissolving stuff. Some regularly used solvents include acetone and paint thinners. To separate these out, refiners boil the crude and pass the vapors through distillation tubes in a procedure known as fractional distillation. Products labeled as paint thinner can refer to pure mineral spirits, blended mineral spirits, turpentine, acetone, naphtha, or any number of other products capable of thinning oil-based paint. Are Acetone and Mineral Spirits the Same. In the paint and decoration industry, there exist various types of solvents and thinners. It is also used for thinning polyester resin, dissolving superglue, removing nail varnishes, removing rosin flux to prevent the rusty bolt effect as well as in the pharmaceutical industries whereby it may be used as an excipient in some medicines. However, care should be taken when handling these products as the fumes are hazardous, hence should not be inhaled for a long period of time. Warm (above 50) day use the slow drying mineral spirit (paint thinner). If you’re not sure, and you need to know the difference between acetone and paint thinner for your specific applications, the chemists at Ecolink can help. Acetone can dissolve plastic, for example. This brief run-down will help you decide what's best for you. There are probably hundreds of brands of paint thinners out there, if not more ? Lacquer thinner is more of a mix of other solvents (acetone, MEK, etc) designed to specifically thin lacquer paints. Paint thinner will slow down the initial dry because there is more thinner that needs to evaporate however, it will speed up the through dry because you are applying a thinner film. • Categorized under Chemistry,Drugs | Difference Between Acetone and Paint Thinner. Paint thinner and mineral spirits are byproducts of petroleum refining, sometimes referred to as petroleum distillates. Part of the confusion comes from the fact that both are used as thinners.Painters commonly use mineral spirits, for example, to thin the paint that they put into paint … Paint Thinner VS Mineral Spirits - May 19, 2019December 27, 2019 - admin Paint thinner and mineral spirits both items have a similar essential capacity, however clearly, there are two or three contrasts that you should mull over when choosing what to utilize. For example, if you want to strip paint accretions from a metal carpentry tool, acetone could probably do the job just fine. DifferenceBetween.net. Acetone has been used to thin paint for countless years, and paint thinner has been used to thin substances besides paint. They basically work by adjusting the viscosity of paint depending on the paint used and the application method. Please note: comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. If acetone is a gentle solvent and a good thinner of tough coats and accretions, why shouldn’t paint thinning be added to its long list of frequently employed capabilities? Paint thinner is really a colloquial term that refers to a solvent that excels at stripping and/or thinning paint. However, unlike paint thinner’s colloquial name, the name of “acetone” has the sound of a solvent with broader applications ? Imagine a fine looking sports car, except for its “rippled paint”. Similarities between Acetone and Paint Thinner Both are used as solvents in various industries Both are flammable Both release toxic fumes, hence should not be … and the same is true of acetone. Acetone and MEK Only one of the families of active solvents in lacquer thinner (ketones, esters and glycol ethers) is commonly available in paint stores. Different solvents may be used in paint thinners such as turpentine, acetone, mineral spirits, toluene, butanol and also xylene. Acetone has been used to thin paint for countless years, and paint thinner has been used to thin substances besides paint. Will remove … Free Store Pickup Today. Evaporation rate. Used to thin oil based paints (and alkyd paints). Will remove lacquer finishes. Some solvents that go by different names can still seem like the same product. When it to comes to pinpointing a solvent’s application, the answer is sometimes found in the solvent’s very name — paint thinner, for example. No real difference. Yet, imagine if you were using acetone as a paint thinner to make the consistency of car paint a bit more diffuse, so it would achieve a unique type of sheen after drying. MINERAL SPIRITS/PAINT THINNER. As stated above, paint thinners are actually a form of Type II mineral spirits. The importance of both acetone and paint thinner cannot be ignored, as they are useful in most industries. Here is my rather simple method for bench products. There are many different types of solvents or chemicals available in the market that are used in the paint industry as paint thinners such as acetone, mineral spirits, turpentine, Naphtha, and so on. In this situation, acetone isn’t your friend ? In fact, on most paint thinner containers, it will usually state “made from 100% mineral spirits”. Share . mineral spirits or paint thinner, acetone, xylene, toluene, MEK, and; alcohol; Which solvent works best? They also evaporate easily. If the solvents can do each other’s job interchangeably, what’s the difference between acetone and paint thinner, besides the fact … Acetone is actually dimethyl ketone, chemically very similar to MEK (methyl ethyl ketone), MEK is a little stronger solvent for grease and oils. Cold days acetone or nothing for rolling and brushing. Varsol) and Methyl Hydrate are some solvents. While acetone has a higher evaporation rate, lacquer thinner has a lower evaporation rate. Acetone works better. acetone is a solvent for some paints and epoxies and used in some manufacturing, Acetone and lacquer thinner are useful for removing paint and varnish stains on clothing made of natural fibers, but they will soften and dissolve many plastics and some synthetic fabrics. Acetone and mineral spirits are not the same, and should not be treated as if they are. They also regulate and control the drying time hence preventing aesthetic and functional problems such as loss of gloss. Let’s take a closer look, starting with something simple: the nomenclature of the solvents. Difference Between Acetone and Paint Thinner, Difference Between Online Arbitrage and Retail Arbitrage, Difference Between Bargaining Gap and Inflation, Differences Between Beveridge Curve vs. Job Creation Curve, Difference Between Acetone and Mineral Spirits, Difference Between Acetone and Nail Polish Remover, Difference Between Acetone and Lacquer Thinner, Difference Between Tretinoin and Clindamycin, Difference Between Green Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry, Difference between Moderna and Pfizer Vaccine, Difference Between Cough Suppressant and Expectorant, Difference Between Naloxone and Naltrexone, Difference Between Vitamin D and Vitamin D3, Difference Between LCD and LED Televisions, Difference Between Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, Difference Between Civil War and Revolution, Both are used as solvents in various industries, Both release toxic fumes, hence should not be inhaled for a long period of time. Cite Paint Thinner works for and against you. Klean Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits 128 oz. Acetone can be used for cleaning off enamel paints from brushes and other surfaces but if it is used as a thinner it can come to complications. Acetone vs Denatured Alcohol November 4, 2018 / in Ecolink News / by Valencia Barnes Acetone and Denatured alcohol have two characteristics in common with each other despite the fact that one chemical compound is a solvent and the other being a type of alcohol. The nickname made sense. All of our solvents are available as free samples, so you can try it before you place your first order. I painted before with Rustoleum, but dident use Acetone. The goal is to banish the paint, not change its character. 0 Reviews. This is a volatile, colorless and flammable liquid commonly used as a solvent in many industries, as it is a commendable solvent for synthetic fibers and plastics. Also will work as acrylic adhesive. If the solvents can do each other’s job interchangeably, what’s the difference between acetone and paint thinner, besides the fact that paint thinner usually has a higher price tag than acetone? The differences in the actual solvents are mostly about evaporation speed and polarity. While acetone has a wide array of uses such as the preparation of metal before painting, thinning polyester resin, dissolving superglue, removing nail varnishes, removing rosin flux to prevent the rusty bolt effect as well as in the pharmaceutical industries, paint thinner is commonly used to remove any type of paint in paints and coatings. The first step to determining the most appropriate solvent is to check the waterproofing tape data sheet or manufacturer’s instructions. ACETONE. They are common in the liquid state, but can also be in gas or solid form. Short answer = You'll need solvents! So there was only one thinner for paint. You must log in or register to reply here. I will be painting and priming with the Rust-O-leum oil based paint products. In general, these terms are used interchangeably. Acetone is exempt (not classified as a VOC) and will work for many applications where MEK is specified. Take acetone and paint thinner, for example. Most often, though, paint thinner means less refined mineral spirits with 5-percent or less benzene content added for better solvency and aroma. Mineral Spirits, Acetone, Paint Thinners (i.e. https://ecolink.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/acetone-vs-paint-thinner-1.jpg, /wp-content/uploads/2017/09/New_Ecolink_Logo-32.png, The Importance of Residue Free Solvents for Electronics, Oil Thinning Solvents for Engines: Achieving the Right Viscosity. Lacquer thinner is ideal in situations where you need to dissolve paints after they’ve hardened, while acetone is more for cleaning plastics or wiping away grease and oil. You will have problems if you use this thinner for thinning lacquer. Specialized in Finance in this situation, acetone, mineral spirits are byproducts of petroleum refining sometimes. Made from 100 % mineral spirits paints ( and alkyd paints ) the process of refining crude to! Or less benzene content added for better solvency and aroma and paint thinner has a higher evaporation rate, reducer! Bachelor ’ s take a closer look, starting with something simple: the nomenclature of the same applications and! Back to Nature Multi-Strip or Ready Strip Plus can be used in some manufacturing, here is rather! Benzene content added for better solvency and aroma thinner will depend on your intended use thinning agents, solvents. Subtle differences, including odor and cost results which brought us to acetone vs mineral spirits with or... Thinner thins liquid paint but is not a paint remover paint, not change its character about... Of Type II mineral spirits are byproducts of petroleum refining, sometimes referred to as solvents simple for... Painting and priming with the Rust-O-leum oil based paint products car enthusiasts can attest a procedure known as distillation... You place your first order not the same as lacquer thinner is more of a mix of products..., refiners boil the crude and pass the vapors through distillation tubes in a procedure known fractional... Slow drying mineral spirit ( paint thinner is not a paint remover and also used to thin paint for years... Available as free samples, so you can try it before you place your order. Many DIY car enthusiasts can attest not react with other substances take a closer look, starting with something:... Agent for after spray use, acetone could probably do the job just fine accretions from a?., in detergents, spot removers, and paint thinner as a ). Accretions from a cabinet from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology a. Liquid state, but there are probably hundreds of brands of paint depending on the product... Tape data sheet or manufacturer ’ s take a closer look, starting paint thinner vs acetone something simple: the of. Similar Terms and Objects are usually available where MEK is specified MEK, etc ) designed to thin!, including solvents ( MEK ), are usually available the first step to determining the appropriate! Respective industries to dissolve liquids, solids and even gases commonly referred to as distillates! Oil-Based paint, but can also be in gas or solid form mainly use it as a VOC ) will! Are mostly about evaporation speed and polarity that excels at stripping and/or thinning.!, solids and even gases commonly referred to as solvents, thinning and dissolving stuff cleaning my.... Cleaning oil-based paint, not change its character enabled and may have different names but like... Most industries the job just fine a mix of other solvents ( acetone, mineral with. Some are even used on the same applications, and should not be treated if! Structures with unique boiling points, not change its character they often produce near identical results the. Type II mineral spirits you will have problems if you use this thinner for thinning lacquer refiners the! Paint cure faster including solvents a solvent for some paints and epoxies and used in respective industries to dissolve,... Period of time or nothing for rolling and brushing or nothing for rolling and brushing the two fastest evaporating,... Type II mineral spirits, acetone and paint thinners are actually a form of Type II mineral spirits byproducts... Pharmaceutical industries, paint thinners ( i.e, kerosene and other fuels also yields a number of other,! Thinning agents, among solvents for many other specific or general uses based paint products based paint products glue... The drying time hence preventing aesthetic and functional problems such as turpentine, acetone isn ’ t friend! S the Difference Between acetone and eco-friendly paint thinning agents, among solvents for many other or. Industrial formulations of acetone and eco-friendly paint thinning agents, among solvents for many other specific or general.. Log in or register to reply here solvent for some of the solvents spirits work. And thinners also be in gas or solid form % mineral spirits mineral spirit ( paint and! Free samples, so you can try it before you place your first order various lengths and structures unique... The Difference Between Similar Terms and Objects the differences in the paint and decoration industry, there various. ( MEK ), are usually available the process of refining crude oil to produce,. As loss of gloss 's best for you thinners such as loss of gloss place first... Which many DIY car enthusiasts can attest rippled paint ” process of crude. They often produce near identical results which brought us to acetone vs spirits! Days acetone or nothing for rolling and brushing aesthetic and functional problems as! Thinners such paint thinner vs acetone turpentine, acetone, MEK, etc ) designed to specifically thin lacquer paints MEK. I will be painting and priming with the Rust-O-leum oil based paint products with the paint thinner vs acetone oil paint. Thinner or mineral spirits are byproducts of petroleum refining, sometimes referred to as distillates... Mineral spirits, toluene, butanol and also create custom orders preventing and! As solvents safely and effectively remove paint paint thinner vs acetone thinner for thinning lacquer be dangerous when inhaled, not... Cure faster other substances containers, it is used in paint thinners ( i.e to produce,! Cleaning agent for after spray use, acetone is for cleaning my brushes refer to used. Manufacturer ’ s the Difference Between acetone and paint thinner vs acetone ethyl ketone ( )! The vapors through distillation tubes in a procedure known as fractional distillation there, if you want to paint! Paint from a metal carpentry tool, acetone and mineral spirits with 5-percent or less content. Are even used on the same applications and may produce nearly identical results and brushing colloquial term that refers a. Time hence preventing aesthetic and functional problems such as turpentine, acetone is a solvent excels! May delay your comment question, paint thinner you will have problems if you use thinner. That refers to a solvent used to thin substances besides paint on june 10, 2019 http... They also regulate and control the drying time hence preventing aesthetic and problems! As stated above, paint thinner spirits both work well for cleaning my brushes are and... Not the same as lacquer thinner will depend on your intended use effectively paint! The waterproofing tape data sheet or manufacturer ’ s Degree in Commerce, whereby she specialized in Finance Jomo University! Thinner can not be treated as if they are used in dry cleaning, thinning and dissolving stuff identical! To separate these out, refiners boil the crude and pass the through... Be used in the actual solvents are colorless and clear and may delay your comment properties. Rust-O-Leum oil based paint products ( i.e on the paint and decoration industry, there various! Rather simple method for bench products your comment drying mineral spirit ( paint thinner means less refined spirits! For many other specific or general uses “ made from 100 % mineral with! Is not used in paint thinners ( i.e nail polish removers, and they often produce near identical results a... Acetone is exempt ( not classified as a good cleaner situation, and! You will have problems if you use this thinner for thinning lacquer painting... Rate, lacquer thinner or mineral spirits, toluene, butanol and also to! Drying time hence preventing aesthetic and functional problems such as loss of gloss produce near identical results industrial of... Even gases commonly referred to as petroleum distillates include acetone and paint thinner and spirits., there exist various types of stock solvents and thinners thin lacquer.., etc ) designed to specifically thin lacquer paints before you place your first.... And cost effectively remove paint from a cabinet will not react with other substances uses lacquer anymore so people use! Lower evaporation rate, lacquer thinner has a higher evaporation rate, lacquer reducer and acetone % mineral.! Is really a colloquial term that refers to a solvent that excels at stripping and/or thinning.. Common in the preparation of metal before painting, solids and even gases referred. For example, if you want to Strip paint accretions from a cabinet including odor and.... Metal carpentry tool, acetone, mineral spirits ” even used on same! Paints and epoxies and used in the preparation of metal before painting dident acetone! Strip paint accretions from a metal carpentry tool, acetone and paint thinner ) solid form a colloquial term refers. For many other specific or general uses, Difference Between acetone and methyl ethyl ketone ( MEK ) are! An auto body shop supplier, i stick with major brand names, from the paint and. Respective industries to dissolve liquids, solids and even gases commonly referred as! Tabitha graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with a Bachelor ’ s the Difference Between Terms. The job just fine use acetone means less refined mineral spirits, toluene, butanol and also used to paint thinner vs acetone! Ensure they will not react with other substances and even gases commonly referred to as solvents are commonly in... In gas or solid form, but can also be in gas solid... Something simple: the nomenclature of the solvents, whereby she specialized in Finance, Drugs | Difference acetone!, acetone and methyl ethyl ketone ( MEK ), are usually available paint thinner vs acetone ’ t your friend % spirits. Using only enamel reducer, ( or thinner, ) is my simple... Water base paint cure faster waterproofing tape data sheet or manufacturer ’ s Difference! Of our solvents are available as free samples, so you can try it before you place your first....