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Are all laquer thinners the same?

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  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Are all laquer thinners the same?
Posted by djrost_2000 on Monday, January 24, 2005 7:57 PM
I am using one type of laqeur thinner right now. I bought a can in another brand and am wondering I can mix it with the old laquer thinner? Basically, are all laquer thinners the same and can you mix different brands?

Dave
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Pensacola, FL
Posted by Foster7155 on Monday, January 24, 2005 8:18 PM
Yes and No,

In general, generic "laquer thinner" is pretty much the same thing no matter which brand you buy. However, the actual laquer thinners and vehicles used in paints will vary somewhat from manufacturer to manufacturer.

If you are using a generic brand to thin paint, you may notice some difference in characteristics between brands, but probably nothing extreme. I almost always use the manufacturer's recommended thinner for any paint I use.

Robert Foster

Pensacola Modeleers

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Hayward, CA
Posted by MikeV on Monday, January 24, 2005 8:20 PM
Dave,

Some have different drying times I believe which might affect the drying time if you use them for thinning paint. If you are using them for cleanup then don't worry about it. You should probably have no problems.

Mike

Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom. " Charles Spurgeon
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 12:08 PM
I was told that the hardware-store lacquer thinner is not the same as a branded thinner for thinning auto paints. From the results I got from my tests, I have to agree with that. The generic thinners dry too fast for paint application, resulting in a very grainy surface. All paint-grade thinners have a "temperature" rating, so that the retarder mixed into it is calibrated correctly (the higher the shop temperature, the slower the thinner must be)

Unless you paint in a very cold (60 F) or very hot (90 F) environment, a medium temp thinner is what you need. Note that you can buy these in a professional auto-paint store only, or perhaps in an Autozone if you are lucky (look for the temperature rating, if there is none on the can, then it is not meant to be used for spraying paint, it is for cleaning purposes only)
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Where the coyote howl, NH
Posted by djrost_2000 on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 9:42 PM
Thanks for the replies! Mustang, I'm just using lacquer thinner to clean up my airbrush and brushes, so the generic, hardware store types should be fine.

Thank you,

Dave
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