How to dilute alkyd paint?

High-quality painting of surfaces is a very responsible and difficult task, which not every professional will cope with, not to mention beginners. Moreover, a number of tasks related to painting often arise, which are the preparatory stage before carrying out the work. It is for such tasks that a need arises for a solvent for alkyd enamel.

Content:

• Principle of operation
• Types of Solvents
• Choice of alkyd enamel by solvent composition

• Firstly, it is used for degreasing the surface before painting. This is necessary for high-quality application of the composition, guaranteeing the absence of problems in the future.
• Secondly, it is used to restore dried paint.
• Thirdly, it may be necessary to reduce the density of the paint composition, for example, when used in a special spray gun. To do this, use a solvent.

For different types of paints and varnishes use a different substance. So, for example, simple water is used for water-based paints, and for enamel types - an alkyd solvent is just needed.

Principle of operation

To answer this question, you need to turn to the composition of alkyd enamels. They immediately include a number of different components. Let's consider each of them in more detail.

The basis of alkyd enamel is alkyd varnish, fillers and various types of solvents. To make a varnish of a certain color, the manufacturer adds certain coloring pigments. Other substances in the form of antiseptics are not an exception, which, in addition to giving color, protect the painted part from the appearance of mold or fungus.

Fillers are sand, marble or granite chips, but they have a much finer structure in comparison with traditional building materials, they resemble flour more. White spirit is most often used as a solvent for alkyd enamel, it is also added independently before painting, if the paint in the jar has thickened.

Types of Solvents

White spirit - is produced in the process of distillation of petroleum products, is a distinguishing element of one of the fractions. This type of solvent is considered the most harmless due to the fact that its smell is not as sharp as other types of solvents. Often, white spirit is used for:

• paint dilution;
• elimination of a viscous enamel defect;
• removing oily stains from the surface before applying the paint;
• rinsing brushes;
• accelerating the drying process of oil-based paints;
• painting of wooden material as protection against bark beetles and moisture.

The time to complete drying will be required more than for turpentine-based paints, but less than for solvent-based paints.

1. Turpentine, a solvent familiar to us for a long time, is obtained during the distillation of resins from coniferous wood and is mainly used as a diluent in order to clean surfaces from oily stains. It can easily be recognized among other diluents by its pungent and unpleasant odor. This degreasing agent is characterized by some peculiarity, turpentine based paints dry for a long time, but in some cases this is even necessary.With a high quality of evaporation, turpentine does not cause irritation or other phenomena when a small amount of the product gets on the skin, but in case of fire safety it can easily ignite.
2. The solvent is used in cases when it is necessary to achieve the quickest drying of surfaces due to instant weathering of vapors from the deposited alkyd substance. In order to prevent the occurrence of a fire in the room, it is better to store containers containing solvent in the open air or in a well-ventilated room. Solvent is good to treat the surface, remove traces of oil and wax.
3. Xylene. It belongs to the group of volatile and has a large dissolving ability, evaporates quickly and does not leave a smell. It can be used both to obtain the necessary viscosity of the paintwork composition, for this the solvent is added in small portions and mixed, and alkyd paint is removed from the surfaces. Xylene P-646 has an irritating effect on the skin and mucous membranes. Therefore, all work with him in the room should be carried out in compliance with safety precautions and the use of personal protective equipment: rubber gloves and a respirator. In case of contact with skin, the solvent must be washed off with warm water and soap.

Choice of alkyd enamel by solvent composition

For each specific case, you can choose alkyd enamel and make the surface not only beautiful, but also protect it from external influences and rapid destruction. Some of the paints are intended for the treatment of wooden surfaces, while others are used for painting metal.

Alkyd enamel is used directly for painting a car, that is, it is already prepared for applying a certain tone of varnish to a metal surface. Alkyd enamel is able to withstand any temperature of unpredictable weather, both in summer and in winter. In this case, the painted surface is comparable in brilliance with acrylic painting.

The big minus of alkyd enamel is that it takes a lot of time to dry, despite the fact that it contains a solvent. For complete and quick drying, sometimes special installations are even bought if painting is carried out on a professional level, which entails additional cash costs.

Processing and drying of wooden surfaces is much faster. The solvent is well absorbed into the material, and will evaporate into the atmosphere in a short time, protecting it from moisture or spillage.

Solvents, like alkyd enamels, in this case should be selected according to their properties and characteristics, as far as safety for the human body is concerned, since not everything can be used for painting, for example, furniture in the house.

Solvents for alkyd enamel have a large variety, but to choose the most suitable, it is better to be supervised by its characteristics. Solvents can be added to alkyd enamel yourself or you can buy paint, where the composition will contain the desired solvent.