Thinning oil-based paints.

Raparee · #1 10-08-2006, 02:46 PM

Hello all,
I typically paint my stuff with acrylics, but am interested in trying oil-based paints just to see what the differences are. I have thinned my paints with a paint thinner, but the smell would choke a dog! Does anyone know of a better way to thin oil paint?

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #2 10-08-2006, 03:21 PM

Buy the odorless paint thinner, the regular is pretty bad....ok in a shop but not in the house lol I am an oil painter (pictures) and have been for many years, when I started carving I went to acrylics because of the fast drying time....oils take a long time to dry.....

Mitchell · #3 10-09-2006, 02:41 PM

I have tried turpentine (too smelly), boiled linseed oil (better, but still some odor) and mineral spirits (again an improvement).... Switched to acrylics just because the clean up time was less than with the oils. I do prefer the "look" of oil though.

wood-whittler · #4 10-09-2006, 05:52 PM

i have tried the oil paints also when i started carving but i could not get the mix right and when i did it took forever to dry and was to smelly, so i too have switched to acrylics, it is way cheaper to mix acrylics to get the right mix than oils.

bart

Donna_T · #5 10-09-2006, 10:31 PM

Like some of the others, I switched from oil paints to water based paints because I have asthma and can't take the smell/vapors in the house. I have tried Alkyds (I'm not sure that's the correct way to spell it) they are oil based but they dry much quicker than regular oils. You can use the odorless thinner &/or use a flow medium to get a good blending consistency. I usually get those paints from an art supply--can't get them at Hobby Lobby or Michaels any more.

I like the vibrant, richness that you can only get with oils, but using thin washes of good water based paints can get close. Even when I paint with water based, I sometimes like to use tinted BLO to treat the whole finished carving. When I do that, I have to leave the carving outside and/or out of the house for several days to air out before I can stand the smell. You just have to decide which you want to put up with to get the result you want.

Donna T

Raparee · #6 10-13-2006, 07:33 PM

Thanks for all the advice, folks. I think I'll try thinning with blo and see how tat goes. At least it's a smell I can stand.

georgetroy · #7 10-17-2006, 11:33 PM

Oils can be thinned with Formby's Tung oil finish or MinWax Tung oil finish. Try on scrap wood to see if it is the effect you want. The Tung oils will speed drying and add body. GT

Nutmeg Designs · #8 10-20-2006, 12:39 PM

Hi Guys, I have been using turpentine to thin out the oil base paints. i use a small baby food jar filled with turpentine and then i start adding the oil paint, about a 2.5" to 3' squeeze works for me. very little paint and a whole lot of smelly stuff. When i first started this mixture i was in my basement mixing and painting as i go. before i knew it i was allmost on the floor. make sure you use really good ventilavtion. i built a five sided box to lay it down with the open end facing me. i then placed a bathroom exhaust fan on top with some under the counter light and it works great. about the painting time it dose not take me too long i use dreft can spray inbetween each color and or coat. after spraying i want five ten minutes and i can start painting again. it seems to work out fine for me i can get my other colors ready to go while the dreft is curing. it works for me... see my santa and how i got the rob colors...