turpentine vs. mineral spirt
Tom_O
apartment without much ventalation I'm worried about harmful fumes.
I've done a few paintings, using turp to clean brushes and as part of
my medium formula. The hamster isn't dead yet so I don't think the
environment is up to toxic levels. My question is, can I get rid of
turp altogether and use paint thinner (mineral spirit) instead? Any
differences in the way the paint handles, drying time, etc. with paint
thinner vs. turp? Is mineral spirit even safer than turp? Please
don't recommend I switch to acrylics I like oils too much.
Thanks,
Tom
Ivor E. Black
tom_over...@yahoo.com says...
>My question is, can I get rid of
>turp altogether and use paint thinner (mineral spirit) instead?
YES! My formula, used successfully for many
years, is one third thinner, artist-grade linseed
oil, and damar varnish. I also use a bit of
cobalt drier to hasten the drying time. I often
use a half/half mix of linseed oil and thinner
for some passages. What you really need
turpentine for is melting the damar crystals
if you choose to make your own varnish - as
I do. Thinner won't melt the damar crystals.
Andrew D
tom_over...@yahoo.com (Tom_O) wrote:
Renowned seascape artist E. John Robinson recommends mineral spirits.
My understanding is that mineral spirits (white spirits in some places)
evaporates slower than turps so you get less fumes "per minute". So, it
smells a little less and is a little less harmful for you.
I use no solvents or mediums in my paintings and take my brushes out to
the garage to wash them out in mineral spirits. I do find m/spirits has
far less effect on my nasal passages than turps or even low-odour turps.
Andy D.
"I'm a great speller - but a hopless tpyist!"
Ivor E. Black
right@the_end.of.my_tether says...
>My understanding is that mineral spirits (white spirits in some places)
>evaporates slower than turps so you get less fumes "per minute". So, it
>smells a little less and is a little less harmful for you.
The evaporation rate is not the worst problem when
it comes to toxicity. The problem with turpentine
is the origin for the thinner - pine sap. Apparently
there are certain people who become allergic to
turpentine and eventually suffer reactions serious
enough to keep them from using it altogether.
Mineral spirits (ordinary paint thinner) is derived
from petroleum distillates and seems not to have
the allergic affect on people. But it is toxic if
used carelessly.
Caveat: All solvents should be handled with prudence,
regardless of the origin. Be "Artist Smart" in
the use of all your art supplies.
Andrew D
Black) wrote:
[snip]
>Caveat: All solvents should be handled with prudence,
I tried handling Prudence once, she told me to bugger off!
>regardless of the origin. Be "Artist Smart" in
>the use of all your art supplies.
I believe more people are at risk from pastel dust than from turps or
other solvents. Because solvents usually have a warning of some sort on
the bottle (and most people would assume smelly solvents aren't too good
for them), most oil painters probably do think a little when them - but
how many pastelists wear masks and gloves?
Ivor E. Black
right@the_end.of.my_tether says...
>I believe more people are at risk from pastel dust than from turps or
>other solvents.
Only if they are silly enough to blow the pastel
dust around or otherwise fill the air with it.
On the other hand, when using solvents, they
evaporate and fill the immediate air regardless
of whether one fans them. As one who was born
and has spent a major portion of my life in
sandy dusty dirty desert climes, I have breathed
dust with all sorts of included minerals all
of my life - which so far has been quite lengthy
and free of illness - KNOCK WOOD.
Ridama
m.spirit mixtures I suppose.
I like turpentine, but it bothers a lot of artist. The important thing, and the
reason I wrote is this... If you use damar varnish in your medium, You will
have to use turpentine spirits will not work well with damar.
Hope this helps, and I agree oil is worth any health risk.
Rick
Ivor E. Black
says...
>reason I wrote is this... If you use damar varnish in your medium, You will
>have to use turpentine spirits will not work well with damar.
Not true. You need to use turpentine if you are
dissolving solid damar crystals to make damar
varnish.
But once the crystals are dissolved into the turpentine you
can use mineral spirits (paint thinner) to further
thin the varnish you've created, including mixing
it by thirds - linseed oil, mineral spirits, varnish -
to create a painting medium useful in glazing.
Andrew D
>The problem with turpentine
>is the origin for the thinner - pine sap. Apparently
>there are certain people who become allergic to
>turpentine and eventually suffer reactions serious
>enough to keep them from using it altogether.
>Mineral spirits (ordinary paint thinner) is derived
>from petroleum distillates and seems not to have
>the allergic affect on people. But it is toxic if
>used carelessly.
Pure Gum Turps comes from trees but as far as I'm aware mineral turps
(used by a lot of artists) is much the same as mineral spirits though
processed slightly differently and having different effects on people.
Ivor E. Black
right@the_end.of.my_tether says...
>Pure Gum Turps comes from trees but as far as I'm aware mineral turps
>(used by a lot of artists) is much the same as mineral spirits though
>processed slightly differently and having different effects on people.
I'm sure you're right about the similarity, but
I've never heard of "mineral turps." Perhaps it's
the way we label things in the USA vs AU. In
any event, MINERAL means something other than
an ORGANIC source. In this case it's necessary
to consider coal and oil and other MINERALS
with an organic basis. One can argue that coal
and oil are not true minerals but that doesn't
change how the USA manufacturers label them.
So in the USA, we have MINERAL SPIRITS which is
the same as PAINT THINNER and is derived from
petroleum. And we have TURPENTINE
which is derived from pine sap. You can still
buy both in most hardware and paint stores - in the USA!