
Fill the cup of a spray gun about half full with fresh lacquer from the container. Hold the gun tip about 6 inches from a test surface and spray a coat of material. An uneven spray pattern, sputtering gun or grainy feel to the surface after the lacquer dries are all signs that the lacquer should be thinned.
- Pour half of the lacquer into a clean gallon can.
- Pour 1 pint of lacquer thinner into the can and mix it in with a flat stick.
- Pour the thinned lacquer into the spray gun and test it by spraying it on some scrap wood. Let the lacquer dry on the wood for 30 minutes.
- Examine the dry lacquer.
What can you use instead of lacquer thinner?
What can you use instead of lacquer thinner? Linseed, poppy, walnut and safflower are the best known, tried and trued. Stick with them and you are ok. Stay away from any oil that is not a drying oil that has been shown to work well with oil paints.
How much lacquer thinner should I use?
Use the ML Campbell lacquer thinner recommended by the tech sheet. Use as much as you need to thin your material out so that it sprays right. You may not get the hiding power that you would expect with the material only reduced 0% to 10%, meaning you might have to lay down additional coats, but that's the price you pay when you choose spraying equipment such as yours.
Can I use denatured alcohol to thin lacquer?
While mineral spirits can thin lacquers and even varnish, this petroleum product will not thin shellac. If you want to thin shellac, you need to use alcohol to cut it. Denatured alcohol, (also known as methylated spirits in commonwealth countries like the UK, Australia and Canada), is what you should be using to thin out shellac.
Is paint thinner and lacquer thinner the same thing?
Lacquer thinners are a mixture of solvents that are typically used to dissolve plastic and resins in most modern lacquers. Lacquer thinner is not the same as paint thinner. It is too caustic for oil paints, whereas paint thinner is comprised of mineral spirits that are typically used to thin oil-based paints.

What can you thin lacquer with?
If you can't easily get 275 VOC lacquer, an alternative is to thin regular lacquer with acetone or a “fast” lacquer thinner from an auto-body supply store. Acetone will provide the fastest drying because it is the fastest evaporating, commonly available, lacquer solvent.
Can you thin lacquer with water?
You can thin water-based finishes with water to improve atomization, but the thinning is different than with lacquer. Very little water makes a much bigger difference than lacquer thinner in lacquer. So try 5 percent or so at first and see how this works.
Can I use acetone to thin lacquer?
Acetone is a key ingredient in most lacquer thinners including Ecolink's Lacquer Thinner #11, Lacquer Thinner #48, and Lacquer Thinner #51. Acetone is an important component in every type of lacquer thinner product, because as a solvent acetone is a very strong and effective cleaning agent.
How do you thin spray lacquer?
8:2610:33How to Spray Brushing Lacquer - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the acetone is what's really knocking. This stuff down to a very thin spray lacquer like mixture.MoreSo the acetone is what's really knocking. This stuff down to a very thin spray lacquer like mixture. So just use less of that if you prefer and then you can pass it through a larger nozzle.
How do you dilute lacquer?
Pour half of the lacquer into a clean gallon can.Pour 1 pint of lacquer thinner into the can and mix it in with a flat stick.Pour the thinned lacquer into the spray gun and test it by spraying it on some scrap wood. Let the lacquer dry on the wood for 30 minutes.Examine the dry lacquer.
How much thinner do I add to lacquer?
Mixing Lacquer If you do need to add lacquer thinner, you usually fill the spray cup about three-fourths full of lacquer and then add the thinner. You shouldn't have to thin by more than 20 percent.
What works the same as lacquer thinner?
Mineral spirits or paint lacquer thinner … which is better? For cleaning brushes, paint thinner is best since it's half the cost of mineral spirits and basically works the same. Other than the price, the differences between the two solvents are subtle: Both are petroleum products.
Can you use mineral spirits to thin lacquer?
However, some thinners can also act as solvents, and some solvents are used for thinning. For example, mineral spirits is a thinner for varnish, but it will also dissolve wax. Denatured alcohol is a solvent for shellac flakes, but is also a thinner for shellac and lacquer.
Is acetone and lacquer thinner the same thing?
The key difference between acetone and lacquer thinner is that acetone is an organic compound and appears as a colorless, flammable liquid that is highly volatile, whereas lacquer thinner is a substance that is useful to thin lacquer-based paints.
Can you thin lacquer with paint thinner?
Generally, it's best to avoid substituting lacquer thinner for paint thinner or the other way around. Manufacturers do not recommend lacquer thinner for use as a paint thinner or solvent. Conversely, paint thinner isn't designed for dissolving lacquers. Its composition just isn't right for this use.
How do I get a smooth finish with spray lacquer?
5:066:33The secret to getting an awesome finish with spray lacquer in under ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipPaper or even just a brown paper bag and just start buffing the surface. Feel free to get prettyMorePaper or even just a brown paper bag and just start buffing the surface. Feel free to get pretty aggressive here and just keep feeling with your other hand as you're buffing.
Is it better to brush or spray lacquer?
Lacquer is available for application with either a brush or as a spray. However, it is not a good idea to try and brush on a spray-on lacquer application, as the spray versions are much quicker drying.
Is lacquer water soluble?
Lacquer can simply be dissolved and wiped off with lacquer thinner or paint stripper. Water-based finishes are also more difficult to clean from a spray gun. You usually have to disassemble it to remove all the finish.
Can brushing lacquer be thinned?
Yes, you can spray "brushing lacquer"--although depending on your gun, you will most likely want to thin it first with lacquer thinner.
Can you thin lacquer with mineral spirits?
The thinner to use for oil-based varnish and polyurethane is mineral spirits – 3 or 4 parts varnish to 1 part mineral spirits.
Is lacquer water-based or oil-based?
Lacquers are resin-based solutions emulsified (made into liquid) by solvents (oils) which dry into a hard transparent film when exposed to air.
How long does it take to dry lacquer?
Pour the thinned lacquer into the spray gun and test it by spraying it on some scrap wood. Let the lacquer dry on the wood for 30 minutes.
What happens when lacquer is too thick?
When the consistency is right, air is allowed to escape from the lacquer as it dries. If the lacquer is too thick, air is trapped under the lacquer, causing problems. To remedy this, thin it with lacquer thinner. Advertisement.
Can you thin lacquer?
It is not advisable to thin the lacquer more than twice, but in extreme cases, such as older lacquer that has evaporated some, you can do it.
Can you spray thick lacquer?
If you are having problems with lacquer, such as bubbles, extended drying times, or rough finishes, you might need thinner lacquer. Thick lacquer will not spray or dry correctly. When lacquer has the correct consistency, it atomizes in the air; when it comes into contact with the wood, the atomized particles reform into a glassy sheet.
Can you thin lacquer?
So, ask several finisher’s, get several answers. Yes you can thin the lac quer. Sure, thin with box store lac quer thinner. Just make sure you test first, for any finish curing issues.
Can you dilute lacquer?
Yes, you can dilute lacquer. Pour some lacquer into a clean glass jar and add thinner until it you are happy with the consistency. Thinning is required to spray most lacquers. I have no idea what brand of lacquer thinner I use. The Deft lacquer is pretty good but lately I've been using a lacquer from General Paint.
What to do if lacquer thinner gets on skin?
Ingredients in lacquer thinner are labeled hazardous and hence if it gets on your skin you should wash off your skin immediately with soap and water.
Why add thinner to lacquer?
Adding a small amount of thinner makes the lacquer flow better to create a finish that is smooth, glossy, and free of streaks. It is also used to move adhesives and inks from different types of surfaces. Lacquer thinner should be added a little at a time to produce the right consistency.
What are Few Household Alternatives to Lacquer Thinner?
Just in case you are low on budget or have finished up your solvent in between the project, there are a few lacquer thinner alternatives that can be used.
What is the difference between lacquer and paint thinner?
The basic difference between the paint thinner and a lacquer thinner lies in the differences in their chemical composition and flammability. Since lacquer thinner is richer in volatile hydrocarbons and light molecules (that vaporizes easily), it’s more volatile and flammable compared to paint thinners.
What is lacquer thinner?
What is Lacquer Thinner? It is a combination of solvents that can dissolve the plastics or resins used in modern lacquer products.
What can be used as a degreaser?
Mineral spirits and lacquer thinners can be used as degreaser as well.
What is paint thinner made of?
As mentioned before, it usually contains solvents like xylene, acetone, toluene, and methyl ethyl ketone which are made up of lighter molecules. Also, due to the fact that the molecules in the paint thinner are heavier (usually because of the Stoddard solvent it includes), it carries an oily texture.
How to lower the thickness of a material?
The thickness of a material is lowered in one of two ways, either by introducing more reducer (thinning) or by raising the temperature of the material. When you raise the temperature of the material you do not lower the percentage of solids by volume. When you reduce the material you do lower the percentage of solids by volume.
Is magnalac better than lacquer?
It does not seem to tolerate going over that dried mil thickness unless you do not mind a finish that shatters. As far as the durability of Magnalac, it is little better than ordinary lacquer. It is a precat, sure, but so what.
Is Danspeed a conversion varnish?
Danspeed is not a conversion varnish. It is a post-catalyzed lacquer
