
What is a substitute for turpentine?
- What Can I Use Instead Of Turpentine For Oil Painting?
- Lavender Spike Oil
- Linseed Oil
- Stand Oil
- Safflower Oil
- Clove Oil
- Walnut Oil
- Conclusion
What are the uses of turpentine?
What Heath Conditions Can Be Treated with Turpentine?
- Parasites. Turpentine is a tried and true folk remedy for parasites. ...
- Fungus and Candida. Turpentine is sometimes used in anti-candida protocols. ...
- Autism. Turpentine has been part of protocols used for autistic children. ...
- Head Lice. ...
- Arthritis and Gout. ...
- Cold and Flu Viruses. ...
- Urinary Tract Infection. ...
Can I use turpentine instead of mineral spirits?
You can use it instead of mineral spirits to thin oil paint and clean your painting tools. Turpentine is more toxic than mineral or white spirits. It gives off some nasty fumes, so make sure to use in a well ventilated area with a respirator.
Is turpentine and paint thinner the same thing?
Turpentine is technically considered a type of paint thinner but is used for many other purposes. It is a toxic but eco-friendly solvent made from pine sap that is best used for alkyd-based paint or oil paints. Many DIYers have heard of paint thinners, but not turpentine.

What do you use mineral turpentine for?
Mineral Turpentine is one of the most widely used hydrocarbon solvents as it combines good solvency with controlled evaporation. Use Mineral Turpentine for thinning paints, linseed oil, waxes and polishes, metal cleaning and clean-up of brushes and equipment after painting.
What is the difference between mineral turpentine and methylated spirits?
The key difference between methylated spirits and mineral turpentine is that methylated spirits have a violet colour while mineral turpentine is a clear liquid. Methylated spirit and mineral turpentine are two important types of solvents.
What is the difference between turpentine and mineral turpentine?
Mineral turpentine is chemically very different from turpentine, which mainly consists of pinene, and it has inferior solvent properties. Artists use mineral spirits as an alternative to turpentine since it is less flammable and less toxic.
How toxic is mineral turpentine?
* Turpentine can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, confusion and rapid pulse. * Breathing Turpentine can irritate the lungs causing coughing and/or shortness of breath. Higher exposures can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), a medical emergency, with severe shortness of breath.
Can you use mineral turpentine for cleaning?
Mineral Turpentine Uses It is a great degreaser for tools, parts, and machinery. Often turps can be referred to as “paint clean up” as it assists with cleaning any split paint, cleans paint brushes and painting equipment.
What can you clean with turpentine?
Turpentine is used to clean brushes, rollers and spray equipment, oil-based paint, varnish or polyurethane application tools. It can also be used on new wood before finishing. Healing.
How long does turpentine take to work?
Drying Medium You can usually expect your work to be touch dry within 24 hours after application with any of the above products.
Is white spirits the same as mineral turpentine?
White Spirit is known by a number of names. In the US/Canada it is most commonly known as Mineral Spirits. In Australia and New Zealand it is known as Mineral Turpentine. Turpentine Substitute, Petroleum Spirits and Paint Thinner are some other names for White Spirit.
Is mineral spirits toxic to humans?
Overall, the data showed that mineral spirits have a low order of acute toxicity and do not appear to produce toxicologically relevant systemic effects. Ongoing studies are evaluating the concerns associated with chronic low-level exposure and central nervous system effects.
How does turpentine affect the body?
Turpentine oil can cause serious side effects, including headache, sleeplessness, coughing, bleeding in the lungs, vomiting, kidney damage, brain damage, coma, and death. When applied to the skin: When small amounts of turpentine oil are applied to the skin, it is POSSIBLY SAFE.
Can mineral turpentine be used on skin?
Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing. Wash thoroughly after handling.
Is turpentine toxic to humans?
Turpentine is poisonous if swallowed. Children and adults can die from drinking turpentine. Fortunately, turpentine causes taste and odor problems before reaching toxic levels in humans.
Is mineral turpentine the same as mineral spirits?
Is turpentine and mineral spirits the same thing? No. Turpentine is distilled from pine trees while mineral spirits (or white spirits) are made from petroleum.
Can methylated spirits be used as paint thinner?
As you may guess now that you're an expert in paint thinners, you can use white spirit, turpentine and methylated spirit pretty much interchangeably. All of them are alternatives to each other. The pros are likely to have a preferred choice but would likely grab any of these paint thinners in a pinch.
What can methylated spirits be used for?
TYPICAL USESHeavy-duty disinfectant/hard surface cleaner.Cleaner for glass, mirrors, showers, tiles, fridges and other household appliances.Thinning paints, lacquers and varnishes and cleaning paint brushes.Stain remover/removing ink from non-porous surfaces.Window and floor cleaner.Removing sticker residue.More items...
What can I use instead of methylated spirits?
We did some research for you and found that there are 5 alternative to mineral spirits solutions available.Denatured alcohol.Charcoal lighter fluid – actually mineral spirits rebranded.Acetone (think nail polish remover)Turpentine.Oil, soap and water (natural ways to clean up paint)
Why is turpentine used in cleaning products?
Turpentine is also added to many cleaning and sanitary products due to its antiseptic properties and its "clean scent". In early 19th-century America, turpentine was sometimes burned in lamps as a cheap alternative to whale oil. It was most commonly used for outdoor lighting, due to its strong odour.
What is turpentine made of?
Chemical compound. Turpentine (which is also called gum turpentine, spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, wood turpentine, terebenthene, terebinthine and (colloquially), turps) is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines.
What is the difference between Canada balsam and Venice turpentine?
Canada balsam, also called Canada turpentine or balsam of fir, is a turpentine that is made from the oleoresin of the balsam fir. Venice turpentine is produced from the larch. Venice turpentine is a honey-like product often used by artists when painting in oil , and it is also used to treat horse's hooves.
How much turpentine is safe to work with?
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set the legal limit ( permissible exposure limit) for turpentine exposure in the workplace as 100 ppm (560 mg/m 3) over an 8-hour workday. The same threshold was adopted by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) as the recommended exposure limit (REL). At levels of 800 ppm, turpentine is immediately dangerous to life and health.
What is the average yield of sulfate turpentine?
The average yield of crude sulfate turpentine is 5–10 kg/t pulp.
Where does the word "turpentine" come from?
The word turpentine derives (via French and Latin ), from the Greek word τερεβινθίνη terebinthine, in turn the feminine form (to conform to the feminine gender of the Greek word, which means "resin") of an adjective (τερεβίνθινος) derived from the Greek noun (τερέβινθος), for the tree species terebinth.
Is turpentine enemas toxic?
Taken internally it was used as a treatment for intestinal parasites. This is dangerous, due to the chemical's toxicity. Turpentine enemas, a very harsh purgative, had formerly been used for stubborn constipation or impaction.
What is turpentine oil?
elliottii Engelm.), and other Pinus spp. that yield exclusively terpene oils, or to describe the essential oil obtained from oleoresin.
How is turpentine obtained?
Leung 1980, Trease 1989 Turpentine and rosin are also obtained by steam distillation of heartwood chips of pine stumps, which are byproducts of the lumber and paper industries; these sources currently account for the bulk of turpentine and rosin production in the United States. Leung 1980
How much turpentine is fatal?
Turpentine has been used for traditional self-medication in the United States, and fatal poisonings have been reported in children who have ingested as little as 15 mL. Boyd 1991 Turpentine is among the most commonly ingested poisons among childhood cases reported to poison control centers. Melis 1990 The average fatal oral dose is 15 to 150 mL. Guzel 2015
How long does it take for turpentine oil to become toxic?
Signs and symptoms of toxicity generally emerge within 2 to 3 hours after exposure. After oral ingestion, patients may experience an oral burning sensation, pain in oral cavity, thirst, cough, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Where is turpentine produced?
In terms of volume, turpentine is the largest essential oil product in the world, with the bulk of production occurring in the United States. Because collection of oleoresin is very labor intensive, output in the United States has declined considerably. Other principal world producers are Portugal and China, and other contributors include Spain, Greece, India, and Morocco. Trease 1989
Where does Canada turpentine come from?
Canada turpentine, or Canada balsam, is an oleoresin obtained from the stems of the balsam fir (Abies balsamea [Family Pinaceae]).
Does turpentine oil kill staph?
In an in vitro study, turpentine oil exerted antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. It was also found to exert activity against 2 strains of yeast. Schelz 2006
What is turpentine used for?
Turpentine, a yellow liquid with a strong odor, is commonly used as a paint and varnish solvent. It can also be found in medicine, fuel and chemicals. [box type=”warning”] When using turpentine, always wear a safety mask and work in a well-ventilated area. box]
Where does turpentine come from?
Turpentine, also known as turps, is a solvent that comes from the sap of different pine trees. It’s most commonly extracted from trees such as slash and longleaf pine, but can also come from Maritime Pines, Aleppo Pines or the Ponderosa Pines. These saps are then distilled and turned into resin. Turpentine, a yellow liquid with a strong odor, is ...
What is the best solvent for oil based paint?
Turpentine, derived from pine trees, is actually considered one of the most compatible solvents for oil-based paint ( Differece between Water Based and Oil based Polyurethane Paint ). It’s commonly used in for thinning paint a producing varnish.
What is mineral spirits?
Mineral spirits, on the other hand, are a fine organic solvent distilled from petroleum. Sometimes they are simply referred to as ‘paint thinner.’ They are the most popular alternatives to turpentine because they don’t require additional solvent to thin oil paint. However, overusing mineral spirits as a thinner may weaken the paints adherence to the surface. Mineral spirits are also used for cleaning machinery, cutting oil, and reaming lubricant. They are very effective when removing oil and other greases from metal.
What is the best alternative to turpentine?
Mineral spirits, on the other hand, are a fine organic solvent distilled from petroleum. Sometimes they are simply referred to as ‘paint thinner.’. They are the most popular alternatives to turpentine because they don’t require additional solvent to thin oil paint.
Is turpentine a good substitute for mineral spirits?
It used to be really popular a few years ago, but has recently been replaced by cheaper substitutes. Turpentine is fast drying but has a strong odor. In some cases, it can be more harmful to your health than mineral spirits. Mineral spirits, on the other hand, are a fine organic solvent distilled from petroleum.
Is turpentine a toxic substance?
However, recent research has proved that taking turpentine internally can be toxic, which means any treatment that required drinking it should now be discontinued.
What is turpentine made of?
Turpentine is a yellowish volatile liquid produced via the distillation of resins from trees, particularly conifers. The name was derived from the Greek word terebinthe, which was the name of the tree that was widely used as source for resins back in the early days.
Why is turpentine used in paint?
The popularity of turpentine in modern times has soared because it is used as an industrial solvent. This fluid is often applied as thinner for paints and varnishes. Because of its strong cleaning properties, it is also effective in removing oil and acrylic based paints, varnishes, tar, and tree sap residues.
What is chest rub used for?
When mixed with animal fat, this volatile liquid was also utilized as a chest rub to alleviate simple throat and nasal problems such as colds and sore throat. In fact, many chest rub compounds today still contain this substance. It is also used as a component for some topical ointments designed to alleviate muscle pains and rheumatic disorders.
What are the raw materials of turpentine?
All these compounds contain beta-pinene, camphene, alpha-pinene and rosins which, in turn, are major components of turpentine.
Is turpentine oil a disinfectant?
It is also worth noting that derivatives of this liquid are also added in many fragrances and flavor agents. Due to the antiseptic properties of turpentine oil, it can be found in many sanitary and cleaning products, such as disinfectants, cleansing agents, and other products with pine scents. Alternative Lamp Fuel.
Is turpentine flammable?
Continue reading below Our Video of the Day. Remember that turpentine is flammable and in some cases toxic, so be sure to consult safety tips (and if using it on your body, your doctor) before using it. Solvent. The popularity of turpentine in modern times has soared because it is used as an industrial solvent.
Is turpentine toxic?
Although many people in the past administered this volatile liquid internally, particularly in treating intestinal parasites, toothaches, and symptoms of cough and colds, modern studies have shown that taking or drinking this substance can be toxic. Still, there are experiments being conducted today to test the effectiveness of this fluid in the treatment of sexual dysfunctions and disseminated sclerosis. Scientists are also looking into the possibility of using this compound for anti-bacterial products. Lastly, animal testing on the use of turpentine in promoting inflammatory immune responses looks promising.
What is turpentine oil?
Charles Ramos, Jr. on Oct 16, 2019. Turpentine is a yellowish fluid obtained from the sap of pine and coniferous trees. The oily fluid is also referred to as turpentine oil or turps. It primarily consists of oil and a type of resin known as rosin. Turpentine oil is obtained when the rosin is distilled with steam.
Why use turpentine polish?
The turpentine helps to sustain the furniture in good condition for longer. It also improves the appearance of furniture due to the luster it gives. When used as part of a regular maintenance program, this polish can add to the longevity of your furniture. 6. Eco-Friendly.
How is tupentine oil obtained?
Turpentine oil is obtained when the rosin is distilled with steam. It works well when used as a solvent in paints and varnishes. It also has medicinal value and is widely used in cosmetology. Turpentine offers some distinct advantages.
How long does it take for turpentine to remove stains?
Apply small amounts onto the stained areas and allow about 20 minutes for it to work. You may want to scrub with a brush for increased efficacy then rinse it off with water. Re-apply if need be. The turpentine based stain remover will clear the yellowish areas and other stubborn stains.
Why do you use a turp in oil paint?
Turps is used to thin the paint before application. Due to its high evaporation rate , it is one of the most effective solvents for use in oil paints. When mixed with the paint, it facilitates faster drying of the paint. This makes the paint easier to use and enables a more effective application. 2.
Is a turp a solvent?
Turps isn’t as toxic as petroleum-based solvents. This makes it a more comfortable solvent to use, especially if you suffer allergic reactions. If you frequently undertake painting work, this is an important consideration. Your choice of solvent can help make a safer work environment.
Can you use turpentine to clean paint brushes?
However, turps goes a step further as it is able to clear slightly hardened paint from brushes. You must first clean off as much of the paint as you can from the brushes with rags or paper towels. Then dip the brushes into turpentine and swirl a few times for a thorough clean.
Which is better, turpentine or mineral spirits?
For most people involved in the painting space, turpentine will be the better option with it not only offering a higher level of performance and a better end result but also being slightly easier to use as a paint medium or cleaning agent. Mineral spirits does still have its place and comes in at a close second to turpentine with many people still opting to use it instead due to personal preference.
Can you use distilled turpentine for painting?
We would highly recommend that you go with a standard, distilled turpentine for your painting needs but there are other variants of turpentine on the market that can perform well. One thing we would recommend is that many of the scentless turpentine products that are on the market can perform well in most cases but will often not perform as well as regular distilled turpentine.
Can you mix mineral spirits with turpentine?
We do not recommend that you mix turpentine and mineral spirits for use with your oil paints as most people fail at making a mixture with the best features of both products and end up with the worse features of both instead. Simply sticking to turpentine (usually the best option) or mineral spirits without mixing the two together will often be the best path to take in most situations for oil painting.
Can you use turpentine in place of linseed oil?
In reality though, you are often able to use a wide range of different mediums in place of the linseed oil with a wide range of effects and drying times being available to you. Although turpentine is usually used to help reduce the required drying time of your base layers of oil paint, it is not essential and many people don’t use any mediums at all with their oil paints and will simply wait for their oil to naturally oxidise and dry.
Can you use turpentine to clean paint brushes?
Due to the vast majority of artists carrying turpentine in their collection due to it being such an excellent option for use as a medium for oil painting, turpentine often becomes the default option for cleaning your paint brushes after use. In reality though, mineral spirits do tend to offer a very similar level of performance making them an equally good choice for the majority of people.
Can you use mineral spirits on brushes?
Another advantage that mineral spirits has is that you are often able to use it to prevent your brushes from drying out when not in use or to clean them between colors. Although you can technically do this with turpentine and still get great results, you are usually able to add a little water to the mineral spirits to tweak its strength to what you need and still get great performance but adding even a small amount of water to turpentine can drastically reduce how well it will perform for you.
Do mineral spirits take lead?
When it comes to helping you quickly and easily remove paint from a surface that you accidently got it on during your painting session, mineral spirits dos tend to take the lead over turpentine in many cases due to it being quicker to lift the unwanted paint off the surface.
What is mineral spirits?
Photo: istockphoto.com. Commonly used as paint thinner, mineral spirits—an inexpensive petroleum distillate —is also a versatile cleaner. While you might not reach for it as often as a disinfectant spray, it’s highly effective at tackling some of the toughest home, yard, and garage messes. The trick is understanding what to use it on and how.
Is turpentine a solvent?
Turpentine is distilled from the sap of pine trees, and is an effective solvent, but has largely been replaced by mineral spirits due to its strongly lung-irritating fumes and its powerful odor. Advertisement.
Is mineral spirits the same as paint thinner?
Because all three solvents are used to thin paint, some folks think they’re the same thing and use the terms interchangeably—but the differences are worth noting. While both paint thinner and mineral spirits are petroleum-based solvents, mineral spirits is the more refined of the two .

Overview
Turpentine (which is also called spirit of turpentine, oil of turpentine, terebenthene, terebinthine and (colloquially) turps) is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin harvested from living trees, mainly pines. Mainly used as a specialized solvent, it is also a source of material for organic syntheses.
Turpentine is composed of terpenes, primarily the monoterpenes alpha- and beta-pinene, with les…
Etymology
The word turpentine derives (via French and Latin), from the Greek word τερεβινθίνη terebinthine, in turn the feminine form (to conform to the feminine gender of the Greek word, which means "resin") of an adjective (τερεβίνθινος) derived from the Greek noun (τερέβινθος), for the terebinth tree.
Although the word originally referred to the resinous exudate of terebinth trees (e.g. Chios turpentine, Cyprus turpentine, and Persian turpentine), it now refers to that of coniferous trees, na…
Source trees
Important pines for turpentine production include: maritime pine (Pinus pinaster), Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis), Masson's pine (Pinus massoniana), Sumatran pine (Pinus merkusii), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), slash pine (Pinus elliottii), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa).
To tap into the sap producing layers of the tree, turpentiners used a combinati…
Converting crude turpentine to oil of turpentine
Crude turpentine collected from the trees may be evaporated by steam distillation in a copper still. Molten rosin remains in the still bottoms after turpentine has been distilled out. Such turpentine is called gum turpentine. The term gum turpentine may also refer to crude turpentine, which may cause some confusion.
Turpentine may alternatively be extracted from destructive distillation of pine wood, such as shre…
Industrial and other end uses
As a solvent, turpentine is used for thinning oil-based paints, for producing varnishes, and as a raw material for the chemical industry. Its use as a solvent in industrialized nations has largely been replaced by the much cheaper turpentine substitutes obtained from petroleum such as white spirit. A solution of turpentine and beeswax or carnauba wax has long been used as a furniture wax.
Turpentine is also used as a source of raw materials in the synthesis of fragrant chemical comp…
Hazards
As an organic solvent, its vapour can irritate the skin and eyes, damage the lungs and respiratory system, as well as the central nervous system when inhaled, and cause damage to the renal system when ingested, among other things. Ingestion can cause burning sensations, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, confusion, convulsions, diarrhea, tachycardia, unconsciousness, respiratory failure, and chemical pneumonia.
See also
• Charles Herty – Chemist, academic, businessman, football coach
• Galipot
• McCranie's Turpentine Still
• Naval stores industry
External links
• Inchem.org, IPCS INCHEM Turpentine classification, hazard, and property table.
• CDC - NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Turpentine
• FAO.org, Gum naval stores: Turpentine and rosin from pine resin
Clinical Overview
- Use
Turpentine has been reported to be useful for its antiparasitic effects, particularly in the treatment of myiasis. Turpentine has been used experimentally in baths for treatment of disseminated sclerosis and sexual dysfunction; however, data are limited and safety and efficacy have not bee… - Dosing
Not applicable.
Source
- The term "turpentine" is used imprecisely to describe the oleoresin obtained from the longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.), slash pine (P. elliottii Engelm.), and other Pinus spp. that yield exclusively terpene oils, or to describe the essential oil obtained from oleoresin.Leung 1980 At least 6 additional Pinus spp. have been used in the production of turpentine.Trease 1989The oleoresin i…
History
- The primary use of turpentine has been as a solvent in paints. During the last century, it became an important starting material for the commercial synthesis of many widely used compounds, including camphor and menthol. Various products derived from turpentine have been used in chewing gums. Steam-distilled turpentine oil has been used as a food and beverage flavoring in …
Chemistry
- Turpentine is composed primarily of monoterpene hydrocarbons, the most prevalent of which are the pinenes, camphene, and 3-carene. Rosin contains mostly diterpene resin acids, such as abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, palustric acid, and isopimaric acid. Numerous other compounds are present in small quantities in all turpentine products. Canada turpentine, or Canada balsam, is a…
Uses and Pharmacology
- Turpentine and its related products (the oil and rosin) are important in commerce and traditional medicine. These products can pose a toxicity risk and should be handled and stored carefully.
Adverse Reactions
- The contact allergenic activity of turpentine may be caused primarily by the pinenes 3-carene and dipentene. The resin also has irritant potential. In one survey of individuals involved in the manufacture of tires, patch testing indicated that 2.6% developed hypersensitivity reactions to turpentine. Benign skin tumors have been observed in animal models following chronic topical a…
Toxicology
- Turpentine has been used for traditional self-medication in the United States, and fatal poisonings have been reported in children who have ingested as little as 15 mL.Boyd 1991 Turpentine is among the most commonly ingested poisons among childhood cases reported to poison control centers.Melis 1990 The average fatal oral dose is 15 to 150 mL.Guzel 2015 Turpentine oil is toxi…
Disclaimer
- This information relates to an herbal, vitamin, mineral or other dietary supplement. This product has not been reviewed by the FDA to determine whether it is safe or effective and is not subject to the quality standards and safety information collection standards that are applicable to most prescription drugs. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this pro…
Further Information
- Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Medical Disclaimer