Handyman Guide > Paint Thinners

The purpose of a paint thinner is to thin down the texture of the paint without destroying any of its qualities as a preservative. Naturally, a paint can be thinned just so much without losing some of its effectiveness. The amount of thinner required for each coat is generally specified by the manufacturer of ready-mixed paints and printed on the label.



It is just as important to select a good grade of thinner as it is to buy a good grade of paint. The best oil paint can be rendered worthless by mixing in a poor quality thinner. Remember that some kinds of finish require a special thinner and read over the directions printed on the container before adding anything to the paint.

Linseed Oil. A good quality linseed oil is an excellent thinner for oil paints. It is obtained by crushing flax seeds and allowing the oil to age before it is put in containers for sale. There are two kinds of linseed oil, boiled and raw. Boiled linseed oil has either been boiled or had a drier added, and thus will dry faster than raw linseed oil. Raw linseed oil, as the name implies, is free of any other ingredients and is commonly used as a thinner for most oil paints.

There has been a considerable shortage of pure linseed oil since the war, and there are many poor substitutes on the market. Be sure that you get the real linseed oil when you order.

Turpentine. Turpentine is another excellent thinner for oil paints. It is made from pine trees and it dries slowly, allowing the paint time to sink into the pores of the wood. Turpentine evaporates, however, and adds nothing to the general quality of the paint, as does linseed oil.

Benzine. Benzine is a light, volatile liquid that is sometimes used as a thinner for oil paints, but it is very, inferior to both linseed oil and turpentine.

Alcohol. Denatured alcohol is used primarily for thinning shellac. It is also used for removing old shellac and for cleaning shellac brushes.

MIXING PAINTS

Although the home mechanic can purchase white lead, linseed oil, turpentine, and Japan drier, and mix his own paints, he will find that it is more convenient to buy ready-mixed paints, provided they are of good quality. Mixing paint is not difficult, but it requires time which the weekend painter does not always have, and all the ingredients used must be of good quality or the mixture will be poor.

Ready-Mixed Paint. When purchasing a ready-mixed paint, do not try to save money on a cheap product, particularly if it is to be used on exterior surfaces. A good brand of paint, properly applied, will give many years of service, while an inferior paint quickly disintegrates. If a poor quality paint is used, it will have to be removed before a new finish can be applied. This will require many hours if you do the work yourself, or considerable expense if a painter does it for you. Good paint, on the other hand, when it finally shows signs of wear, can be painted over with only a few minor surface preparations.



Continue to Mixing Paint and Surface Preparation



Tools and Materials

Hammers - Handsaws - Screwdrivers - Chisels - Brace and Bit - Hand Drill - Brad Awl - Planes - Files - Measuring Tools - Rules - Squares - Marking Gauge - Levels - Pincers - Nail Set - Drawknife - Cabinet Scraper - Small Tool Kit - Putty Knife - Pliers - Wrenches - Paint Scraper - Sharpening Tools - Nails - Wood Screws - Corrugated Fasteners - Mending Plates - Bolts - Abrasives - Woodworking Glue - Splices and Joints.

The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

Home Construction
Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

Sign up for our weekly newsletter about how to start a handyman business. Get tips for finding clients, managing work and more.

More articles about starting a handyman business:

How to Start a Handyman Business

Handyman Business Cards

Handyman Clients: How to Find the Best Ones

Are You Cut Out to Be a Handyman?

Tools for a Handyman Business

Payment Options for Handymen

How To Advertise a Handyman Business



Customer Service Tips for Handymen

Choosing a Name for a Handyman Business

Record Keeping Basics for Handymen

Being a Handyman Versus Having a Handyman Business or a Franchise

Getting a Website for Your Handyman Business

Getting Paid Upfront: Deposit Policies for Handymen

How Much To Charge Per Hour

Should You Charge by the Hour, or by the Job?

Insurance for Handymen

Handyman Business Book Reviews

The Handyman Guide: How to Fix and Build 1000s of Things Around the House