How to mix acrylic paint with hardener. How and with what you can dilute alkyd paint: choose the composition

When staining various surfaces Acrylic paints often require the composition to have the right consistency, so it is very important to choose the right thinner. If the dilution solution is chosen incorrectly, then the consequences can be very sad. Incorrect proportions also degrade the quality of the applied mixture.

Acrylic composition is a kind of modern water-based (water-dispersed) paints. Due to many positive properties (environmental friendliness, reliability, quick drying), this solution is perfect for painting surfaces inside and outside the premises. Acrylic mixtures are also actively used for decorating and painting, there are special options for various materials.

By consistency, the water-based acrylic solution is most often a rather thick mixture that needs to be diluted. To select the optimal diluent, you need to pay attention to the composition. The main component that gave the name to this group of paints is water, the base can be up to 50-60% of the solution.

Thus, the solvent is water, which, in order to obtain an ideal result, must meet certain requirements:

1. Temperature. To dilute the mixture, the liquid must have a value within 20 degrees. If a facade type of paint is used, it is 4–5 degrees higher than the street indicator (minimum 15–18 ° C).
2. No impurities. It is recommended to use distilled water, which does not contain foreign substances. If such a composition cannot be obtained, then the liquid is first brought to a boil and settled.

Important! In private country houses there are own wells and wells, but the water extracted from them is often salty. It cannot be used for dilution even after settling, in which case the water must undergo special filtration.

Features of diluting acrylic with water

To properly dilute acrylic paints, you need to know the proportions that allow you to achieve different results:

• Ratio 1:2. If one part of the coloring mixture accounts for two parts of water, then such a solution is quite liquid. It holds well on the brush, but leaves streaks behind, so it is better to lay it with a fleecy roller. The mixture is suitable for creating a base for a base coat.
• Proportion 1:1. This composition is used to obtain the base layer. It has good viscosity and adheres well to the surface. After it, a composition similar in consistency can be applied, but it is better to dilute the final layer minimally.
• A less common option is when the paint needs to be dissolved in five parts of water. This method is used professional designers or artists when you need to tint textured elements. The composition is quickly absorbed, and the layer is barely noticeable.

The paint, which is used in gradient staining to create a transition between tones, is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:15

Also, dilution of acrylic in a ratio of 1:5 or more is performed when creating a primer for highly porous substrates, if it is not possible to purchase a special primer. Such a mixture penetrates quite deeply.

On a note! Now on sale there are many modern water-based acrylic compositions that do not need in large numbers thinner. For them, the maximum is considered to be 10% of the total mass of the coloring matter.

What else is diluted with paint?

Although water is the optimal solvent that is available to everyone, there are special liquids - thinners. According to the structure, they are divided into several varieties:

Application of acrylic thinners

Specialized formulations are also divided by drying speed. Properly selected option allows you to perform work even in difficult conditions.

There are the following varieties:

• Slow. Suitable for outdoor and internal works if the temperatures are very high. The fact is, due to the rapid evaporation of ordinary water, the coating does not acquire desired properties and can be destroyed. And slowly evaporating thinners make it possible to get the job done right, as a result, the surfaces receive reliable protection.
• Medium. it universal composition, the best option for work inside the house or apartment.
• Fast. They are mainly used outside, including at low temperatures. In such conditions, the paint does not have time to adhere to the base with a simple dilution, and a quick thinner solves this problem.

When choosing a solvent in terms of drying speed, they are guided by the ambient temperature, so a “fast” thinner is used at temperatures from 5 to 15 ° C, at 15-25 ° C “medium” is used, in hot weather from 25 ° C a “slow” is needed

In addition, a different ratio of solvent and coloring composition makes it possible to obtain a layer of various thicknesses.

On a note! Depending on the tool, a different degree of dilution of the mixture will be required. For example, a roller and a brush need sufficient viscosity so that the solution can be easily picked up and held. For the spray gun, the situation is reversed - the material must be more liquid, otherwise spraying will not work.

How paints are bred for drawing

Dilution of acrylic-based art paints is a more responsible process. The fact is that the volume of such compositions is small, so you can not make a mistake with the proportion.

Dissolution is carried out using a conventional pipette, it allows you to dose the amount of diluent used. Wet palettes are selected for mixing, this will eliminate the possibility of quick drying. Getting the right consistency depends on the desired result and the work being done, but it is best to test individually.

In case of excessive dilution, add some paint or leave the mixture to dry.

What to do if acrylic paint is dry?

It happens that due to improper storage at home, even for a short time, the composition has time to thicken or dry out strongly. To correct this situation, you must do the following:

• The acrylic mixture differs from simple enamels in that it can be diluted with varying degrees of drying of the main composition. So, with an increase in viscosity, water is simply added to the solution and mixed well. The main thing is to close the container tightly. This rule is also true for those cases when there is a small residue after coloring.
• If clots are observed in the composition, then a little alcohol is added to the water. The mixture is thoroughly mixed until the lumps disappear completely. A small amount of solvent is poured on top, the container is well sealed.

It is more difficult to restore the dried composition. To do this, a whole range of actions is performed:

1. The hardened material is removed from the container and broken into small pieces. It is important to exclude the ingress of dirt and dust.
2. Lumps must be crushed as much as possible. To do this, you can use a piece of pipe or fittings of a suitable diameter.
3. The resulting powder is poured into a convenient container and filled with well-heated water. The solution is not stirred, but shaken several times. After a minute, the liquid drains.
4. A new portion of hot liquid is added, the procedure is repeated.
5. A special diluent is poured in, the mixture is well stirred until the desired viscosity is obtained. But such a material will no longer have all the properties.

If the paint has dried to a stone state, then it is better to refuse to restore it. Although it is possible to follow the previous procedure, which will require effort and time, the resulting composition is best used for utility rooms.

The look of the car is very important factor, which can tell a lot, both about the owner and about the vehicle. With the help of well-executed painting, even the oldest car can be transformed, and the quality of this procedure is highly dependent on the selected automotive solvent. Therefore, it is very important to know what solvent to dilute car paint with.

In terms of chemical composition, organic solvents for painting cars are practically no different from other solvents for enamels and paints that are used in production and at home. Automotive solvents must perform three functions:

• Clean and degrease surfaces.
• Thin the paint to the desired consistency.
• Rinse tools after work (for example, spray gun).

The choice of solvent for automotive paints is determined by the type of work carried out and the characteristics of the composition for painting.

The main indicators of solvents for car paints: density, appearance, fire hazard level, acidity, flash point, degree of toxicity, water content, volatility, as well as the content of chemical impurities.

But still main characteristic is the degree of volatility, or in other words - the rate of evaporation of the solvent on the painted surface. According to the degree of volatility, solvents are classified into slow (suitable for painting a car in the summer), universal (for work in the off-season, have an average degree of evaporation), fast (used in winter).

What thinner should be used to thin car paint?

To know which solvent to use when painting a car, you need to determine the type of paint used. All modern automotive paints are divided into four types:

• Acrylic - the most common type that requires the use of a hardener.
• Nitro paints. The most popular synthetic nitro enamel with a metallic effect.
• Alkyd enamels.
• Water-based paints, gaining popularity because of their environmental qualities.

At the same time, light paints are the most susceptible to the quality of the chosen solvent for metallics. An unsuitable or poor-quality solvent for such paint is dangerous because stains can form on the surface.

In the case of painting a car with alkyd paints, be aware that in this case, a thinner of the R-4 brand, as well as xylene or toluene in its pure form, is perfect for dilution. But it should be remembered that the actual use of these paints is greatly reduced, this is due to the tightening of environmental standards. Therefore, in the future, it may be that the use of alkyd paints will be banned.

Water-based paints - this is the type of paint that is rapidly gaining popularity. As the name implies, such a composition can be diluted with distilled water, alcohol or ether. If you have chosen to work with ether or alcohol, then remember that not every mixing option is compatible. For preliminary troubleshooting, you need to check the paint for curdling. To do this, it is recommended to use a small part of the paint.

Car paint thinner is one of the most important and indispensable components in painting works Oh. There are a lot of them and only certain ones are needed for the correct dilution of the paint. So, in order not to be mistaken, how to dilute paint, acrylic or any other, we will consider the main types of solvents and their use.

In principle, diluent and solvent are the same substance. Both serve to bring the material to the required viscosity (paint, primer, liquid putty, base enamel, etc.)
The manufacturer always indicates which solvent is best used for painting cars. Each paint system has its own required hardener and thinner. Be sure to read the instructions before using reverse side containers. It will indicate what type of thinner to use, at what temperature and for what material.

It’s worth saying right away which solvents should not be used in order to dilute acrylic paint- these are organic 646, 647, 650, etc. When diluting paint or varnish with them, difficulties in painting can also arise. Use them only for washing or other tools. The price for them is not great for cleaning the most it.

Types of solvents and thinners, which one to choose?

If you have a question, how to dilute acrylic paint? There is only one answer, use any branded acrylic thinner. Even if it is of a different company than the diluted paint, varnish, primer, etc. Just don't use the ones mentioned above! Branded acrylic thinner is an order of magnitude more expensive than conventional thinners, but for quality repair it is recommended to use them.

If branded acrylic is over or you want to save money, then you can use a domestic manufacturer of materials thinner P12 universal solvent. It has been successfully tested in almost all acrylic materials(varnishes, acrylic paints, primers, epoxies). There were no problems or defects. It can be safely considered as a universal solvent. P12 is "normal.

And so, the main criterion for choosing a thinner for diluting paint is the ambient temperature. temperature needs to be determined environment before painting and as a result it is to choose the right one. Temperature affects the drying time of the material. In hot weather, the solvent evaporates faster and the paint does not have time to spread. Defects appear, large shagreen, overspray. In cold weather, evaporation will be too slow, and there may be more debris.

There are three groups of acrylic thinners:

1. Slow
2. Normal
3. Quick

Therefore, for quality work, always choose the material under certain temperature air.
If it is cold, then use a "fast" thinner at a temperature of 5 to 15 degrees. At normal temperatures from 15 to 25, "normal" is used. And in hot weather from 25 degrees, a slow one is needed. All numbers are indicative, see the manufacturer's instructions for exact definition. In the photo below, a series of thinners from Body 740 741 742.

It should be noted that there is no special thinner for varnish or for primer, acrylic. For their dilution, a universal acrylic thinner is used. But for the base enamel there is a solvent for the base. Although many use the usual universal.

Solvents for transition

In addition to universal ones, there is also a solvent for the transition. They are not designed to dilute varnishes and enamels. Their purpose is to make an inconspicuous transition between old and new paint or varnish. To do this, the transition solvent is applied from a paint sprayer or aerosol can to dry "dust" in the transition zone of varnish or acrylic paint.

It is extremely important to note that the solvent for transitioning over varnish or acrylic paint is "acrylic" and for transitioning through the base, it is also called "Binder" are completely different products. The binder for painting is something like a transparent base. It is used so that the metallic grain does not stick out like a "hedgehog" in the transition zone, but correctly "subsides", which will provide a high-quality invisible transition.

How to mix colors correctly.

For high-quality painting, the paintwork material must be of a certain viscosity, and in order to mix it correctly, there is a special tool:

Each has its own advantages and what to use is purely everyone's choice. The measuring ruler is reusable, it will last a very long time, unlike a measuring cup. Measuring rulers are double-sided (each side has a different mixing ratio). Basically like this: 2:1 and 4:1 and another option 3:1 and 5:1.
How to use a measuring ruler and a glass in the photo below, there is nothing complicated about it.
Be sure to read the instructions on the package before mixing paints, in what ratio to dilute the material. Below I will tell you in what proportions to mix various coatings.

Mixing acrylic paint "acrylic":

For Vika paint, this is a 4:1 ratio with a hardener and 20% -30% thinner. And for Mobihel 2:1 with hardener and 10%-20% thinner.

Base mixing:
The base paint is generally mixed 2:1. That is, the base itself and half of it is a solvent. It can also be mixed 1:1.

Varnish mixing:
With varnishes, almost the same story as with acrylics. Varnish is diluted 2:1 with hardener and thinner from 0% to 20%. Depending on what viscosity you need it.
All the above mentioned figures are approximate, they can change for certain needs and the type of work, and application technique. In general, see the instructions before use and there will be no problems.

To accurately determine the viscosity of paint, there is a special tool called a viscometer. The work of the viscometer: the viscometer is immersed in paint, taken out and noted for how long it takes to empty. As soon as the jet begins to drip, the stopwatch is stopped.
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How to properly dilute the paint and what it can mean "correctly". This includes not only adding the right amount of hardener (and thinner) to the paint according to the instructions ...
There seem to be only two secrets to a smooth, beautiful paint job.
One of them is the selection of the correct viscosity of paint (or varnish), suitable for your spray gun and your style of painting.
It is absolutely clear that thick paint will go down worse and even with the so-called “shagreen leather”. If you use excessively thick paint, then when painting from an airbrush, it may then simply not have any kind of shine. It is when painting from a spray gun.
The fact is that it is really a big difference to paint with a brush or from a spray gun.
In the second case, additional air enters the paint particles, which additionally dries it, the drops fly “dry”.
Dry paint particles lie on the surface, which cannot completely dissolve in each other and therefore will not then stretch into a beautiful smooth surface.
It's a bit of a rough description, but it sort of gets the point across. For me, at least, this is important.
Few people even talk about diluting paint “for a beautiful result”, but this is a very important part of painting (and painting is all about moments and little things). In general, we call this item an important component of “success”. The point is not at all to figure out who is better to paint, but to find something important in painting.
And what is the second “secret” in painting.
It is correct to transfer this paint. Everyone has their own style and their own spray gun. Someone has a spray gun high pressure(paints, say, at a pressure of 2.5 or more atm.), Someone has an HVLP spray gun that has a working pressure of 2.0. The first normally spills paint on the surface from a distance of 15-20 cm, the second, no matter how hard you try at such a distance, will not be able to give a smooth surface. Its normal distance is up to 15 cm, it has a weaker pressure, but it saves material and produces less dust. Means for smooth painting of these two spray guns is already different.
There is also an average type of spray gun (between them), the LVLP system, again you can paint from a distance of 15 cm or more.
Also, for paint, the size of the nozzle on the spray gun is recommended. Nozzle 1.4 recommended for enamel and lacquer
But you can paint well with enamel or varnish with a nozzle of 1.3 and even 1.2.
For nozzle 1.2, you will have to thin the paint even more.

So. On the bank there is an instruction for dilution (picture).
There is a hardener and thinner for paint (or varnish). No one will tell you the exact proportions of dilution for different manufacturers, they are on banks. But all the same (when diluted), we have to proceed from the situation that we have at the moment.
For example.
– Good room temperature (+ 20 degrees).

Then the paint after adding a portion of the hardener to it already becomes quite fluid. You may have to add only the very minimum of diluent to it (for example, 3-5%).
- Another situation. The room is cold. And then the diluent will have to be added already more - perhaps it is already 5-10-15%. There is also a “bypass option” (very suitable for winter). Heat the paint - then it becomes more liquid ...
Another example. For clarity. In the morning we mixed the paint with a hardener, but for various reasons we didn’t succeed in painting (or it started to flow or swell somewhere, so we need to stop, heat it up, wait for it to dry and fix this place ...). Will paint now only in the evening. But the paint in the container will already have time to thicken. So you have to add a diluent to it again (you can use a solvent).
Or other situations. It seems like one small item opens.
Why sometimes the first coat of paint lays down exceptionally evenly and smoothly. And the second layer (after 15-20 minutes) for some reason turns out to be more dry or already with shagreen.
Precisely because the paint has time to become thicker in 15-20 minutes of the action of the hardener and therefore now it lays down worse.
"I've been paying attention to this for a long time." And in cases when it is necessary to try and paint “quite normally”, I pay great attention to this point.
And I even wash the gun after each applied coat of paint. I do separate tests for each layer and correct the viscosity each time on a new layer ... If I paint in three layers, then I wash the spray gun twice and correct the viscosity twice.
…………
One video confirming that the manner of painting is different for everyone.
The video is also interesting because it shows the Taiwanese airbrush. Interest arose with them (Taiwanese) to deal with. For example, compare them with SLIM. In terms of cost, they practically do not differ.

By video. I would dilute the varnish differently. For the author, it stretched out only due to the fact that the temperature in the spray booth is 20 degrees.
One more thing noted. Good viscosity is good soft sound when painting. The author has it “dry” and tingling. This is my kind of opinion.
I liked the torch of this spray gun (the last seconds of the video).
…….

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With a general look at the problem of preparing paint for application to the surface, it seems that there is nothing complicated about it. If you carefully study the instructions with the manufacturer's recommendations regarding the concentration of the solvent, the degree of viscosity of the paint and other indications, it is almost impossible to make a mistake. But it should also be borne in mind that the instructions for using a particular product also include a commercial component, that is, advice to use products of the same brand, and this can significantly increase your costs.

If you know the principle by which enamels and solvents interact and what is the technology for preparing paint for application on a car, you can save money by replacing expensive solvents famous brands no less high-quality domestic numbering facilities.

Fundamentals of paint-solvent interaction

various solvents. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The result of painting largely depends on how to dilute the paint before applying it to the surface. Enamels for painting cars are already initially a liquid mixture, but the addition of a solvent is necessary so that, firstly, it fits better, and secondly, it forms a coating that will reliably protect the body metal from corrosion and mechanical damage. After painting, in the process of drying the pigment, the solvent evaporates at a certain rate. According to this parameter, such compositions are classified into:

• fast, which are used if the paint is applied at low temperatures;
• slow (long), which are suitable for painting cars in the hot season;
• universal, designed for use in the transitional season.

The final composition of the enamel mixture for painting a car is determined not only by the amount of solvent added to it immediately before application, but also by the concentration of the components that was originally provided by the manufacturer. It is important that some substances in the composition of the paint remain active during storage. On this basis, enamels are divided into low-, medium- and high-filled ones with the corresponding abbreviations: LS (Low Solid) - low-filled, by the way, it is not recommended to dilute them strongly; HD and HS, MS, UHS, VHS (Very High Solid) are highly filled.

What role does fullness play? First, highly filled paint is easier to apply. Secondly, volatility directly depends on fullness, although the viscosity of paints of all types is approximately the same.

Features of the technology for preparing an enamel mixture are also determined by what solvent was used in the manufacture of paint, since both substances should have approximately the same chemical composition. It is also important what components underlie the enamel itself. For example, in order to dilute acrylic lacquer and acrylic enamel, you can use the same solvent, since both lacquer and enamel are the same acrylic, only with or without the addition of pigment.

Numbered solvents and their composition

Each solvent has in its composition such components as nefras, white spirit, toluene, solvent, butyl acetate, xylene, etc. The properties of the solvent are largely determined by the ratio in which it contains these substances.

Thinner No. 646 is very popular in the field of painting, as its composition is very aggressive. At the same time, due to its aggressiveness, this solvent can not only dilute the paint, but also change its composition, and hence its properties. This solvent can be diluted primer or paints and varnishes based on acrylic, but you should be extremely careful.

Due to the fact that the quality of the substances that make up the solvent No. 646 is not always maintained at the proper level, professional painters recommend using it only for cleaning guns after painting a car. Here, the high aggressiveness of the solvent will come in handy.

White spirit finds the widest application in degreasing surfaces for painting. They cannot dilute acrylic-based paint, but it will be great to dissolve ordinary, slate or bituminous mastic. Ordinary white spirit may contain impurities that can precipitate over time, so artistic white spirit is considered a better option.

Thinner No. 647 is used when painting a car with nitro varnish or nitro enamel, but care should also be taken when working with it due to the aggressive composition.

Thinner #650 is softer. It is suitable for most paint materials.

Another popular composition is R-4. They are diluted with alkyd enamels and paints made on the basis of chlorinated polymers. Pure toluene or xylene is also suitable for the latter.

Polar and non-polar solvents

An example of solvents for paint. Click on the photo to enlarge.

The answer to the question of how to properly dilute the paint is determined by what material is used to paint the car: polar or non-polar. The solvent should be selected on the same basis: if the paint for the car is made on the basis of a polar substance, then the agent for dissolving it must be polar. In order to act for sure, it is better to purchase enamel and solvent from the same series.

Polar solvents include alcohols, ketones, and other substances that have a hydroxyl group in their molecules. Non-polar agents are kerosene, white spirit, and several other liquid hydrocarbon-based formulations. So, water-based paint and water-soluble acrylic enamels interact well with alcohols and esters, but reject white spirit. Alcohol and white spirit are two completely different substances that under no circumstances can be replaced by each other.

Acetone only reacts with polar substances. Xylene can be considered a universal solvent, since it actively interacts with both polar and non-polar substances. Suitable for most classic enamels and benzene.

How to properly dilute the paint?