While they do share some properties, lacquer thinner andpaint thinnerare different products that address mostly different needs.
What Is Thinner?
What Is Lacquer Thinner?
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Lacquer thinner is a strong liquid thinner and solvent.
Containing up to 10 ingredients, lacquer thinner is a compound with mixture ratios that vary between manufacturers.
Lacquer can sometimes be too thick to brush on or spray.
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When to Use
What Is Paint Thinner?
Paint thinneris any liquid product that thins or acts as a solvent for oil-based paints and other coatings.
The termpaint thinnerdescribes the product’s function, not the ingredients.
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Most often, though, paint thinner is made from pure mineral spirits.
Or paint thinner might be produced from mineral spirits, with additives such as benzene.
Paint thinner is clear and has low or no odor.
Paint thinner is also considered a hazardous waste material and cannot be put down any drain for disposal.
Dispose of thinner or rags that were immersed in thinner at your local municipal hazardous waste collection center.
Tip
Paint thinner is not used to remove dried, cured paint.
For this, useliquid paint removeror apaint stripper,along with manualpaint removalmethods.
Compositionally, lacquer thinner and paint thinner are not the same.
In fact, they share no ingredients.
But lacquer thinner is highly preferable for cleaning off tough substances like inks and adhesives.
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.
Lacquer Thinner vs.
Paint Thinner Strength
Lacquer thinner is more powerful thanpaintthinner.
Lacquer thinner is so powerful that it will even soften cured, dried lacquers and other oil-based coatings.
Lacquer thinner can damage plastic and rubber and it can even strip car paint.
Lacquer thinner acts quickly and aggressively to dissolve lacquers.
Relatively milder and slower-acting, mineral spiritsbased paint thinner is mainly effective on wet coatings.
Paint thinner can damage cured coatingsbut not with the speed and strength that lacquer thinner can.
Work with these products only in well-ventilated areas.
VOCs have negative health effects, both immediately and in the long term.
Both products produce VOCs, but lacquer thinner produces less than paint thinner.
Facts About Hazardous Waste Program: Household Hazardous Waste Products.Maryland Department of the Environment.
Volatile Organic Compounds' Impact on Indoor Air Quality.United States Environmental Protection Agency.
