Mineral Spirits vs Naphtha vs Turpentine for using with oil paints?

[TimM63]

Which is better for thinning and cleaning oils?

 

[wjbrandel]

I use wal mart mineral spirits for thinning and cleaning oils. Works great for me.

 

[langy]

I find mineral spirits the best all rounder for thinning and cleaning when working with oils..

 

[TimM63]

Thanks for the replies. It looks like mineral spirits is the one.

 

[Steve Ski]

I've been using Klean Strip mineral spirits for as long as I can remember. I've had no issue with my figures, so I'd say that is a reliable choice.

 

[snowbear]

On the art side, I used turp.

 

[the Baron]

I use mineral spirits with oils, as well as with enamels. I don't think there's one better than another as far as the actual thinning goes, but there are differences in the odors and I know some will say that they are bothered by the scent of turpentine, others by mineral spirits, and so on.

 

[TimM63]

I think I am going to get the odorless mineral spirits

 

[Littlemarten]

Odorless mineral spirits.

 

[blakeh1]

Get Artisan oils and just use water?

They are true oil paints, they just thin/clean with water vs turpentine/mineral spirits etc...

Although if I need to thin oils that are not water mixable, I find Weber Odorless Turpenoid great. Just note that "odorless" simply means "no smell" and not safer to breathe. You just can't smell but it is still as bad for you, if not worse since you can't gauge how much your inhaling so still take all the same precautions

Have not had a problem with it on Bandai stuff, but I also make sure not to let it pool in unpainted areas

 

[Littlemarten]

I think I am going to get the odorless mineral spirits

Note: The fumes from "odorless" mineral spirits are "safer" to breathe than the regular, but still not something you want to inhale in quantity. The aromatics that it does not have are the most potentially toxic.

Generally speaking, it is a good idea to treat all chemicals as potentially toxic, especially those labeled as nontoxic.

Why? There are three main reasons:

1. Independent toxicology research was thirty years behind when I retired from materials science. The situation has not improved.
2. Anything not tested can be marketed as "nontoxic."
3. Anything tested, and not proven beyond a shred of reasonable doubt to be toxic can be marketed as nontoxic.

 

[Littlemarten]

Get Artisan oils and just use water?

They are true oil paints, they just thin/clean with water vs turpentine/mineral spirits etc...

Although if I need to thin oils that are not water mixable, I find Weber Odorless Turpenoid great. Just note that "odorless" simply means "no smell" and not safer to breathe. You just can't smell but it is still as bad for you, if not worse since you can't gauge how much your inhaling so still take all the same precautions

Have not had a problem with it on Bandai stuff, but I also make sure not to let it pool in unpainted areas

Water soluble oil paints? I can figure out the general technology, but I wish I'd known of these a year ago! (Just replaced most of my oil paints. Rats! But thanks for the info!