0
Yes, turpentine is a gum spirit and is an extracted oil. It is soluble in oil and thus can thin almost any type of oil based paint, especially when the paint is wet. Paints with an acrylic base polymer do not respond well to this solvent and the best way to remove it is by scrapping it off/using some form of abrasion. However, turpentine is a very strong solvent and can damage the natural fibers of certain types of leather, ex: lambskin, suede. Cowhide and other tough leathers should be able to withstand it. Always test a small sport first, and use either diluted turpentine or as little as possible and wipe off within seconds, reapplying a little each time--you don't want it to soak into the leather, which harms more than helps it. After all the paint is removed, moisturize the leather with leather lotion or neatsfoot oil. Do not use silicone polishes, mineral oil or other oils. Waxes like carnuba wax or beeswax can restore the shiny surface.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Fran
Professor
Rafai am like 95% sure that is a yes
A Bit of Clarification
If the paint you are removing is oil based, still wet and it is on your brushes or in a small drip or spill, the answer is 100% yes.
If the paint is water based (latex, acrylic, emulsion etc.), still wet and is on your brushes or in a small drip or spill, then the answer is no. You are better using soap and water for the brushes and small spill and a damp cloth for the drip.
If the paint is dry (oil or water based) your best bet for spills, drips etc. is to peel or scrape small amounts and sand (where possible) large areas.
As for old dried paint in a brush, if the brush is worth the effort, get a good commercial paint brush cleaner/restorer and give it a go.
Otherwise, replace it with the best quality brush you can afford (particularly if you are a painting professional) and learn the correct manner of cleaning and maintaining.
if you're using it to remove paint from paintbrushes then you need to pour some turpentine into a smaller container (an old jam jar or similar) that you don't want to use again and soak the brushes in it.
If you want to remove a small amount of paint from a surface then put some turpentine on an old cloth and rub it over the paint.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Why are turpentine and thinner added to paint?
To make the paint easy to spread on surfaces
This painting medium used turpentine as its solvent and uses chemicals to dilude blend and clean up?
oil-based paint
Why turpentine removes paint stains?
Turpentine is a petroleum based solvent. Oil based paints work by allowing the petroleum based carrier to evaporate. The turpentine will redissolve the paint and allow it to be removed.
In art what is the difference between turpentine and paint thinner?
Turpentine is a natural product used in combination with oils to thin oil paints and "straight up" to clean brushes etc. Paint thinner is not generally as clean a product and I would only use it as a cleaner however I know some people that do use it for thinning paint (commercial oil base house paint) but not for fine art applications.
Why a painter removes paint from his hand using turpentine?
It depends what kind of "paint " it is.
