Solvents

I think by now, most of us have a basic understanding about how some liquids can and cannot mix together

Like Oil and Water                    or                   Oil and Vinegar

Except in my tummy.....YUM!

This is mainly due to PH balance. But I could be wrong, because I don't have a "PhD"    :)

For finishers, understanding which materials can be mixed together can seem puzzling and overwhelming. Categorizing these solvents can help simplify this mad science.

Below I have reduced the most popular solvents or "Vehicles" and finishes into four catagories.

Generally this means when going down the Lacquer road, don't mix it with Mineral Spirits or bad things will happen.

4 most common finishes and their Vehicles.

 

 

 Solvents dissolve particles which are "soluble" to them

In finishing we sometimes call this a vehicle because it transports the solid particles onto the surface before evaporating, and ultimately leaving the particles to create a coating.

Of course there are more variables to this Chemistry labyrinth than four

 Instead of Breaking Bad, take a look at Bob Flexner's graphs

 

 "You can usually recognize a solvent by its suffix. Alcohols, which dissolve and thin shellac, have the suffix -ol. Ketones, which dissolve and thin lacquers, have the suffix -one. Esters, which dissolve and thin lacquers, have the suffix -ate (methyl acetate, amyl acetate, etc.). Glycol ethers, which dissolve water-based finishes and dissolve and thin lacquers, end in “ether." .- Bob Flexner

 

Here are the links to Bob Flexner's articles on Sovents

Flexner Solvents1                        Flexner Solvents2