{"id":4681,"date":"2021-11-03T23:53:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-03T23:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyornot.com\/?page_id=4681"},"modified":"2021-11-16T07:10:56","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T07:10:56","slug":"how-to-thin-paint","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/diyornot.com\/paint\/sprayer\/how-to-thin-paint\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Thin Paint for a Sprayer – Easy Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Are you wondering why you can\u2019t get the right consistency when spraying paint? Or perhaps you have been wasting the paint and can\u2019t understand why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, that’s because you haven’t been thinning the paint well before spraying. And that’s not the only danger of not thinning your paint before application. You could also damage your sprayer if the paint is too thick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This handy guide will cover everything on how to thin paint for a sprayer <\/a>to help you get started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: acrylgiessen.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Why Do You Need to Thin Paint for a Sprayer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Because of the paint’s viscosity, it’s necessary to thin it first before putting it into the spray gun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Paint thinning means reducing the paint’s thickness or viscosity<\/strong>. Viscosity (or paint thickness) refers to how resistant the paint is to spreading. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

High-viscosity paints, unlike thin paints, don’t spread well, and perfect examples are latex, oil-based, and enamel paints. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, one crucial reason for thinning paint before spraying is to have an easy spraying process. Thin paints are generally easy to spray, and so they offer better surface coverage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even better, thin paints offer a better finish<\/strong>, which is probably the most important reason. It provides you with consistency, something you don’t get from thick paints.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other problem with high-viscous paints is that they can clog the spray gun’s nozzle, eventually ruining it. You can, however, prevent spoilage by thinning the paint before spraying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last but not least, paint thinning reduces wastage<\/strong>. Since you only apply a thin coat, you don’t use a lot of paint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quick Questions Before Starting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you start the paint-thinning process, you should know how big your project is. You should understand its complexity or ease of doing, the time it will take to complete it, and the overall cost of supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are essential questions to consider before starting:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Difficult is This to Do?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unless it’s a big project and you don’t have the correct spray gun, paint thinning is relatively simple and easy to master. All you need is to learn the process and have the necessary materials, and you are ready to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Long Does it Take?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It generally takes you minutes to thin paint. But again, it also depends on your project size.  Fifteen minutes are enough to thin paint for your sprayer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Do Materials Cost?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A liter of paint thinner averages $10<\/strong>, but you can use water in its place if the paint is water-based. A liter of good paint, on the other hand, costs about $50, and the spray gun will cost you almost the same amount. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other supplies are readily available locally at a fraction of the cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo credit: acrylgiessen.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Items Needed to Thin Paints<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The following are items you\u2019ll need to thin paint:<\/p>\n\n\n\n