Appropriate thinner/solvent

[Robert Schwieger]

Need advice: Has anyone had success using alternative solvents and thinners for one-shot and Gilder's Black enamel other than thinner traditional paint thinner and turps? "Safer" materials are quire ineffective. An approved respirator is in use. Any advice? Thank you.

[Dan Seese]

Just curious: Do you normally use a respirator when using 1Shot and Gilder's Black? Are you hand lettering, rolling or spraying?

I sometimes use "Edge", which was originally a Chromatic product taken over by 1Shot when they bought Chromatic. It maintains the body of the paint pretty well without just thinning the integrity of the paint like paint thinner tends to do. It also slides pretty nicely when hand lettering. Even though I haven't really done any airbrushing for a long time, I also liked to use it when airbrushing or spraying 1Shot.

I guess I should have asked at the outset: What are you trying to accomplish with an alternate thinner and why do you want something different than paint thinner or turps? Have you asked Ron Percell at Letterhead Sign Supply about alternative solvents for their Gilder's Black?

[Robert Schwieger]

Sorry that I didn't elaborate. It's a health issue and I wish to minimize exposure. Also, I hoped to have little or no effect on adhesion to the glass. I have tried low odor oil thinners which are "very low odor" and work well with one-shot without affecting adhesion. They are, of course, petroleum based and are flammable. I think that with care I can minimize ill effects while enjoying the glass work. Incidentally, I enjoy and admire your fine work. Thank you. Bob

[Dan Seese]

Thanks for the compliment, Bob. There are so many very talented artisans who contribute to this forum, aren't there?

Knowing that your health is a factor in the solvent you're looking for is helpful. Frankly, I find the odor associated with Edge to be fairly benign and somewhat pleasant, but that's certainly no guarantee that it's not detrimental to your health. Best of luck in finding a suitable solution.

[Andrew Lawrence]

I use VMP Naptha or Naptha - this was recommended to me by Ron Percell at Letterhead Sign Supply and it has yet to fail. It's also the main component in the one shot based thinners. Doesn't seem too toxic but then again exposure to chemicals isn't too bad in the industry. Minimal at worst.

[Doug Bernhardt]

Just and addition to all these replies....While I was at the Rochester Meet in the UK a couple of years ago there was a discussion about the various reducers and I've since switched to the various 1-shot supplied/recommended varieties. The premise of the discussion was the integrity of the paint film and until then I'd been like almost everyone else and was just using paint thinner.