Overview
Thinners and solvents are the supporting cast of the coatings industry. They adjust viscosity for application, clean equipment, and prepare a surface for the next coat — and choosing the wrong one causes adhesion failure, blistering and a shortened service life.
The core rule is simple and is broken constantly: the thinner must be compatible with the coating it is used to thin. Using an alkyd thinner in a two-pack epoxy or polyurethane can cause cure problems and severe intercoat adhesion loss. Using a powerful aromatic thinner in a chlorinated system can dissolve the coat underneath.
Delshine supplies matched thinners for each coating family — epoxy, acrylic polyurethane, inorganic zinc-rich, alkyd and general purpose — plus a paint remover for stripping old coatings back to sound substrate. Each is formulated for its own system and supplied with the correct flash point and replacement-fraction guidance.
Product identification
The identifiers below are the ones printed on the drum and quoted on the purchase order. Always order and dispatch by code, because the grade and the zinc or temperature variant cannot be inferred from the trade name alone.
| Product code | DS-100 |
|---|---|
| Trade name | Inorganic Zinc-Rich Thinner |
| Category | Thinners and reducers |
| System role | Application consumable - thinner / reducer |
Where this product is used
- Adjusting the viscosity of a coating for brush, roller or spray application
- Cleaning spray equipment, hoses, tips and mixing pots
- Preparing a surface for recoating with the next coat in the system
- Thinning primers and enamels to the manufacturer's recommended volume solids
- Removing old coatings before abrasive blasting or re-preparation
- Cleaning tools between colour changes
How it works in the coating system
A thinner adjusts the viscosity of a coating for the application method and conditions, and it is the correctly matched product that keeps the coating performing as specified after application.
Using the wrong thinner, or too much of the right one, changes the applied film — thinner reduces the solids content of the wet film, which reduces the dry film thickness and can cause adhesion loss, sagging and early failure. This is one of the most common and most avoidable defects in the field.
Purpose in the system: Not part of the coating system itself, but a controlled component of the application process.
Technical properties
The values below are the typical published range for this product family. The exact figures for your batch are confirmed on the batch certificate and the current technical data sheet.
| Role in the coating system | Thinner / reducer / solvent for the matching coating family |
|---|---|
| Volume solids | 0 % (solvent) |
| Mixing ratio by volume | Single component; add to the paint, never the reverse |
| Typical dry film thickness | Not applicable |
| Theoretical coverage | Not applicable |
| Application methods | Brush, roller or spray viscosity adjustment |
| Application temperature window | 5–40 °C |
| Suitable substrates | Not applicable |
| Finish / appearance | Clear solvent |
| Principal resistance | Not applicable |
| UV resistance | Not applicable |
| Adhesion to prepared steel | Not applicable |
| Salt spray performance | Not applicable |
| Chemical resistance | Not applicable |
| Abrasion resistance | Not applicable |
| Flash point | −5 to 24 °C depending on the family |
| Shelf life | 24 months unopened in a tightly closed container |
| Density | 0.72–0.90 g/cm³ |
| Pack sizes | 1 L · 4 L · 20 L containers; 200 L drums |
Surface preparation
- Confirm the coating family and the exact product before selecting a thinner — check the data sheet for the recommended thinner and the maximum replacement percentage.
- Use clean, dry containers and stir the thinner into the paint slowly with good agitation; adding thin solvent to a large volume of paint in one go causes pigment to clump and can flash off dangerously.
- Never mix thinners of different families, and never return thinned paint to the original container.
- Test on a small area first when reducing the volume solids, particularly on a premium finish where appearance matters.
- Allow the reworked paint to be used within the shortened pot life that thinned product has.
Application procedure
Add the thinner slowly to the paint with good agitation, never the other way round.
Measure the replacement by volume against the coating weight and the recommended percentage on the data sheet. A mixing gauge should be used for two-pack systems.
Add only what is needed for the current temperature and spray setup, because the viscosity will change as the can sits.
Mixing, ratio and induction time
Not applicable — the thinner itself is a single component. It must never be mixed with a different thinner family, and surplus thinned paint must never be returned to the original container.
Cure, recoat window and service readiness
Not applicable. The thinner evaporates during application, and the coating's own cure schedule applies from that point.
Coverage and thickness calculation
Not applicable. As a rule of thumb, replacing more than 10% of the paint volume with thinner reduces the achieved DFT below specification — which is why the replacement percentage must be limited and recorded.
Technical note. Coverage (m²/litre) = (volume solids × 10) / DFT (µm)
Advantages
- Matched to each coating family, so thinned paint performs exactly as the original specification intended.
- Correct flash points and evaporation rates for safe handling and good atomisation.
- Allows a single paint to be used for both brushing and spraying, reducing stock on site.
- Purpose-matched removers can strip old coatings that cannot be removed mechanically.
- Consistent batch quality and supplied in the sizes that match real site consumption.
Limitations and precautions
- Over-thinning is the single most common coating defect. It reduces film build below the specification and can cause sagging, blistering and early failure.
- Solvents are flammable and most have a low flash point, so they need strict control of ignition sources.
- Some solvents dissolve the coating underneath, so intercoat cleaning with the wrong product can destroy adhesion.
- VOC regulations restrict the use of high-VOC solvent in some regions and applications.
- Thinned paint has a shorter pot life than freshly mixed two-pack product.
Storage and shelf life
- Store in original sealed containers in a cool, well-ventilated store, away from heat, sparks and naked flames.
- Keep the store below 35 °C and away from direct sunlight.
- Do not store containers tightly grouped together if they could leak — keep them in a bunded or drip tray area.
- Ground and bond containers when transferring bulk quantities to avoid static ignition.
- Rotate stock and observe the labelled shelf life.
Safety, PPE and ventilation
- All thinners are highly flammable. Keep them away from every source of ignition and never smoke while handling.
- Wear chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles and antistatic clothing and use an organic-vapour cartridge respirator.
- Ensure maximum ventilation; do not use solvents in confined spaces without proper extraction.
- Never use a thinner near a running engine, hot work or an open flame.
- Store and dispose of solvent waste through a licensed contractor.
Quality control and inspection
- Confirm the thinner family matches the coating being applied.
- Record the volume of thinner added to each batch.
- Check the mixed viscosity with a flow cup or by the manufacturer's specified method.
Pricing and how to order
Delshine quotes this product per square metre at a specified dry film thickness, or per drum/litre depending on the project. The material cost is usually the smallest part of the installed cost — surface preparation, access and application labour dominate. Send us the substrate, the service conditions and the required DFT and our technical team will return a full system recommendation with a firm price.
Thinners are priced per litre or per drum, and the quantity consumed is easy to underestimate. A typical spray job uses roughly 10-20% of the coating volume in thinner for atomisation, plus additional solvent for equipment cleaning. Budget for both, and specify the matched thinner so that thinning does not compromise the coating specification.
Frequently asked questions
The questions below are the ones our technical team is asked most often about this product family.
How much thinner should I add to my paint?
Follow the percentage stated on the coating data sheet — for most conventional alkyd and acrylic enamels this is 5-10% by volume, and for two-pack epoxy and polyurethane it is typically no more than 5%. Adding more than the recommended amount takes the film below the specified dry film thickness, which is one of the most common causes of premature coating failure.
Can I use a different thinner if I run out?
Only if it is from the same chemical family. Using an alkyd thinner in an epoxy or polyurethane can impair cure and destroy intercoat adhesion. If you have to change, apply the mixed product to a test panel, allow it to cure fully, and test the adhesion before using it on the job.
What is a paint remover used for?
A paint remover softens or dissolves an existing coating so it can be scraped or brushed off, returning the substrate close to bare metal without the cost and dust of abrasive blasting. It is used for local repairs, for removing coatings that would otherwise need mechanical preparation, and in areas where blasting is not practical.
Can thinners be used to clean spray equipment?
Yes, and it is the correct way to clean equipment — clean while the paint is still wet, before it cures in the tip and hose. Always clean with the thinner matched to the coating you have been spraying, and dispose of the residue as hazardous waste rather than pouring it down a drain.
Is thinner safe to use indoors?
It must be used with proper ventilation. Solvent vapour builds quickly in enclosed spaces and the flash point of most thinners means an ignition source can cause a fire. Use a low-VOC or water-based alternative where the coating system allows it, and never work in a sealed room.
What is the difference between a thinner and a solvent?
Functionally they are the same — a solvent that evaporates to reduce viscosity. The distinction is commercial: a thinner is sold for thinning a specific coating, while a solvent is sold as a general cleaning or dissolving agent. Always use the product the coating manufacturer specifies.
Related products
These products are normally used in the same system as the product described above.
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