Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Aug 28, 2002 06:30pm | #1

   They are identical in almost all cases. Odorless paint thinner or odorless mineral spirits are a somewhat different product. The "odorless" will work but it also acts as a retarder and will slow down the drying of an oil based finish. I would not use it to make a wipe-on finish.

2. 
   Paul_Snyder | Aug 28, 2002 10:28pm | #2

   Mineral spirits was used so frequently to thin oil-base paint that it is commonly known as paint thinner. It is the same product.

   In contrast to Howie's advice, I will say that I prefer odorless mineral spirits when thinning oil-base products like varnish, poly, and stain. The "odor" part of the mineral spirits consists of toluene and xylene - when these are refined out of the mineral spirits you get "odorless/low odor" mineral spirits (the extra refining is the reason for the added cost). Mineral spirits does not evaporate as quickly as naptha (another good thinner for oil-base products), but it terms of minutes, it still evaporates quickly. It is also slightly more oily than naptha, but this has never caused me any trouble. To be honest, I can't tell it's more oily than naptha but it's well documented.

   There are times when the added solvent strength of regular mineral spirits is required - but not for thinning (IMO).

   Paul

   F'burg, VA