Curated with aloha by
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
The authoritative public forum
for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
-----
Need Formula for NC Thinner & Auto Thinner
Q. What can be used to thin down Nitro-Cellulose lacquer paint so as not to be as thick for airbrush applications? Thanks for any help.
Don MendrickHobby-Guitar Re-Finishing - Fontana, California, United States
2004
A. Don,
Wouldn't any 'lacquer' solvent work beautifully? Mind you, you could try some aromatic solvents ... and PVC primer (which uses tetrahydrafurane solvent) works quite well on table tennis balls ... which are l00% cellulose nitrate.
Freeman Newton [dec.]
R.I.P. old friend (It is our sad duty to
advise that Freeman passed away 4/21/12)
Q. I would be very much interested in manufacturing and distributing NC Thinner to Sri Lankan market. I have obtained many formulas for preparing of NC thinner but still not found success. Every time I got complaints that my product is not suitable for thinning of Primers, all kinds of coatings, automotive spray paints, etc.
I would be highly appreciated if you could give the best and accurate formula of making NC thinner by using solvents.
Thanking you, Yours truly,
businessman - Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
2004
A. Hello Mohammed. My experience is that unfortunately you probably won't draw much response to your question the way it stands. Please describe some formulas you tried, and tell us in what ways they weren't yet satisfactory, and I'm quite confident that someone will give you the necessary hints about how to adjust them! Good luck!
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Hello Sir,
It is so regrettable to state that this is my second letter to you of knowing a very important matter which effects my personal life. I want to know the best formula of manufacturing of NC Thinner. Kindly give me the best formulation in preparing of quality thinners, both NC thinner (for wood items) and Auto super thinner (for auto vehicles).
Also I am expecting your company collaboration to proceed with these products and any available other manufacturers such as Sealers, Varnishers, Lacquers, etc.
Awaiting your response with many hopes.
Best regards, Yours truly,
Mohammed A [returning]businessman - Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka
A. Dear Cousin Mohammed,
Sorry, I'm just the curator of this site which covers the broad field of finishing; I know nothing about NC thinner formulation.
But with the experience of posting & maintaining over 25,000 threads, I suggested that you add detail to draw interest from our thousands of daily readers ... instead you scold me and the world :-)
First, there is no such thing as 'best' -- it's always cost vs. ease of application vs. durability, UV resistance vs. scuff resistance, etc., etc.
Secondly, no one develops a product, then posts their full info so everyone can take their business, and leave their own children starving. There are great books with lots of formulas: "Formulation of Organic Coatings", available as of this writing for $15, has a 35-page subchapter just on nitrocellulose lacquers -- much of it about thinning & viscosity control. "Technology of Paints, Varnishes, and Lacquers" has a 4-page subchapter on formulation of solvent systems for nitrocellulose, and explains active solvents vs. latent solvents vs. diluents; and it offers troubleshooting tips for moisture blush, cotton blush, gum blush, and improper leveling. If you can't afford a used book and can't find any in your library, can also search books.google.com for old free e-books on the subject. And there are countless expired patents, so easy to search for free with today's technology.
by Michael Ash
on AbeBooks
or eBay or
Amazon
(affil links)
Readers are probably afraid that if they give you a formula you'll scold them a third time with "we tried that, it didn't work, stupid suggestion". So please, tell us what you tried and what problems it presented ... and people will almost always be generous enough to suggest improvements.
Best of luck.
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
A. You will find that there are a great number of paint formulations, each will have a thinner that is appropriate for that specific paint. Read the can for the recommended thinner. If they only recommend a thinner by product name, they want to sell their material and not have people use generic mixtures that they cannot control.
James Watts- Navarre, Florida
|
Q. DEAR Sir/Madam, I am looking for the complete chemical composition in % wise fashion for making NC THINNER, PTRS THINNER, PRINTING INK etc. Can anyone help me please. I am a beginner in this field. Thanks a lot to you, AMIT B [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Udaipur, Rajasthan, INDIA Q. Please give me the formula of NC THINNER For Using In Wood Work. Pankaj A [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Faridabad, Haryana Q. Despite of having so many formula for NC thinner, I would like to have the best one. I strongly believe you will be supporting me to have the best one. PONNUSAMY G [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]mfrs. of chemicals - COIMBATORE, TAMILNADU, INDIA |
Hi Ponnusamy. There is no such thing as "best" except in response to your list of desired qualities. For example, is a thinner "best" if it costs 30% less but takes a week to dry? How about if it costs 15% less and takes 3 days to dry?
You claim you have many formulations, but haven't offered even one of them to the people standing in line ahead of you asking for your help :-(
Please try the well-proven technique of learning by attempting to teach. Tell us what you tried and what was good about it and what was bad. You and we can learn from your efforts and we'll all be the better for it :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
by EIRI
on eBay or
AbeBooks
or Amazon
(affil links)
by NIIR
on AbeBooks
or Amazon
(affil links)
Q. Hi, I'm totally new here. I wanted to start this business in my hometown but I need people who has got more experience to guide me. As I heard from my friend:
Thinner came in barrel and they mix it before they fill it in small cans and distribute. That's what I wanted to do.
Where should I start? Thank you
- Sarawak, Malaysia
2007
Q. I would be very much interested in manufacturing and distributing NC Thinner to Sonipat market. I have obtained many formulas for preparing of NC thinner but still not found success. Every time I got complaints that my product is not suitable for thinning of Primers, all kinds of coatings, automotive spray paints, etc. I would be highly appreciative if you could give the best and accurate formula of making NC thinner by using solvents.
Thanking you, Yours truly,
- sonipat, haryana, India
February 24, 2009
Q. I would like to start a NC thinner manufacturing company in India. So please advise me from where I will get the technical support or license for manufacturing NC Thinner. Otherwise give me the details of some reference book on this.
Richard Mathew- India
November 6, 2009
A. Thinner formulation
25% butyl acetate
5-10% acetone
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon
[affil links] Warning! highly Flammable!
1-10 ethyl acetate
1-10% n- Butanol
1-10% anhydrous isopropanol
1-10% Xylene
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links]
1-10% propylene glycol
10-20% aliphatic petroleum distillate such as Stoddard solvent or other high purity mineral spirits
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links]
.
Unfortunately we don't have specific formula for auto /NC thinner too. What you have to do is use the above guide formula change the proportion as per your demand.
Slow evaporating, medium evaporating, high evaporating.
Add more xylene if you need a strong one and aliphatic one for less strong thinner.
Enjoy it.
manufacturing - Dubai, UAE
March 13, 2011
? You didn't state the type of this is.
Lucky Igbinedion- Lagos, Nigeria
August 31, 2023
A. To make thinner is very easy
1- Ethyl Acetate 10 Lts
2- Butyl Acetate 10 lts
3- Alcohol 96° 90 Lts
4-Toluene 90 lts
total 200 Lts of good Thinner
If you want a Thinner only to degrease, don't use Acetate.
Mansur
- Sao Paulo, Brazil South America
August 10, 2011
? 1. You didn't state the type of thinner.
2. You said if it's for degreasing they shouldn't add Acetate; well you didn't state which of the Acetates.
- Lagos, Nigeria
August 31, 2023
A. NC Lacquer is very simple to make.
Obtain Toluene (Toluol) and Xylene
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon [affil links] from any major Engen, BP, etc., Depo. Usually they have a ready formulation of something called lacquer thinner
⇦ this on
eBay
or
Amazon
[affil links] Warning! flammable!
s.
To make 1 Litre:
100 g NC Chips
900 ml lacquer thinners or 50/50 toluene and Xylene.
Leave the chips overnight.
Following day, stir slowly to produce your NC lacquer.
This NC lacquer is quite fine for most jobs. It is quite hard wearing and will not flake under most conditions. It won't have much shine when dry. You could always add shine ingredients, but I do not see this necessary.
You can add Red oxide, 1 part to three parts of your completed NC lacquer or play around with the proportions to make a good primer for wrought iron. I have tried these formulations and they work very well. This lacquer is also good to make waterproof fireworks fuses. 1 part Saltpeter (Potassium Nitrate) and three parts fine charcoal mixed into one part of your NC Lacquer will make a "fuse paste". Slip a cotton twine through this slurry and let dry. There you are!. To make a quality fuse for resale purposes, use a fuse spinning wheel which will twist four or five strands of cotton twine onto a reel. Regards
- Port Elizabeth
October 30, 2011
Hi K.Berhanu; hi Alex Mansur.
Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing!!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
All I see here is everyone posting rubbish formulations without stating the types of thinner and no specifics. If you really want any specific thinner formulations you should know that it will cost you money and time. Look for chemicals formulations consultants and buy materials from them. I discovered most of you are always coming online to look for who will give you free formulations for what you want to make money with yet you won't pay to get the formulations.
inovora.solutions@gmail.com - Lagos, Nigeria
September 27, 2023
Ed. note: And you are always coming online to want to make money as a chemicals formulations consultant yet you won't pay to get an advertisement; you post comment spam instead. Let's call it even :-)
Q. I want to know about methanol
[affil links], is it used in making NC thinner? If used, then in what percentage?
- Lahore, Pakistan
November 22, 2011
A. 50%
Kolitha [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]- Maharagama, Sri Lanka
Q. What is the formulation of Butyl Acetate??
Omer Farooq Janjua- Sialkot, Punjab, Pakistan
March 10, 2012
Q. White board marker ink formulations needed, but so far I have not been able to find it.
I want this for my student project.
Can you help me?
Thanks
- arak, iran
April 20, 2012
Q. How do we reduce water in the thinner ... any Chemical or any formulation steps?
Arif Hassan- Karachi, Pakistan
May 20, 2012
Ed. note: Please write a couple of more sentences, cousin Arif -- sorry, but we don't understand your situation and question yet.
Q. I'm totally new here. I wanted to start this business in my hometown but I need people who have got more experience to guide me. I would be very much interested in manufacturing. I need some formulas for preparing wall putty, water based distemper, solvent based distemper, Primer, Thinner, etc.
I would be highly appreciative if you could give the best and accurate formula of making above products.
Thank you
paint & chemicals - Sherkot Bijnor UP, India
June 22, 2012
Q. I would be very much interested in manufacturing and distribute of NC Thinner in indian market. I have obtained many formulas for preparing of NC thinner but still not found success. Every time I got complaints that my product is not suitable for thinning of Primers, all kinds of coatings, automotive spray paints, etc.
I would be highly appreciated if you could give the best and accurate formula of making NC thinner by using solvents.
Thanking you, Yours truly,
- Hyderabad, India
July 25, 2012
Q. Please send me formulation for NC Lacquer which is sprayed on leather.
Bhavin PatelManufacturing - Baroda, Gujarat, India
February 11, 2013
Q. Hi, myself vippin mehandiratta m from rajasthan. I want to try to make thinner in rajasthan in india. Please help me to find the chemical of thinner. I want to start new work.
vippin mehandiratta- sri ganga nagar rajasthan, India
February 17, 2013
Q. Sir
I want to know how to make NC base thinner and melamine thinner and NC thinner good for skin.
Thank you.
- Alwar Rajasthan India
February 28, 2013
Need formulations for paint
Q. Dear Sir,
May I know NC thinner & NC lacquer manufacturing process and required machines. (No need for formulation).
Thanks,
Suna
- Colombo, Sri Lanka
July 5, 2013
Hi Sunandra. The previously mentioned 35-page chapter in "Formulation of Organic Coatings" describes the machinery and the methods. But since you say you know the formulations, please share at least one with the many people waiting for help from you. Thanks!
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. I want to manufacture low cost NC Thinner. Give me full details. I have many formula which are high costing in indian rupees.
Tell me low cost formulation.
chemicals - Bangalore Karnataka India
December 23, 2013
Q. I want to manufacture low cost NC Thinner. Give me full details. I have many formula which are high costing in indian rupees.
Tell me low cost formulation.
- panipat haryana, India
August 3, 2014
A. Hi. From a quick scan of this subject I learned that toluol is very cheap. If you just want more volume of thinner cheaply, that's a direction :-)
What are your comments on the formulas so generously offered by K.Berhanu, and Alex Mansur? Please be as specific as possible! Thanks. And many people looking for formulations are waiting in line in front of you -- please help them :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Sir,
I want to make Low Cost PVC Thinner for Screen Printing, i.e., Water White and Odorless and Slow Dry. Can you give me the formulation how to make it?
Colour Spring - Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
July 22, 2014
Q. Hi all,
I am trying to make hi-gloss thinner. Can anyone tell me what should I add to my thinner for adding gloss and in what quantity?
My formulation is:
Ethyl Acetate
Butyl Acetate
Xylene
Toluene
- Ghaziabad, UP, India
May 7, 2014
! Dear sir, I am a well experienced thinner maker. Worked in National Paints Doha Qatar.
Also retarders, wood preservatives, tile cleaners and bleaching liquids for clothes and toilet detergents, and more. Sir I am hunting a job in india, malaysia or Pakistan. Sir, please kindly help me to find a job. Also can make polyurethane varnishes, anti corrosives, paints.
Please Kindly help me.
Best regards
M.Asmi
- colombo, sri lanka
May 26, 2014
Dear Ted Mooney, P.E. RET, I appreciate the effort you putting in enlightening producers of these products and encouraging others to come into the industry and participate.
- Ejigbo, Lagos, Nigeria
Q. Sir ...
I also want to know how thinner should be made.
Actually I don't know the formulas. I love learning about this. Not only that, but also I hope to start a business where thinner is made and sold.
Thanks,
- anuradhapura in Sri Lanka
Q. Sir
Please give me formulation for furniture polish n.c thinner, good and best thinner.
Please sir, it's a request
bala ji - ghaziyababad u.p India
Q. I am interested in paint manufacture and having some formulations.
mahmoud ahmed- alexandria, Egypt
April 18, 2015
Hi cousin Mahmoud. I'm sure we all agree that a key to success is to fully capitalize on any special blessings we've received. Your city is renowned everywhere for having by far the greatest library in all the world; further, it has been famed throughout history for recognizing the value of books across the millennia like no other city on the planet.
Please try to get to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and look for one of the books which we've recommended on this page, or any book on paint formulation, from among its 8 million volumes.
Please send us a selfie of you browsing the shelves; the rest of us are envious of you for having this huge leg up on us, having the most amazing library in all the world right at your disposal! You have received a great blessing in living next to such a treasure and having been raised in a culture of honoring the importance of books -- please take full advantage of the blessing you've received :-)
Best of luck.
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Hi all, it's good that I have found many people in this thread asking for thinners. I am Sriram and we are into coal tar products. I'm trying to venture into paint sector and started wondering if thinners could be manufactured with any coal based or coal tar based products.
Please help me in this regard. if so please let me know how to, formulation, and suitable applications.
Thanking you.
Warm regards,
Sriram.
- Visakhapatnam, India
January 27, 2016
A. Hi ... To formulate perfect Thinner depends on choice of resins and N/C combinations to choose and to achieve perfect results, formulation of NC Thinner changes according to applied Temperature and Ambient ... either it is humid with low ... medium or high temperature with adjustment of
Xylene
Butyle acetate
N butanol
Tolune
IPA and Solveso 100 or 200 and any better Catalyst with different combinations to test accordingly. Keep in mind the factor of Moisture, Temperature and method of application (i.e., Dipping or spray / airless Spray).
Paint Manufacturing + R&D - Lahore Pakistan
Ed. note: Thanks Ahmad!
Q. Dear friends,
I would like to make synthetic cellulose thinner ... any help or suggestions?
Regards,
chemicals - Amman, Jordan
March 25, 2017
Q. I just started the production of wood finishing products, but have been having complaints from my customers based on the quality of my product. Please I kindly need your assistance in getting a perfect formula, measurement, and substance that will be economical and give me a good product.
These are my substances:
Thinner: Fuel (Gasoline), Ethyl Acetate, Buthy glycol and Ethanol. My customers complain of its Clarity, and those using it for Automobile paint complain it dries fast. I kindly need your help on modification of this formulas per 4 liters.
Adewale kazeem
Kazhabib - Osun, Nigeria
Q. I would be very much interested in manufacturing and distributing NC Thinner, coatings, automotive spray paints, etc.
It would be highly appreciated if you could give the best and accurate formula of making NC thinner and the materials needs for it. Thanks, jagath.
shop owner - sri lanka
May 19, 2017
Hi, cousin Jagath. That exact question was previously asked & answered 5 times already on this page! Yet you've cut & pasted it word-for-word a 6th time :-(
I'm not sure whether you are just making fun of us, or are actually having a language difficulty. Please try your best to describe your own actual situation in your own words. Thanks. :-)
Regards,
Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Q. Hello,
I'm interested in learning about what went into red oxide, nitrocellulose lacquer and acrylic alkyd formulations that were used to paint cars from manufacturers like GM back in the late 1960's. The pigments are irrelevant, I'm mostly after what solvents, retarders, hardeners etc. would have been used. I've tried getting in touch with Dupli-Color re: old paint formulations, but they aren't very helpful/forthcoming. If you're aware of any literature or "old-timers" from the hay days of GM that might be of use, I'd be much obliged if you could pass that information along to me. Thanks for your time.
Todd
- Ithaca, New York USA
June 12, 2017
Q. Can anyone help me how to make distilled thinner.
And from where will I get raw materials in India.
- Chattisgarh, India
June 30, 2017
Q. I would be very much interested in manufacturing and distributing Epoxy Thinner and PU Thinner to Indian market. I have obtained many formulas for preparing of Epoxy thinner and PU Thinner but still not found success. Every time I got complaints that my product is not suitable for thinning of Primers,Epoxy paints And PU Paints all kinds of coatings, automotive spray paints, etc.
I would be highly appreciated if you could give the best and accurate formula of making Epoxy Thinner and PU Thinner by using solvents.
Thanking you.Your Faithfully
Regards,
Royal Paints & Chemical - bharuch, India
March 16, 2018
⇦ Tip: Readers want to learn from Your Situation
many readers skip abstract questions.
Q. Two Thinner formulas
1: low thinner
2: high thinner
Student - Lahore Pakistan
September 26, 2021
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- India October 13, 2022 |
Q. Please -- I tried an economical formula with high amount of methanol, but the problem was that after evaporation of thinner started from the substrate a droplet of water condenses with the thinner which makes white spots on the substrate. How can I solve that without increasing low evaporation true solvent due to the cost? What is the best mix of solvent to accept water condensation?
Ahmed Elsherbenye- Sherbin Egypt
February 2022
Q. Please -- I tried an economical formula with high amount of methanol, but the problem was that after evaporation of thinner started from the substrate a droplet of water condenses with the thinner which makes white spots on the substrate. How can I solve that without increasing low evaporation true solvent due to the cost? What is the best mix of solvent to accept water condensation?
Subair mangapoyil- Dammam, Saudia Arabia
February 2023
Ed. note: "Ditto" is easier than cutting & pasting, and will save the readers' some time :-)
A. methanol
[affil links] 40 Kgs
toluene 30 Kgs
acetone 30 Kgs
DSP 15 Kgs
butyl glycol 5
- Dar es salaam/Tanzania
July 4, 2023
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