How To Thin Acrylic Paint For Spray Gun – Detailed Guide

How to thin acrylic paint for a spray gun is a very useful discussion. You get to learn how to do it so that, in the future, you wouldn’t have to depend upon someone else to do it for you. It also saves you from having to buy ready-made spray paint that may damage your expensive spray gun beyond repair.

Just think to yourself, wouldn’t it be nice if you could thin acrylic paint yourself at home so that you could have an endless supply of paint for your spray gun right at home and just when you need it? If you ask me, it is a very good initiative that you can take.

How To Thin Acrylic Paint For Spray Gun

Acrylic paint has a very thick consistency by nature which means that it can not be used directly in a spray gun. So, you have two options: You either buy a ready-made spray gun compatible, already thinned spray paint, or you could thin acrylic paint at home using the right technique.

Option number one might seem like a better option to you initially until you realize that they all have different consistencies and could damage your spray gun. In any case, the following is a detailed article that explains how to thin acrylic paint all by yourself right at your home!

Methods To Thin Acrylic Paint For Spray Gun

Step # 01: Mix The Acrylic Paint With Water And Thinner

This is the most critical step of this entire process. You need to be very careful with the quantities of the paint, the water, and the thinner, and use the exact quantities of all three. Now, it is not necessary that you use both the water and the thinner. You can use either one of them. Just make sure that you add only twelve to thirteen ounces of water or thinner per gallon of acrylic paint. After that, take a solid stick and mix the contents well.

Step # 02: Change The Containers Via A Strainer And A Funnel

Now, place a curved strainer on top of a funnel and pour the mixture through it into another empty paint container. The strainer will stain any clots that may have formed in the paint and the funnel will give you an estimate of whether or not the consistency of your paint is good enough. If the mixture passes through the bottom of the funnel fluidly, then it means that the consistency of the paint is perfect, in which case you can move on to step 4. If not, then move on to step number 3.

Step # 03: Add More Thinner

If the consistency of your paint mixture is too thick then you must add thinner to it. For this, you have to be very patient and only add a few ounces of the thinner at a time. This step will ensure that you don’t accidentally over-dilute the paint.

Step # 04: Testing Phase

This is the step where you make the move and test out the mixture by actually loading it into the spray gun. Make sure that you do the testing on a sample surface. However, just ensure that you move to this step only when you are satisfied with the consistency of the mixture.

Step # 05: Get Set Go!

If you get even coverage in the sampling phase, it means that your mixture is successfully thinned and you can move on to working on your real project. Make sure that you hold the nozzle of the spray gun at the correct angle and start working on your project right away.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use Alcohol to thin acrylic paint?

Yes, alcohol is a perfect alternative to water while thinning acrylic paint because it is a highly volatile organic compound that evaporates much quicker at room temperature than water. So, if you need your paint to dry out quickly then you must use alcohol instead of water to thin out your acrylic paint for a spray gun.

Can I thin acrylic paint for a spray gun myself?

Yes, you can definitely thin acrylic paint for a spray gun in the comforts of your home. You just have to take care of the consistencies of the mixing compound while thinning the acrylic paint. This little process will save you from having to purchase ready-made spray gun paints from the market and damage your spray gun beyond repair.

Can you put acrylic paint in a spray gun?

Yes, you can definitely put acrylic paint to a spray gun but not directly. You may already know that the consistency of a spray gun is very thick which makes it incompatible with a spray gun. So, you will have to thin it out using a thinner or water before you can put it in a spray gun. You can also purchase ready-made acrylic paints for spray guns that are already thinned by the manufacturers and can be used directly in the spray gun. But different brands manufacture spray gun paint with slightly different consistencies which can take a toll on your spray gun.

Final Thoughts on Thinning Acrylic Paint For Spray Gun

So, this was all from my side. I tried my best to explain everything in detail and in as simple words as possible. If you have read through this entire article then you must be very clear about what to do in each step and what not to do. If you found this article helpful don’t forget to share it with your friends and family who could use all this information as well.

With that being said, I would like to conclude this discussion with a little reminder: Take your time in the mixing phase and be very careful otherwise you might end up overdiluting the mixture.