Paint Thinning Guide - Newstripe SCOTSMAN Product Manual

Table of Contents

ALWAYS wear safety goggles or protective eye-wear when operating the unit!

There are many manufacturers of quality traffic marking or floor marking paints on the market. There are both national and regional

manufacturers. Our attempt here is to give you some reference to the more popular paints on the national market.

Oil-base:

Any paint that contains petroleum products and requires mineral spirits (paint thinner) or other petroleum

solvents to thin the paint or clean up afterwards. (The 'original' style paint. Good wear properties slow to dry, and

not necessarily environmentally friendly.)

Alkyd:

Basically, an oil-based paint with synthetic resins and glycerol. (Increased wear properties and faster drying

over oil-base)

Chlorinated-

An oil base paint that is very fast drying and has very good wear capabilities.

Rubber:

(Not always available due to environmental restrictions.)

Latex:

A rubber base paint that may be thinned or cleaned up with water.

(Typically an interior or exterior paint like house paint)

Acrylic latex:

A combination rubber base and plastic polymer paint that may be thinned or cleaned up with water.

(An improved version of latex paint) Better wear capabilities.

Water-borne:

A chemical base paint that exhibits many of the good properties of oil base paint, but can be thinned or

cleaned up with water.

Fast-dry:

Many paints say they are fast drying. For our purposes, 'Fast Dry' means a paint that is ready to 'bear traffic'

within 30 minutes.

Viscometer:

A measuring device to consistently gauge the proper thinning of paint. There are different sizes of these on the

market for different applications. The one supplied with your machine is a 3-ounce size.

The following is a quick reference guide based on a temperature of 70° Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of

Paint type

Sherwin Williams, latex Lead-

free, setfast.

Sherwin Williams, Water-Borne

Pro Park

ICI Glidden, acrylic

Rust Oleum, Acrylic latex

United Coatings, latex

NOTE: The 'Beginning dilution' is a starting point so that you don't have to do as much trial and error in using the viscometer cup.

From the 'Beginning Dilution' add water in increments of 2oz. (1/4 cup), stirring the paint thoroughly each time, and then check the

'Dwell Time'. Temperature is a major factor spraying paint. A change of 10 degrees may require a change of 2- 4 oz. difference in

thinning. Do not paint below 50°.

Nozzle Selection: See 'Spray Head Adjustment' to choose the correct nozzle for the line width you wish to produce and 'Surface &

Paint Preparation to diagnose the spray pattern.

Scotsman™