Whats acrylic and what ones are Spirit based (varnishes)?

[technium]

I have been reading alot about this beach wood table im making and have decided to use clear varnish to protect it as its going to be a coffee table.

I read that I could use spirit based varnish and dilute it down 50/50 with white spirit for the first couple of coats. Apparently you cant dilute acrylic based varnishes.

So anyway off I went to well known diy store to buy my varnish but not one of them said anything about either acrylic or spirit based so how can I tell. Ive read that acrylic varnishes are milky looking but I cant tell that without opening the tins on the shelf.

I know this is probably a stupid basic question but hey thats what forums are for right?? and im trying to learn.

Anyway is there something I should be looking for on the back of a tin to tell me so that I purchase the right product?

thanks for looking.

 

[tim]

Acrylic means water based.

As a rule, you can tell by the clean up instructions. Soap and water = water based and white spirit/ meths etc means spirit base.

Cheers

Tim

 

[technium]

Top Man!!!

See simple question, simple answer and I will remember that.

You learn something new everyday!!!

thanks mate.

 

[White House Workshop]

And to address the unanswered question - yes you can dilute acrylic varnishes successfully, but when they get too wet they do raise the grain rather a lot!

 

[johnnyb]

just to say spirit based refers to methylated spirit not white spirit as the two are totally different bases. (white spirit is oil based)