Determining If Latex Or Oil Base Paint

gary lee

Does anybody have a surefire way of knowing if there is oil base paint or latex on a substrate? Usually I can tell by the way the paint has layed down if it is oil or latex. Another way I have used to determine if it is oil or latex is by rubbing it with denatured alcohol (latex will remove), but do not have total confidence in this test. Thanks for the feedback.

Gary

ron schenker

I trust goof off more than denatured alcohol. I don't know why, maybe I'm a goof

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BMAN

Latex and Oil taste different to me.

daArch

I always used the alcohol test, but then I met up with some latexes that did not "dissolve" with alcohol.

This, I copied from an Internet source (hey, if it's written, it must be fact ):
"To test you can use methyl hydrate (gas line anti-freeze) or non acetone based nail polish remover.

Apply a small quantity to a pad and rub vigorously on the painted surface. If the surface remains shiny it is oil/alkyd; if the paint is stripped it is latex."

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Wallcovering Installations by Bill Archibald|paperhanger|Eastern Mass|Greater Boston Area|Dover|Wellesley|Franklin|Sharon|MA

slickshift

I do the Goof Off! if I'm unsure

There is an alcohol test I like also
Get drunk enough and you don't care what the substrate is

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ModernStyle I have never used this crap before and I pray to the paint gods that I never have to use it again, I would rather use Behr

ProWallGuy

That is my style also.

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Wallpaper Hanger St. Louis
Digital Murals Installation

Da Vinci

Use Isopropyl alcohol on a rag. If it's latex it will soften and come off on the rag- oil will not. I've used this successfully about 98% of the time.

Bay Area Painting Company