What is "Acrylic" Paint?`

[excap]

I thought the two kinds of paint were "Oil Based" or "Latex."

I saw a gallon of "100 % Acrylic" that made no mention of being either Latex or Oil based.

Is it a hybrid of the two?

And part 2 of this question:

I know you can't put oil based paint over previously painted latex paint but what about acrylic? How does that figure in the mix?

 

[dadiOH]

I thought the two kinds of paint were "Oil Based" or "Latex."

I saw a gallon of "100 % Acrylic" that made no mention of being either Latex or Oil based.

Is it a hybrid of the two?

Latex = acrylic

 

[excap]

Okay, so how does it go? Can put Latex On top of previous Oil based paint but not vice versa?

 

[jeffc]

Latex on hard enamel is nasty

Speaking of enamel, that would be another good question. Is enamel a type of paint? Basically, enamel just means "shiny".

 

[Hopkins]

No, you don't put latex finish on top of oil finish, unless you use an oil primer first.

You can put oil on latex.

 

[Hopkins]

"Enamel" usually refers to a baked-on hard glossy finish. When speaking of paint, it's like latex...

latex = water-based
enamel = oil-based

 

[Hopkins]

Questions have been answered but if you're unsure about a particular product, read the label under 'clean up' or 'thinning'.

 

[3rd eye]

Latex = acrylic

NO it isnt'

 

[3rd eye]

Speaking of enamel, that would be another good question. Is enamel a type of paint? Basically, enamel just means "shiny".

Enamel is a harder finish.
Doesn't matter if latex or oil. It doesn't need to have gloss to be an enamel. .. Acyrlic is NOT the same as latex.

OP didn't say if interior, but it is assumed that he was talking about trim.

HOPKINS is an idiot. This person hasn't a clue as to what he's talkiing about.

 

[Gordon Reeder]

"Enamel" usually refers to a baked-on hard glossy finish. When speaking of paint, it's like latex...

latex = water-based
enamel = oil-based

Beg to differ. You can buy water based enamels. The desktop directly under this keyboard was painted with a water based enamel paint. I didtinctly rememebr selecting enamal for it's hard wearing finish. I also know that I cleaned up the brush with water.

 

[Oscar_Lives]

Main Entry: 2enamel
Function: noun
1 : a usually opaque vitreous composition applied by fusion to the surface of metal, glass, or pottery 2 : a surface or outer covering that resembles enamel 3 a : something that is enameled b : ENAMELWARE 4 : a cosmetic intended to give a smooth or glossy appearance 5 : a hard calcareous substance that forms a thin layer capping the teeth -- see TOOTH illustration 6 : a paint that flows out to a smooth coat when applied and that dries with a glossy appearance

Main Entry: la·tex
Pronunciation: 'lA-"teks
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural la·ti·ces /'lA-t&-"sEz, 'la-/; or la·tex·es
Etymology: New Latin latic-, latex, from Latin, fluid
1 : a milky usually white fluid that is produced by cells of various seed plants (as of the milkweed, spurge, and poppy families) and is the source of rubber, gutta-percha, chicle, and balata 2 : a water emulsion of a synthetic rubber or plastic obtained by polymerization and used especially in coatings (as paint) and adhesives

Main Entry: 2acrylic
Function: noun
1 a : ACRYLIC RESIN b : a paint in which the vehicle is an acrylic resin c :
a painting done in an acrylic resin
2 : ACRYLIC FIBER

Main Entry: acrylic resin
Function: noun
: a glassy thermoplastic made by polymerizing acrylic or methacrylic acid or a derivative of either and used for cast and molded parts or as coatings and adhesives

Main Entry: acrylic acid
Function: noun
: an unsaturated liquid acid C3H4O2 that polymerizes readily to form useful products (as constituents for varnishes and lacquers)

 

[George E. Cawthon]

I thought the two kinds of paint were "Oil Based" or "Latex."

I saw a gallon of "100 % Acrylic" that made no mention of being either Latex or Oil based.

Is it a hybrid of the two?

And part 2 of this question:

I know you can't put oil based paint over previously painted latex paint but what about acrylic? How does that figure in the mix?

You've got good answers and bad answers, so I
won't add to the confusion. Go here or do a
google search:

http://www.sutherlands.com/terms.html

 

[jeffc]

"Enamel" usually refers to a baked-on hard glossy finish. When speaking of paint, it's like latex...

latex = water-based
enamel = oil-based

Maybe "usually", maybe not. There are water based enamels, that's why I pointed it out.

 

[jeffc]

Enamel is a harder finish.
Doesn't matter if latex or oil. It doesn't need to have gloss to be an enamel.

I challenge you to show us a flat enamel.

 

[jeffc]

I challenge you to show us a flat enamel.

Dang, as soon as I say that I check it out just to be sure. There are flat enamels. News to me.

 

[dadiOH]

Maybe "usually", maybe not. There are water based enamels, that's why I pointed it out.

If it's hard and glossy it's called "enamel" because the original enamel was glass fused to metal. They sell latex "enamel" and it *is* glossy. But hard? I don't think so...it isn't sandable, stuff sticks to it, it doesn't flow.

There is no reason that there couldn't be a decent water based "enamel" (may already exist) but it would use polyurethane. Latex is fine for drywall and concrete, lousy for wood. Lousy, that is, if one cares about how it looks.

 

[dadiOH]

NO it isnt'

OK, "acrylic" paints are acrylic latex but not all latex paints have acrylic. Happy?

 

[Hopkins]

yeah, you're right. i stand corrected.

 

[dadiOH]

Dang, as soon as I say that I check it out just to be sure. There are flat enamels. News to me.

In oil paints at least, all start life as glossy. Adding a flatting agent - talc, usually - in varying amounts is what changes the sheen. Used to be that paint stores actually sold talc so you could mix whatever sheen you wanted; nowadays, they don't even know what flatting powder is.

 

[Hopkins]

ah, a small mistake and i'm the scourge of the earth. cram it with walnuts.