Titanium White – Winsor & Newton Artist Oils – WARNING: SOLVENT

[AnnieA]

Just add some Linseed oil there.

Well, yeah…or maybe walnut. Actually, I’ve just started reading [em]Brushwork for the Oil Painter[/em] by Emile Gruppe, and he talks about “beating” the white paint at the beginning of the session in order to make it less stiff. By this he means vigorously manipulating it with a palette knife until it’s somewhat looser. I’m wondering if that might be because he’s an outdoor painter so perhaps it works because of heat outdoors? Anyway, I may try that to see what happens. I’ve only just started a second reading of the book (the first was years ago), and it’s pretty interesting.

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[Gigalot]

There is a very small difference in oil content between stiff and fluid oil paints. When I tried to grind my own paint from pigment powder and oil, only a tinny amount of oil needs to give fluidity to premixed stiff paint.

[Richard P]

Why do you think W&N are adding solvent to their artist white when their winton range dries quicker (in my testing) but doesn’t smell of solvent? Perhaps to change the feel?

[WFMartin]

Why do you think W&N are adding solvent to their artist white when their winton range dries quicker (in my testing) but doesn’t smell of solvent? Perhaps to change the feel?

I believe that some manufacturers add different liquids at the start of their milling of the pigment powder, merely for the purpose of causing the dry powder to become more “controllable” when the time comes for the addition of the binding oil.

I can’t say for certain, but I believe that I read that somewhere. I don’t believe that W & N would purposely add a solvent just for the purpose of getting their customers shorts in a bunch. There must be more of a logical reason for doing so, and I believe it is nothing more or less than a new-found means of making the pigment powder behave better. In the case of the distinct smell, I believe that the solvent just didn’t evaporate off, as they figured it was going to do.:)

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[ilya K]

Hi!

To add more information to this already informative thread…

I have checked the SDS of Schmincke Norma, they have only one for all colours and it lists solvent. As I saw frequently that whites list solvents but others not, I contacted Schmincke to get more details. They replied that ALL Norma colours can contain up to 5% white spirit, which is indeed shown on SDS that applies to all.

Interestingly, their Flake White hue (Kremserweiss) SDS does not mention any solvents. It does not belong to Norma range though.

I also noticed that C Kreul SDS goes into details and lists exactly which colours contain white spirit. And those are not only whites, but others too.

And now, something that may explain that mystery with Winsor and Newton, when they first said “no solvent” but then said “actually, yes, a bit”:

SDS for Lukas 1862 whites have two sections. One says “according to EU regulation XXXX” and lists zinc oxide only. Another says “according to EU regulation YYYY” and lists zinc oxide AND solvent.

I assume that the regulations were made stricter, and now they can or have to report lower amounts of solvent. So, maybe the SDS from Winsor and Newton was produced for older regulations? Or maybe the reporting according to newer one is voluntary?

I am wondering now if there is such thing as solvent free oil paint, especially whites. Maybe Schmincke Kremserweiss is the answer? Lukas 1862 non whites do not mention anything. I also noticed that study grade paint of all brands I checked are also “clean”, including whites.

Ilya K
C&C always welcome

[pip seymour]

Dear Richard,

We manufacture oil colours here in North Yorkshire, England.
We only use (Food grade) pure cold pressed linseed oil from a single farm estate (English) and certainly we never use ANY solvents. It is not necessary to do so, nor is it required, EVER in the paint making process.

It would be interesting to have the views of other makers, especially the big companies.

http://www.wallaceseymour.co.uk

Regards
Pip Seymour

Hi all,

I’m in the middle of doing a large scale test of paints for colour, opacity (from the tube and with walnut oil added to make them a fluid consistency), and drying time. Mostly earth colours, whites, and the other colours I use in a few brands (cadmiums, blues, etc..) I’m waiting on 45 paint swatches to dry(!)

I realised while doing this that I could faintly smell solvent. Since I work solvent free, I knew immediately this was from one of the paints. I’ve only had one tube of paint previously that smelt of solvent (and that was very strong): Senneiler Van Dyck Brown Deep

After smelling directly several tubes (the smell is faint) I realised that the solvent is in Winsor & Newton Artist Oils Titanium White.

I’m a bit annoyed as I can’t see anything to say it contains solvent on the website or the tube.

So, without opening up the solvent debates again.. can I just say to be aware that it seems to contain a small amount of solvent for those who use it and want to paint solvent free.

Thanks,
Richard

[Gigalot]

Interesting oil paints, Pip! Is there a source of Cappagh Brown pigment that still can be mined or it was completely depleted in the past?
Titanium White
PW 6
Series 1
in linseed oil.
It might be better than to use modern, unknown pigment structure, unknown oil, unknown Zinc content Flake Whites. Suspected Flake white can cause trouble.
In the other hand, Linseed oil is a good durable oil that forms strong paint film with “warm” white color with Titanium White. Pure titanium white in linseed oil is at least as warm or even warmer as flake white in walnut oil binder.

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