Gamsol

Gamsol is 100% odorless Mineral Spirits, and it is a healthier alternative to turpentine as an oil paint/pastel solvent. It is commonly used to thin paint and to clean brushes.

During a three hour painting session, 90% of the turpentine exposed would evaporate into the air; in the same period of time, only 20% of the Gamsol will vaporize. In addition to a slower evaporation rate, several harmful chemicals have also been removed.

Gamsol is a thinner, which is very important to remember when used in conjunction with linseed oil. (Fat over thin - it is easier to paint when you put paint mixed with the oil over paint mixed with a thinner rather than vice versa).

You can also do washes with gamsol. If you are painting with oil paint, and you made a mistake, you can pour gamsol on the painting to wash it away. This can be done to a lesser degree (pouring some gamsol on the painting to create a dripping or running style).

Gamsol can also be used as a blending tool for oil pastels, colored pencils, etc.

Recommendations to save money:

Put gamsol in a squeeze bottle that way you always have clean, untainted gamsol to mix with the paint, it isn't in contact with the air which makes it safer, and you can easier control the amount you want to mix in.

Use a silicoil brush cleaner with the gamsol to clean your brushes that way you can recycle it. Set aside some, lidded jars. Pour the gamsol into the cleaner, clean your brushes, and then pour the used gamsol into the jar. Let it sit for about a week; the pigments will sink to the bottom of the jar, and the clean gamsol will stay to the top. Gamsol can be very expensive, and so recycling it is always a good idea. If you paint often, keep several jars of settling gamsol.

Obviously avoid as much physical contact as you can with the substance. Wash your hands carefully after use. Also, do not allow it near anything flammable.

Gamsol is less toxic than Turpentine and Turpentoid, but that doesn't mean that it is harmless. Please use with care.

Try to use it in a well ventilated area. Do not smoke or allow a flame of any size (or any ignition sources) near it as the chemical is highly flammable.

GAMSOL CAN SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST in hot temperatures (Flash point is 145 degrees F). Always store used rags/etc in sealed metal disposable bins (that way if it does spontaneously combust, the fire will be contained). If you spill it, remove from the area all sources of ignition and soak with water. If the rags/anything else which has had contact with gamsol is immersed in water for a long period of time, it can be disposed of as ordinary trash with little risk.

Water will not put a gamsol fire out.

Skin contact: May cause rash, cracking, dryness, or defatting of skin. Wash skin carefully and thoroughly after contact.

Ingestion: Nausea, gastrointestinal irritation, or vomiting. Contact a physician.

Inhalation: Dizziness, headache, nausea, possible nervous system depression. If effected, remove from exposure and call a physician. Oxygen tank or resuscitation may be required.

Eye Contact: wash with clean water for at least 15 minutes. Call a physician.

A silicoil brush cleaner: https://www.jerrysartarama.com/images/Category/00002G-37961G/13508H.JPG

The MSDS for Gamsol can be found here: http://www.gamblincolors.com/msds/gamsol.html