Distilled Gum Turpentine

DistilledGumTurps
TappingPineResin_web

Product Description

Langridge genuine Distilled Gum Turpentine is produced in the traditional manner by steam distillation of sap tapped from the Pinus merkusii tree. This is the time-honoured method that has been used for hundreds of years and is the Gum Turpentine referred to in artist’s technical texts.

Natural dilutent and solvent for oil colours and varnishes. Greater wetting power than other artists’ solvents. It improves the flow of oil colors and evaporates readily. Has a pleasant pine odour.

Contains over 86% terpinenes (alpha-pinene and beta-pinene). Completely anhydrous (water-free).

Distilled Gum Turpentine is produced differently to Sulfate or Wood Turpentine made by industrial ‘destructive distillation’, obtained by extraction from chips of dead pine wood left over from the kraft paper manufacturing industry. Turpentine made by destructive distillation has lower concentrations of terpinenes and also contain impurities that require additional treatment measures to remove traces of sulfur compounds.

Langridge purchases directly from a trusted independent grower and manufacturer.

Product Code: 012

Constituents

Distilled Gum Turpentine (Pinus Merkusii)

Product Application

Langridge Distilled Gum Turpentine may be added to oil colours, drying oils and oil mediums in small quantities, used to dissolve and dilute damar resin/varnish and used to clean brushes and painting equipment.

Natural dilutent when used in small quantities with oil colours. Petroleum distillate based solvents (Low Toxic Solvent, odourless solvents, OMS, White Spirit, etc.) its function is to aid in dilution, keeping the richness and fatness of the oil with which it is mixed.
Care should be taken, however, in diluting purely with Gum Turpentine as its over-use can easily underbind paint and lead to a dull, dry lifeless film with potential for dusting or flaking off.
Artists wishing to create very fluid working qualities should refer to painting mediums constructed for that purpose.

Gum Turpentine can be added to artists’ drying oils to add extra fluidity. It is generally found that Gum Turpentine has greater wetting powers than petroleum distillates so that much smaller quantities may be added to achieve fluidity of paints and oils.

If wishing to home manufacture Damar Varnish or using Damar Varnish or a medium with a damar content then Gum Turpentine must be used to dilute or remove. Damar resin is only fully dissolved in Gum Turpentine, petroleum distillates only partially dissolve natural resins and prevent full hardening of the resin film.

If wishing to home manufacture an artists’ synthetic varnish (Paraloid B67MT, Regalrez, etc.) or using a varnish or a medium with a synthetic resin content Artists’ White Spirit should be used when wishing to dilute or remove. Artists’ synthetic resins are only fully dissolved in petroleum distillates.

For cleaning brushes Langridge recommends the use of brush cleaning units or containers which have an airtight lid reducing exposure to solvent fumes as well as preventing evaporation of solvent in the container. A slightly gummy residue remains as Distilled Gum Turpentine evaporates. This is partly the result of polymerisation and oxidation and does little harm to mixtures in which it is used. However, a large quantity of Gum Turpentine allowed to evaporate by 70% in the container will contain too high a proportion of oxidised turpentine to be used safely for stable painting.

Additional Product Information

Concerns about solvents

If concerned about contact with Distilled Gum Turpentine (see related Material Safety Data Sheet) then Langridge Low Toxic Solvent, a lower toxicity alternative, can be used. Because Langridge Low Toxic Solvent is an aliphatic hydrocarbon as opposed to an aromatic hydrocarbon such as Gum Turpentine issues regarding turpentine are avoided. Low Toxic Solvent cannot be used for dissolving damar or any natural resin.

Using solvents to matte paint

Artists wishing to have a painting with a matte reflective quality should use a matte medium added to their paints or apply a matt picture varnish once the painting is finished. The use of solvents to matte paint is not recommended because the matte effect seen is due to the partial destruction of the paint film, leaving an unstable, underbound paint surface liable to crack or dust/flake (See..).

Working Properties

Appearance

Langridge Distilled Gum Turpentine is a clear and transparent liquid with characteristic Gum Turpentine pine odour.

Clean Up

For further washing apply a small quantity of Marseille or other pure olive oil soap and massage the bristles of the brush to release any remaining turpentine. Wash thoroughly in warm water. Leave to fully dry before using for oil colours.

Evaporation Times

10ml in 55mm wide open cup at 20o centigrade ambient temperature full evaporation after 2 hours. Any airflow over the surface will evaporate the solvent more rapidly.

Available in:

100ml (0121), 500ml (0125), Litre (012L), 4 Litre (0124), 20 Litre (0122)