You can use acrylic paint as a base coat (or primer) for latex paint when painting over highly porous surfaces to prevent over-absorption. Since acrylic paint is thicker it will fill the pores in the surface and prevent paint wastage.
Can I mix acrylic paint with latex paint?
I have a gallon of interior latex paint (with primer mixed in) and a gallon of interior acrylic paint (with primer mixed in). The color I want is somewhere in between the two. Can I blend these two paints together? Will it affect how it dries or how long it will last? The internet yields inconsistent and confusing results. Also this answer implies acrylic and latex paints are the same, but I’m not sure if it’s the same context (I don’t know what “water dispersion paint” is).
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asked Feb 16, 2016 at 21:00
Jason C Jason C
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One way to find out.
Feb 16, 2016 at 21:56
Paint doesn’t just dry, it cures. Has a chemical reaction to turn into very long-chain molecules which are tough and durable – but not having htat chemical reaction while sitting in the can. Paint resin is a very tricky chemistry, especially with the VOC regulations making it harder. You could break the curing mechanism for both flavors of paint, resulting in a royal mess stuck to your walls that won’t perform. You could wind up having to tediously strip it off your walls just to get the next coat of paint to stick. Paint is cheap. Your time is not.
Feb 17, 2016 at 0:15
@Wolf Harper, I don’t believe that latex paint cures, in the sense of undergoing chemical reactions. The polymers are all created in the manufacturing process. The drying process involves the water and remaining solvent evaporating and the polymers coalescing, but doesn’t include any chemical reaction.
Feb 17, 2016 at 2:25
Being non-wasteful is good, but if all we’re talking about is a $40 gallon of paint, why would you spend time mixing a sample, applying it, waiting for it to dry, doing destructive testing, then discovering that you didn’t get exactly the right color anyway so you’ll have to go back to the mixing bench? If the goal is hobbyist-paint-fun, then have at it. If the goal is getting the paint on the wall once and getting on to better things, then just bite the bullet and buy new.
Feb 17, 2016 at 13:38
Joel, think of curing as the process which makes paint resistant to its own solvent. if they didn’t cure, you could scrub the paint off with a wet rag.
Feb 21, 2016 at 0:18
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There actually is no difference between latex and acrylic paints because there is no latex in latex paints. Let me explain. All water based paints today are referred to as “latex”, even though there is absolutely no latex rubber in the formula. . Better quality paints have more acrylic resins than vinyl.
The acrylic paint for walls simply are thicker with more teeny acrylic beads that bind together when the water evaporates. THey pull together and tighten creating a coated surface of plastic polymer. The liquids in the paint may have some additives to strengthen and thicken this process. The thinner the paint (cheaper) means the less polymer beads the paint has in it. Thus making the issue of multiple coats to fill in the areas that the beads were spread apart. Pigments are the colors added to the medium (polymers & Liquid). Curing in the case of Acrylics is simply a drying process that tightens and pulls the polymer beads together. No chemical change is needed other than evaporation. Its not oil based.
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answered Feb 10, 2017 at 7:55
Lara Lara
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No. The color may be fine but the binding properties you have no idea. And when I say binding, it is not only while it is going on but also after it cures – if it does cure.
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answered Feb 16, 2016 at 21:04
DMoore DMoore
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I think I believe you, but are you sure? The internet yields inconsistent and confusing results. Also this answer implies acrylic and latex paints are the same, but I’m not sure if it’s the same context (I don’t know what “water dispersion paint” is).
Feb 16, 2016 at 21:10
I’ve never seen a distinction between latex and acrylic – they seem to be used interchangeably.
Feb 16, 2016 at 21:15
That answer is right for certain house paint but is not an overall representation of paints. Acrylic paints do not have to have latex quality binding additives. Most/all paints currently bought in big box stores are basically the same but this was not always the case and why the question you linked to is right most of the time. But I can buy acrylic paint from the craft store and mix it to color with latex paint and I am not sure what I would do to the chemical binding reactions. So without seeing the cans of paint I say no.
Feb 16, 2016 at 21:18
So really I can’t think of a case where a can of paint just said acrylic when it had latex additives. Shoot a picture of both cans and let us see.
What Happens If You Mix Acrylic Paint with Latex Paint?
If you mix acrylic paint with latex paint you get a more colorful paint. Acrylic paint will add more pigments (color) to the mixture, while latex paint will add more solvent (water) and make the mixture thinner.
Acrylic paint and latex paint are compatible as both use water as their solvent and have similar qualities.
Latex paint has a lighter flow (and higher solvent rate) as it’s made to paint furniture and wood, while acrylic has a thicker flow and more pigments as it’s used for arts and crafts.
Acrylic paint is formulated with additives to make its finish more elastic, too.
How to Mix Acrylic Paint With Latex Paint?
To mix acrylic paint with latex paint, do the following.
- Squeeze Acrylic Paint into a Container.
- Thin Acrylic Paint.
- Mix and Stir for 10 Minutes.
- Test The Mixture.
The tools you need for this project are listed below.
- A Paint Bucket
- A Can of Latex Paint
- Tube(s) of Acrylic Paint
- Paint Mixer
- Measuring Cup
- A Bottle of Water
1. Squeeze Acrylic Paint into a Container
Squeeze the required amount of acrylic paint into a measuring cup and then into a clean container.
Use the measuring cup to know how much acrylic paint you used so you know the ratio to mix it.
Note: The paint must be in good condition and not expired.
2. Thin Acrylic Paint
Acrylic paint has a thick flow and will make the mixture thicker if you don’t mix it.
To thin acrylic paint, use water in a ratio of 1:3 (1 part paint thinner or water to 3 parts of paint). Simply mix the acrylic paint with water for a few minutes using a turning stick or paint mixer.
Don’t use too much water while thinning the paint as it will lose its bonding qualities and won’t stick.
Note: If you want a thicker paint coating, you don’t need to thin acrylic paint.
3. Mix and Stir for 10 Minutes
Pour latex paint (in a ratio of 1:1) over the thinned acrylic (in the clean bucket) and mix them for 10 minutes using a turning stick or paint mixer.
Ensure to stir the bottom of the container so all the paint will mix.
4. Test The Mixture
Test the mixture of paint by applying it to a cardboard or dispensable material. Stir again for 10 minutes if the mixture is too thick or hard to apply. You can use the mixture if it has a consistent color, is easy to apply, and isn’t too thick.
Add more latex paint if the mixture is too thick and you want thinner paint, or add more acrylic paint if the mixture is too thin and you want thicker paint.
Can You Apply Acrylic Paint over Latex Paint?
You can apply acrylic paint over latex paint as both paints are water-based and latex paint doesn’t have a glossy finish that repels additional coatings.
Latex paint when dry has a textured finish that allows additional coatings (or paints) to stick over it with ease. Acrylic paint has impressive bonding qualities as it’s formulated with extra additives since is designed to be used for arts and crafts.
You can apply acrylic paint after you apply latex paint on furniture to add more color to the finish.
