Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

I am an art instructor who teaches oil painting using all nontoxic products. In doing so, the world of oil painting is opened for artists of all ages including children. Weber Turpenoid Natural is the cornerstone of this system because it is nontoxic and even nonflammable! With the AP label it is a winner. Dick Blick offers this product at the lowest prices I can find and in large quantities (1 gallon) which I need for classes. The product and Dick Blick make it happen for me!

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

I've been using this as a brush cleaner for the last two years, and it seems to work just fine for this purpose. The pigments settle to the bottom of the jar after a while (but not as fast as they do with odorless mineral spirits), so if you fill a jar with this, and keep the lid closed when you're not using it, it will last a really long time.

Whether or not the vapors this gives off are any better for you than odorless mineral spirits is not really clear (orange terpenes seem to be one of the ingredients—but only a minor ingredient, because pure orange terpenes are a clear thin liquid similar to turpentine, and this stuff is dark and oily). However, if you keep the jar covered when you aren't using it, you will get very little exposure to the orange terpenes The manufacturer says this product is non-flammable, which eliminates the fire hazard risk of odorless mineral spirits.

This stuff is also water miscible, a useful feature not mentioned in the product description.

I strongly recommend not using it as a painting medium, because no one knows what's in it and people say the stuff will never dry if you add too much to the paint. I only use it to clean my brushes and wipe off any excess with a good rub of a paper towel before I use the brush to paint again.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

I bought turpenoid natural to get away from using turp to clean my brushes and found a product that will be with me as long as I am painting. I especially love that all that built-up paint is softened and I have been able to salvage brushes I thought were gone. The bristles feel like new.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

It is impossible to open the can of turpenoid natural, and there are no directions.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

As someone else mentioned.. it is Not just a safer version of the standard Turpenoid. I bought it after reading that it could be used as a non-toxic medium. Sadly I didn't read the can. It can only be used 25% of the total mixture. I now have 2 paintings that are still wet 3 months after I finished them.
I didn't get headaches from fumes but having paintings that will never dry are another kind of headache. The main reason I bought it was to avoid headaches from fumes. Since I don't need to have it in my painting area to soak the brushes I won't be buying it again. As a brush cleaner and conditioner it's great stuff.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

as a start medium and to clean brushes. the smell is pleasing and nontoxic a plus.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

I bought this so that I could paint at home without the danger of toxic turpentine. This is an improvement over turpentine, but no magic bullet. It does have a strong odor and after working for 4 hours with it, I had a headache and both I and my small dog had respiratory issues for the next 3 days. It works well to clean brushes (do it outside) and it even seemed to do well as a medium, but doesn't eliminate the problem of odor or harmful vapors. Apparently some peope have no problems with it. I recommend that you buy a small amount and try it. It doesn't work for me.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

This product is an excellent option for any oil painter wishing for a safer studio environment. I've never used it as a medium so I can't comment on that, but as a brush cleaner it works wonderfully. It also conditions brushes so they last longer. It has kind of a strong smell, and though it's not unpleasant, I will sometimes develop headache after three or four hours of painting. I can usually prevent this by opening a window when the weather allows or turning on a fan. Even so, it's a great product and I would never go back to turpentine.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

Below is text from the Weber product page. Note that it is not recommended for use by itself, only as a component of a medium, and that only 25% of the total. The containers used to say, and perhaps still do, that Turpenoid Natural was primarily to be used for brush cleaning. It is not a "natural" substitute for regular Turpenoid (with the blue labels), which may be used to thin paint. Here's the Weber text:

It is an effective painting medium when used within recommended guidelines. Now, artists seeking safer choices, as well as students, seniors and those unable to enjoy the pleasures of oil painting because of problems with traditional solvents, have a new safe alternative. Not recommended with Damar Varnish or crystals. Use in paint mediums should not exceed 25% to ensure proper drying time. Do not use Turpenoid Natural® to create washes, glazes or to "wet" canvas before painting.

Comments about Weber Turpenoid Natural:

I use this to thin my oil paints and clean my brushes. I am painting with oils a lot more and enjoying it a lot more now that I don't have to use a toxic substance to clean my brushes! Good product.