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About Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner
What is Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner? The
simple answer is, it's a more environmentally friendly, non-flammable, pleasent to use,
biodegradable alternative to 'turps' and white spirit, made from the zest of citrus fruit for cleaning brushes and thinning paint, a much safer solvent for stuido use.
Not so simple answer, Zest-it
is a solvent, primarily for use by oil painters. It is made from an Aliphatic Hydrocarbon and pure food grade Citrus Oil (orange terpenes). It has a neutral pH value and contains no CFC's or Aromatics and has low VOC's. It is a clear, colourless liquid which has a pleasant 'citrus' smell, is inherently biodegradable and evaporates without leaving any residue. Independent laboratory tests show it has no detrimental effect to the oil paint or pigment quality, proven stability and a long active life. See letter
 View the Product range.
Why use Zest-it?
Zest-it isn't irritating to the eyes or skin in normal use, although splashes may irritate, just like soap when you get it in your eyes.
Used normally with good hygiene it doesn't irritate the skin, although keeping the hands wet with Zest-it can defat and cause dryness of the skin, if dryness occures then we recommend E45® Hand Cream. If you have dermatitis or any other skin condition on your hands, then we recommend the use of Nitrile® gloves.
Zest-it is not classed as a toxic substance, nor is it classed as flammable but have 'safety sense' and keep it away from flames or sparks and don't heat it up.
If you have a known allergy to citrus fruit then it may be best not to use this product.
See letter
Zest-it Oil paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner has an active strength (in our tests - 'used' Zest-it over 10 years old will still clean brushes efficiently) that is longer lasting than turpentine or white spirit, it is reusable with very little lost by evaporation, therefore you use less.  When you've used Zest-it for brush cleaning, at the end of the painting session, leave the Zest-it to stand for a good few hours preferable overnight. The paint sediment will settle to the bottom of the container, the clear Zest-it can then be decanted off and re-used.
(Some people tell us they filter 'used' Zest-it through cotton wool and an old 'nylon stocking'. The Colleges and Universities take large quantities, they recycle and save on waste by filtering through paper toweling).
Zest-it as a Brush Cleaner is kind to your brushes. 'Turps'
and white spirit are know to 'leech out' the natural oils from bristle and hair brushes, causing them to go brittle and dry over time, because Zest-it contains citrus oils it helps maintain the integrity of your brush hair or bristle giving your brushes a much longer life.
You can read about brush cleaning by clicking the link.
The sediment needs to be disposed of sensibly, as with any solvent containing the remains of oil painting (pigment and oil). It is not advisable 'just to throw it down the sink or drain', an easy way is to pour the sediment onto dry sand or soil before disposing. To reduce the amount of sediment it is best to wipe the worst of the paint from your brushes with newspaper or paper towel.
Zest-it used as a Paint Dilutant (diluent). Using Zest-it as an Oil Paint Dilutant to
dilute the paint for applying colour to a 'ground',
it may be just a little slower drying than white spirit, which for most people isn't a problem. See letter For more information about traditional and 'alla prima' oil painting techniques use this link.
Our tests show, that most oil paint can be diluted down to  ink consistency without any adverse effect on the oil paint or the binding of it to the surface, so you can lay in your underpainting with confidence.
It can also be mixed with linseed oil in the
normal way and used as a painting medium and dissolves Gum Damar crystals to make Damar Varnish.
Wherever you would have used turpentine or white spirit, you can now use Zest-it as an alternative to these.
If you would like to see it in action use the link to watch the video
Other ways to use Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner. Because Zest-it is more than "just a brush cleaner" for cleaning brushes and thinning oil paint, it can also be used to clean painting knives,
palettes, remove wet oil paint from a canvas,  your clothes and hands.
If used on clothes, remove clothes beforehand and test an area, then with soap and water.
If you use it to clean the hands, wash well after with soap and water, apply a hand cream or use the Artists Hand Cleaner, which will clean your hands and has a built-in conditioner to leave them supple.
You can thin oil paint to an 'ink consistency' for use with dip pen nibs, use with oil paint sticks, oil pastels and oil based ink, also with wax and wax based products.
To read what they say about Zest-it please see the testimonials page where people have been kind enough to share their thoughts, health issues and experiences of using Zest-it. This page also contains letters/emails sent direct, links to Zest-it reviews on other websites and magazine reviews.
 This is a very typical type of email we receive, 'since using Zest-it they don't suffer with headaches anymore' and 'I don't have to put up with the smell', like they did when using other products.
It is so true, what I said about the 'Zest it'....if it wasn't for that I
would not be painting in oils again, it has made such a difference to my work and I really enjoy myself now....Maureen. 3.Feb.00 e-mail
If you would like to view the technical information for Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner please use this link MSDS explained.
Some people have confused Zest-it with 'citrus thinners' because of the 'orangy smell'. You may have read on other sites that 'citrus thinners' give off hazardous fumes and they may do, but Zest-it is not 'citrus thinners'. Zest-it has been thoroughly tested to today's industry standards and does not give off hazardous vapours or fumes and for many people is the studio safe solvent of choice especially when working in the home.
Since this information page was put up on the web in 1999, we as a company and the Zest-it range of products have naturally developed by design and request. Still keeping to our "Safe Solutions for Artists" theme, you can find below a summary of the different products with links to specific pages for more details.
Zest-it products with other
media
The latest New addition was 'Zest-it Solvent' it was requested as a replacement to 'Gum Turpentine', it needed to be safer, without the citrus smell and to be faster drying. We put it out for testing by a number of professional artists - it had a 'thumbs up' from them.
For details about Zest-it Solvent
Also New was 'Zest-it Washaway' which is in the main 'just a brush cleaner'. Wash the brushes in the solution, this product is reusable many times so don't throw it away after one use, then give them a final rinse under the tap, allow to air dry as normal. Because the final wash is with water, make sure your brushes are dry before using again for oil painting.
For details about Zest-it Washaway
Another New product is the Dip Pen Nib Cleaner, for cleaning Indian and Permanent Ink from dip pen nibs, it's quick and easy to use, very efficient and re-usable.  Pencil Blend for use with Coloured pencils and Graphite. Many coloured pencil artists have found Zest-it to be an excellent product for under painting and blending their pencil work. Only a small amounts is used with a brush, 'cotton wool bud' or tortillions and it evaporates without leaving any residue.
Parchment artists use Zest-it as an endorsing fluid, to colour the back of the parchment, an example can be seen by clicking the above link. Parchment artists now have available a 50 ml Zest-it Parchment Blend.
Zest-it Blending Sponge. An easy, clean and convenient way of using
 Zest-it to moisten paper stumps, tortillions and shapers. Pre-impregnated with 15 ml of Zest-it and ready for use. For blending Coloured Pencils and Pastel on Parchment and/or paper. Re-moisten as necessary with Pencil or Parchment Blend. Keep closed when not in use.
We also have Zest-it 'Removers' for use with Masking Fluid, Glue Dots and Hinging tape.
Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner and also the Zest-it Solvent are use to make our various Mediums.
The popular Clear Painting Medium for use with oil painting and more recently the Lean Painting Medium for use in under painting. Click Painting Mediums for more details.
We also have two Glazing Mediums one heavy and one light, the Gazing Medium Light is now a popular addition for many oil painters.
We use Zest-it Oil Paint Dilutant and Brush Cleaner to make our Damar Varnish and allow the Gum Damar to dissolve naturally in soloution. For more about both Picture and Retouching Varnish use this link.
Stockist Products Zest-it Trade site
FAQ
For a list of UK Retail Stockist
by area or Retailers by County and where you can purchase on-line.
For Zest-it Retail and Wholesale Stockist outside the UK please use the link.
On a personal note - I have been painting with oils for over 25 years, I
nearly gave up oil painting because of the headaches and nausea I suffered using Turpentine and another popular painting medium.
I did not make Zest-it available to others until I had researched it thoroughly and tested it in every conceivable way and was sure the product would not do me, my family or my paintings any harm. Jacqui.
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