How to Thin Liquid Latex Rubber

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Things You'll Need

  • Mixing stick

  • Mixing cup (optional)

  • Distilled water

Thin liquid latex with water.

Liquid latex rubber is available in many craft and art stores. It is used as a molding compound, as well as an artistic material for many projects. Liquid latex is made of three components: latex rubber, water and ammonia. The water and ammonia work together to keep the latex in a liquid state. Sometimes you may find that your latex is too thick if the water/ammonia content is too low. In these cases, you must thin the latex before using it.

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Step 1

Empty the contents of the latex bottle into a mixing cup if it has a narrow neck. There is no need to do this if the latex comes in a wide-mouthed jar.

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Step 2

Mix a small drizzle of distilled water into the latex until it's as thin as you want it. Only add small amounts at a time: you can always add more water, but you can't take it away once too much is mixed in.

Step 3

Pour the latex back into the bottle and put the cap back on.

Tip

You can also thin out thick liquid latex with ammonia following the same procedure, but using water is safer.

Warning

Do not use tap water or bottled water containing calcium or magnesium salts. These can cause the latex to curdle like cottage cheese.

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