Problem with Testors Flat Black Enamel

 I have gotten a couple like that, but stirring them with a dremel did the trick. All the others I use can simply be shaken real good, but the black seems to need a good stir. I made a "T" out of some sprue and sanded the end down a bit to fit the chuck on the dremel, stir on "low"!!!

I've been hand stirring.  Usually when a paint needs stirring, I can see separation and there are chunks of paint.  A good stir will mix it all up.  With these, there is no visible separation (okay, that may be hard to see with black) and no chunks.  Seems to be well mixed, but thin.

But, I'll give a shot to more stirring.  Don't have a dremel yet, so I'll have to improvise.

Thanks for the response Fermis.

You can use a cordless drill too. Just be sure to keep it slow enough to keep the paint from whipping out of the bottle and all over everything.

I have gone thru several bottles in the past months.  Even after mixing (dremel tool with mixing attachment) I find in a few days that it has a viscosity of syrup, after that it turns so thick that thinning eventually does no good and I have to throw it away.

I took a piece of sprue with an angle at one end and used it for a stirrer, twirling it between my fingers.  Seemed to help a little.  Not quite as thin.  Maybe with a few more good stirring sessions, who knows.

M1 - I had that problem with some of my paints recently.  I think it was because I thinned them using mineral spirits instead of Testors thinner.

Gerald - I'd be afraid of using my cordless drill.  It's variable speed depends on my trigger pull.  The clutch works great for not stripping a screw head, but I don't think it would keep me from spraying paint all over.

Thanks all,

Paul

Even hand stirring will work.  But if it is an old bottle that has set immobile for a year or two, it is really hard to get it stirred properly. It takes a long time. One old trick is to drop a couple of bbs in the bottle and shake very energetically until your hand falls off.

Don Stauffer

Even hand stirring will work.  But if it is an old bottle that has set immobile for a year or two, it is really hard to get it stirred properly. It takes a long time. One old trick is to drop a couple of bbs in the bottle and shake very energetically until your hand falls off.

Or better yet use this!

Best paint mixer I have ever used.

Mikey, I use that mixing end attached to my dremel...NOW THATS A MIXER!.....lol

Bob

Don't worry about motor tools to mix paint. How foolish! just mix it by hand like you are doing! It is not you but the paint. Yes some of the formulas are thinner. Tamiya white and black are the same, thin. I know that it is annoying to have it thinner but using it with the top off over time thickens it some. There is no need to buy a "tool" just to stir paint. If it doesn't work by hand then there is something wrong with the paint.

Those bottles can also sit on the dealers backroom shelf for a while as well. If paint has settled too much, I first stir it to break up the 'mud' at the bottom and do the BB method as above. The BB's can be removed with a magnet. Hold the magnet against the top of the lid, invert it for a minute, then up. Wait a few moments with the magnet still in place, and open. There are your BB's! This only works if you use the stainless steel type and if you ever use this method with acrylics, REMOVE IMMEDIATELY! They will rust!