Paint palettes

Don't know where you are, but around here Craft Warehouse and Michael's are good bets.

Ken 

uh well actually there isn't a real hobby shop within about 1000 miles of me. i'm currently in the middle of the atlantic on deployment. i was looking more for sources online that could ship it out to me. any ideas???

Does the messhall/galley/kitchen have any little condiment containers, like to bring ketchup or tartar sauce to the table? I use the bottoms of similar containers from take out Chinese for my palettes. They're free and disposable when they get too messed up.

Any of your ship mates wear contacts?  When they change lens ask them to give you the empty containers. Makes perfect little mixing cups.  When you get back stop in to your local eyeglass place and ask if they have any expired lenses they are gonna toss out.  My guy gives me dozens at a time.

Ya know what… I have a bunch.  Tell me how to send them to you and I will be happy to give you a bunch.  Send me a PM.

good call. Those things can be capped too so the paint doesn't dry. Great idea man!

rios I was actually refering to the foil covered trays the lens come in.  Mix a bit of paint and toss it.  BUT i like your idea too.  Save that bit of paint so if later on during the build you don't have to try to remix the same color.

navypitsnipe wrote:

uh well actually there isn't a real hobby shop within about 1000 miles of me. i'm currently in the middle of the atlantic on deployment. i was looking more for sources online that could ship it out to me. any ideas???

PM or e-mail me your APO and I'll count it a privilege to get one in the mail to you. Should be in town tomrrow and I'll stop by Michael's and get one for you.

Patrick

One of the handiest small palettes (and easiest to find) are the small plastic containers that over the counter cold pills (Dayquil, Nyquil etc).  I no longer tear the tops off of them but carefully cut the material  and dump the pills out without crushing the clear plastic (anal ain't it?).  You end up with a sheet of clear plastic with 5 double containers (which can be easily cut into 1" squares).  They're great for mixing small amounts of paint for detail work and one container will hold more than enough thinned material to "wash" a model for weathering.  Clean up is easy - just pour the remaining paint/paint & thinner into my used thinner can (for disposal later) and pitch the container into the trash.  Works very well for me.

All I have ever used is Good Old Fashioned Wax Paper. I keep a stack about 2" x 2" held by a clothespin.   When I need one I grab one, mix my paint and I also use them for holding small droplets of CA Glue. When I am done  - Drop it right in the trash , no clean up !

Mine came from a vacuformed plastic container for Easter Eggs.

IMHO the best paint palettes are in your house already. I use lids from plastic containers, such as margerine or butter tubs, plastic milk jug caps, plastic caps from instant coffee jars. Not only do they make good paint palettes but are great for holding small parts till ready to use.

  Ok I`ll go one further. How many of you drink soda? The ones that come in throw away 1/2 or1 litter bottles? Use the caps. Some save them for the game codes for prizes. Well you can use them....Harv

The backs of old photographs make good pallettes. They dont absorb paint and are a matte white, letting you see the paint well. I use them alot for all sorts of things besides paint mixing, like dabbing super glue etc.

Also, thermoformed OTC medicine cells are dandy, as mentioned. I am lucky in that I am employed by a pharma firm and actually make them. For you, I'll send you some, if you PM me. Anything for a fellow NAVY man.