Paint mixers, yes or no?

That's a great idea.  I didn't even think of that.  I have one of the older corded multispeed dremels with like 10 speed settings.  I think at low it should be safe.

Rich

fermis

 

Don Stauffer:

 

I haven't tried one- I am afraid of spattering paint all over my workbench.  Do these things spin slow enough to prevent that?

 

 

 I use my Dremel, much like Hawkeye, but I use a piece of sprue, shaped like a "T". My dremel has a high and low setting......use the low. I haven't had any problem with paint splattering. I have noticed a HUGE difference in paint quality and longevity. All my caps stay white as snow now, and I can actually get through a whole bottle of paint without it going bad!

I love the toilet paper cylinder to control spatter. I've gotten back into painting with an airbrush and am trying to understand paint and thinner ratio right now to finish camouflaging my Panzer IV. I stopped at the base coat because my airbrushing is Horrible with my Badger 175 Crescendo. Apparently the Badger airbrushes work well at 12 psi, a side note, my psi is not working either, too much paint. I will get the Badger Paint Mixer tool soon because I've had my paints sitting for so long. Also, the 1/48th scale plane with fishing line. Been there done that when I was 15. lol Thanks so much

I use the butt end of my paint brush to stir my paint.

I haven't used a mixer, per se, but am interested in those gadgets that take several bottles of paint and rotate them so they turn upside down and right side up slowly.  You keep them running all the time, and it keeps the paint mixed once they have been initially mixed well.  I have been thinking of buying one of those slow gear motors that turn a few rpm and make it myself.  I don't like the prices I see on the commercial ones.

I'd like one that holds six or eight bottles, so I could take all the paints I use on a particular project, and once mixed and thinned, they'd stay ready to use.

I realize it's a very old post, but still looked at so I'll offer my addition.

First, for me it's important to keep the paint bottle cap and seal in the best condition possible. For that reason I never shake the bottle, keeping the cap and seal clean as possible and serviceable. So each time I use a bottle I stir with a small paddle, until the solids are completely off the bottom.

Then I use a Badger electric paint mixer, (but any small mixer like for cocktails will also do,) then I give the contents a good 10 or 15 second mix. All of the bottle contents are then thoroughly blended and ready for spraying.

When loading the airbrush cup I don't pour over the side of the bottle, rather I use a straw or small siphon tube. By keeping the bottle cap and threads in clean condition, I have had paints last as long as several years and still very useable.

So I recommend the little mixer for regular use, it has served me well for a long time. At the speeds it turns I have no issue with spatter, but it must be completely submerged or it can indeed sling a bit.

Patrick

I use one of these:

Powered by one of these:

Yeah, another vote for the AA-battery powered mixer here. I think the biggest advantage for me was that I stopped the habit of shaking up my paint bottles, thus causing paint to collect at the sealing surface until the lid got stuck shut. I can't tell you how many times I'd have to use a lighter on the lid to get it to expand a bit and loosen up enough to remove. Haven't done that in a while now. LOL   

--Chris

hogfanfs

I use one of these:

 

Every year for my birthday one of my sons sends me a fruit arrangement. It is washed and ready to eat fruit, some dipped in chocolate.  The pieces of fruit are each mounted on a plastic spear stuck into a styrofoam base.  The spears are about eight inches long and are excellent paint stirring sticks!  Each assortment has about four or five dozen sticks, and supplies me with a year's supply!