Just got my Robart paint shaker.

I use to be a stick and stir until I found the little power mixer from Micro Mark and now Badger has one.  They are only about $10.00.  I think they are well worth it.  Just do not do what I did...I thought it was not spinning and took it out of the bottle and hit the on button.  Well, it is a good way to make spots.  It works really good.  When you guys use the BB's, what do you do with the BB's when the color is all used up?

I'm a stirring-stick guy... Never used a shaker on anything smaller than a quart... I figger if I can't mix it by hand-shaking, it's gonna take a stick to dig into the glop anyway...

I have to agree with EasyMike I have put two BBs in all my bottles of paint for years and never had a problem, also saves on wiping excess paint off a stirring stick.

Regards,

Thom

RichardI wrote:

... would think that might even be a bad idea in a glass bottle?...

I put two BBs in every bottle of paint I have and have done it for years.  No problems of any type.  I usually give paint a few stirs, put the cap back on, and shake it for a while after I hear the BBs begin to rattle. 

 

I thought about getting one but was not sure how good it would work.  So I bought the Badger paint mixer.  It think that works better than the shaker.  With the paint mixer you do not have to put BB's in them and worry they will corrode.  What might help you mix the paints even when they are congealed is to put the bottle in a little dish with very warm water to loosen up the paint.  Make sure the water is not hot.  You only want to leave it in warm water for a couple of minutes.  Take out the bottle dry it and then put it into the paint shaker.  If you are dealing with Andrea paints or Vallejo paints you will need to do the warm water trick to mix them. 

I couldn't get rubber bands to hold then I called Micro Mark they carry straps 5 for cheap I forget exactly still got 3 left I won a hand held one in a lot of tools on Ebay that is battery operated which works good just make sure you have it in all the way I think I still have panzer grey measels lol

 

John

Thanks for the replies.  My paints seem to mix well without a BB also.  I also mix it with one side of the bottle facing up, then I rotate the bottle so the opposite side is facing up, especially when the paint is congealed.  Thanks for the tips as well!

~Dave

 

 

 

Just a note for ya;

Add a drop or two of light machine oil to the mechanism inside the shaker, will improve the running and starting. Mine was slow to start without some lube.  "thats what she said" ! haha

I still have to stir up the pigments in MM paint. well, I always check MM paints with a stirrer!

when your bottle strap breaks, just use a rubber band doubled over. 

Alclad used to have BBs awhile back.  A lot of folks had bottles break when shaking up the paint.

I used to use BBs a long time ago, however, I discovered that the copper was corroding in the bottles and had adverse effects on the paint I quit using them.  

I now use a ultrasonic cleaner to mix my paint.

No BB's here either. I would think that might even be a bad idea in a glass bottle? Anyway, I guess I didn't read the directions either but mine works great without the BB's.

Rich

I've had the electric model for years got it from Micro Mark, I never put bb's in the bottle didnn't know you were supposed to, maybe I should learn to read directions lol, without them I think it works just fine maybe better with them? If you have any let me know if its worth it

 

 

John