I purchased a Badger battery-operated mixer as recommended highly on this forum. It does an amazing job of mixing the paint (Tamiya acrylic), but noticed it is also creating tiny bubbles in the paint. Is this normal? Should I just wait a while until the bubbles disappear? Should I not use this mixer with acrylic paints (i.e. is it meant to be used soley for enamel paints)? I’m planning to shoot the mixed paint through an airbrush. Just want to make sure I don’t end up with bubbles on my model! Any suggestions?
This is completely normal for any powered mixing of any paint. There are only two downsides, both relatively minor:
- If you measure the amount of paint that you intend to reduce for spraying, and measure the amount of reducing solvent that you use, you will have slightly less paint than your measurement because of the air volume.
- Air (oxygen in particular) is the enemy of all uncured coatings. This is not usually a problem unless you regularly froth your paints and plan on keeping them for years.
By the way, in my experience, I’ve never had to use a powered mixer on Tamiya paint, even when it was over twenty years old. Hand stirring is adequate.
Thanks Triarius. I would normally just use a toothpick or popsicle stick to mix, but I really like the way the Badger thoroughly mixes the paint, especially on a new bottle. Was just concerned about the little bubbles. So I take it that, apart from the two downsides you mentioned, I’m OK to spray it that way? In other words, there is no additional downside being little bubbles resulting in the sprayed surface?
Most of those bubbles will disappear after you reduce it with thinner.
And there is no way to get an intact air bubble through a properly working airbrush, which is atomizing the paint in a stream of air. If any bubbles appear in the paint on the model, you are laying it on too thick and too cold.
[tup]
Got it. Thank you.
After you mix the paint stick the paint bottle in a vacuum chamber and the air bubbles will disapear. [(-D]
Just kidding of course. [;)]
Ha! Ok, I get it now…Badger sells you their paint mixer for $10 and then that obligates you to purchase the Badger Vacuum Chamber Air Bubble Remover for $200!
Where’s my popsicle stick??