I’ve got a lifetime supply of wooden coffee stirrers (They’re about half the size of a Popsicle stick). They move the paint around pretty well and don’t take too much paint out of the bottle. I like Gerold’s idea of the variable speed Dremel. I think that I would have to have some serious separations to pull out the power tools to stir up a couple ounces of paint. I always chuckle, when I use more paint wiping the stirrer than what I put on the model. Rick
Hi A.S. I use Tamiya paint stirrers - metal and each end has a different shape - one end for stirring, another for dripping in paint, by drops.
Regards,
Bill
I use the Tamiya Paint stirrer and got the Wave Paint-stirrer(same as the badger).
Both system work well and I have had no problems or splatter.
I’ve tried the Dremel approach. It works. I have a little home made battery powered stirrer. It works too. But, I find that a small screwdriver with a long blade is just about as fast and effective. Maybe having shaky hands helps. [:)]
Don
What about the bubbles when mixing acrylics? Aren´t they a problem when painting with a brush?
A.S.
Some words of caution about using a Dremel tool to mix flammable paint - Dremel tools use a brush driven armature and arcing/sparking occurs where they come in contact. Dremel’s User Manual states, “Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.” This would not apply to water-based paint.
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Badger’s paint mixer is my choice to mix solvent-based paint.
Air bubbles are not a problem, a non issue.
I had used a dremel tool with a toothpick to mix paint before and man was it messy (that idea with the toilet roll would work though) and it did leave a lot of bubbles. But that dremel tool didn’t have a slow RPM.
I had been using the old hand method for the longest time but I’m going to break down and buy a paint mixer. Too many times I have spend 5 minutes stirring paint only to find a glob still on the end of the stick.
I finally got the paint mixer in the picture above (badger) and it works better then I would have thought.
My biggest problem before the mixer was bubbles forming as I brushed on the paint but as it turns out I never did have the paint mixed up enough. After using the mixer the paint was more consistent, flowed better and no more bubbles when brushed on.
30 seconds Vs 5 minutes of stirring also helps.
I love my electric paint stirrer, was skeptical at first, but once I got it, I never looked back. Got it ‘free’ as a gift from Micromark for ordering some dollar amount in a promotion a few years back.
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
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
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!