A “local” model shop is selling Tamiya Paint stirrers, part no 74017, which look just like small spoon end laboratory spatulas. Has anyone used these and if so with good or bad results. I have seen mentioned in this forum, members using motorised stirrers but the only ones available here, at least that I have found, are milk frothers which I would imagine are a little too vigourous for small tins of paint.
I am trying to ressurect tins of 25 year old Humbrol enamel, as local supplies are either very expensive or of limited range.
Small wooden craft sticks chucked into my cordless Dremel at very slow speed. You can also find plastic stirrers at coffee shops and through dental supply sources. Some use sticks made from sprue.
I got the Tamiya Stirrers. I really like. The small spoon end really comes in handy for mixing paint especially when I’m brush painting and don’t need a lot of paint. I recommend them.
My first set of these disappeared off my work bench while I was on deployment overseas. Needless to say I bought another set. I really like them. Especially the blade end for stirring up Humbrol paints. I highly recommend them for this.
Wooden coffee stirrers, about 6" long and 1/4" wide. I got a box of about a thousand of them years and years ago and still use them. They do the trick on Humbrol.
I’ve tried several and the easiest to clean for me are the metal Tamiya paint stirrers. Get them from Lucky Models. Shipping was something like 11 cents. No kidding…
I use the sprue. The supply gets replenished with every build too[:D] Chuck 'em inthe Dremel at low speed. You want the little corner or bend at the end.
I have the Tamiya stirrers and I really like them. They clean up easily. Mine have lasted a few years now… the one I haven’t lost that is.
I have a Badger paint stirrer as well. I don’t use it unless the paint is very thick at the bottom of the bottle as it froths the paint too much. There’s a way I can hold it so the shaft of the stirrer rests against my hand and I can control the RPM but I find even then my paint airates.
This might be off topic a bit, but have you considered a shaker like the ones you find at a home improvment store. Robart makes 2 different ones, one electric and one battery, They do the trick for me. I have also grapped the wifes electric knife and used a rubber band to hold the paint bottle in place. Works great as long as the knife blades don’t cut the rubber band and send it flying. [:)]
You’re a braver man than me, Hawkeye. I know what would happen if I were to try using a motor tool to stir the paint. WHIRRRRT! Big globs of paint all over the workbench, the model, the walls, me…you get the picture.[:I]
I too use the sprue. I cut a section so that it’s straight (nothing hanging off if it). Then I heat up one end till it just melts and squeeze it with a pair of pliers. Then I shape the flattened area with a file to whatever shape I want.
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