Which do you think would be better for moving paint from the bottle to a mixing bowl / airbrush paint cup, a 5cc plastic syringe (with graduated markings) or a simple, unmarked eyedropper. Either are fairly inexpensive, but I’d rather not have redundant tools.
The upside of the syringe is that it is already marked, so making ratios of mixed paint is easier. It also has a larger volume for those times I need to transfer cleaning fluids. The eyedropper on the other hand, has no markings but is cheaper and smaller (and should waste less paint) but mixing ratios will have to be done by eye. Even if I mark the eyedroppers, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be accurate (though I realize paint ratios don’t really need to be accurate).
So, any opinions on which would be a better tool in the ol’ arsenal?
I have used various tools over the years to move paint from one place to another. I find the cheapest are pipettes that my local hobby shop stocks. It’s a plastic bulb with a tube below that draws the paint into it when squeezed. You can find them under the TESTORS logo.
Now if I were to choose between the two items you have suggested. I would actually use both. The syringe for “measuring” paint and transferring and the eye dropper for clean up. It saves a bit of time in between colours to have two tools in use and only have to clean one out when done.
Maybe not exactly the answer you were after. Just my opinion.
I used to use syringe but I’ve been tired of cleaning it.
Now I use … nothing.[:D] I simply drop the paint in the mixing cup from the bottle and carefully sweep the paint from the edge of the bottle before puting the lid back on. I eyeball the mix and keep the “milk consistency” rule in mind. Quicker and cheaper.
Since I’m not overly concerned with complete accuracy and consistancy, I use a soda straw. I trim the straw to about 3", place one end in the paint, hold my finger over the other end and let the vacuum created when I lift the straw out of the paint carry the paint to the container I’m using. Very little paint is left in the straw and cleanup is a snap since I usually just throw out the straw! I use cheapo pipettes for transferring thinners and cleaners since I’m not concerned about needing to clean them up.
I guess the old saying is still true; ask a hundred people a question and you’ll get a hundred different answers [(-D]
The only option I won’t try (again) is pouring straight from the bottle. That has led to nothing less than complete disasters in the past. For those that can pull it off without a problem, more power to ya, 'cause I can’t.
Anyway, I’m still on the fence, so I’m open to any and all suggestions, so feel free to share the ideas.
Whenever I go to my local MacDonalds, I bring back the plastic stirring sticks that has a small spoon at the end. I can stir the paint in the bottle and transfer it to the airbrush cup. Adding the thinner is then guess work but so far it has worked for me. Talk about recycling.
Nitpicking nitpick: It’s actually repurposing. He using the tool for another purpose than which it was designed. It’s only reusing if he was originally using said spoon to previously stir his coffee (and hopefully not the other way around).
LOL I almost edited the post to say repurposing, but chose to leave it as I feel that reusing is closer in definition. He is using it to stir, which is a function of a spoon. Also, the three Rs are Reduce, Reuse and Recycle, not Repurpose. Now if he had used it for cleaning his ears… [}:)]
Have you tried a funnel?
I bought a little one meant for spices and it works for me.
I know roughly how much paint to fill in my little mixing bottle and about how much thinner.
If I have to make any adjustments from there, I add drops with a glass eye dropper.
i use the pipettes too. From what i remeber i got 500 for £10 from ebay about 1year ago. Whats ok about them is there fairly easy to clean with turps for enamel, and mineral spirit for acrylics. i also got little 30ml plastic air tight jars (50) that i make a mix of and store it in the jar to save mixing the color again for the same kit. check ebay.
I use transfer pipettes from medixcorp.com (also where I get gloves). I’m still on my first case of them There’s a wide variety on the site - I use 7ml. They’ve got marks on the side so you can precise if you want to.
For fine measurement, I use a glass pipette and count the drops (since I tint by percentage).
For simple pouring, I put the lip of the bottle against an old double-action airbrush needle that I had dropped and bent the tip. The liquid runs down the needle into the container. Glass rod, solid wire or a thin straw would also work. Don’t use sprue with lacquer or hot solvents.
There’s a wide variety on the site - I use 7ml. They’ve got marks on the side so you can precise if you want to.