Hello.
I’ve driven myself nuts with this question & decided to get it out to all modelers. I speak for many modelers that I’ve used extra sprue from kits to stir paint or brush handles. I’ve read several articles here about paint stirring & its all very good, but does anyone use wooden objects ie (popsicle sticks) or something else wooden to stir paint with? I know we could use sandpaper to take of the edges, stir the paint & not have a problem. I’m just concerned of painting our new model & a wood sliver shows up on a nice paint job or a bristle falls off of the brush, & then we have to act fast to correct the problem. Your thoughts please
Jayay, I’ve used a wooden coffee stirring stick for years, never had a splinter. I’ve always been concerned about wasting paint. You know, sometimes you waste more paint than you use, when you’re painting one little bit. For that reason, I like the the smaller surface of the coffee stirrer. Here’s another idea I stumbled on in an emergency. I’ve used a cut off piece of wire tie, much to my liking. It is sturdy, easy to clean off, and indestructible by modeling standards. Rick
I use round toothpicks. People say you can’t stir thoroughly with them but I don’t have many problems. Except maybe with some bottles of Model Master Acryll or thicker automotive paints/primers. Then I use wooden sticks I found in the crafts department at WalMart. They’re flat with rounded edges and a very slick finish so there’s no worries about splinters and they’re stiff enough to mix most anything we use. I originally bought them to stir resin. About 1/4 inch wide or so, a little thicker than a popsicle stick and about 6 inches long. Don’t remember the cost but they were pretty cheap. They had different sizes in large or small bags. They’re smooth enough that you can wipe them off and reuse.
Wasting paint is one reason I use toothpicks. They don’t take much with them and they’re cheap.
Tony
I buy those q-tips like you see at the Dr. office. only 1 end and a wood shaft…
I cut the shaft off so its a bit longer than my paint bottle…
slice slivers off one end to flatten it into a paddle shape…
chuck it into my cordless dremal
and at 7200 rpm it stirs the paint very well… though if you make the stirrer too long it has a tendency to break…
I just use a little screwdriver with a long blade. It works great and doesn’t waste much paint. The handle is handy to hold and it wipes clean easy. You can see it on this page.
Don
Thanks.
I never thought about a small screwdriver, & I probably have one kicking around somewhere in my toolboxes. I also liked the article on paint bottle hygiene, especially when it comes to hard to open bottles of paint as I had recently.
Have a good weekend.
I use the plastic stirrers from the grocery store. Cheaper than the wood ones, and while I doubt splinters from the wood ones would be a big issue, there are certainly none with the plastic sticks.
Hi Jayay41, I thought that I was alone in using wooden sticks for mixing, I actually went to Michaels ( craft store) and bought a couple of packs oc wooden sticks ( 1/8" x 5" ) cut them in half and sanded the cut ends, no problem with slivers… I am cheap, so I save the ones I use and when dry, I use the other end… works quite well.
I use craft sticks get them at Family Dollar package of 50 FOR ONE DOLLAR ACESES5 [bgr] ON BENCH RODEN ALBATROSS D 1
Extra sprue for me, wipe it off and use it again. [:$]
I use these craft sticks for all of my stirring needs at the bench. You can find them at the craft store…hundreds in a bag…cheap.
!(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t320/hawkeyes_bucket/Modeling Tools/100_8304e4.jpg)
I use them with my cordless Dremel to stir paint in the bottle as well.
!(http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t320/hawkeyes_bucket/Modeling Tools/powerstir.jpg)
Great for burnishing down tape and cleaning sanding debris from seams.
When combined with a box, they act as holders to keep a model in position while you work on it.
One inexpensive item with multiple uses at the bench.
I’ve used popsicle sticks and wooden coffee stirring sticks for years, never had an issue.
For what it’s worth, … I have been using wooden sticks for over 30 years. I just run them through my fingers to take the fuzz off if their is any. The most important thing in my book, … is ALWAYS strain your paint. That way, … you are always sure their are no contaminants in your paint. I never use plastic, well at least plastic that’s affected by solvents. The last thing I want in my Iwata’s, … is dissolved plastic.
Bill
Ive used the handle of an old broken paint brush…never had a problem…as for wooden coffee stirring sticks…well I used them as…wood…
for example…beaching trolley for a Seiran
nothing like real wood to represent…wood…
You’re all thinking too much - I just use the other end of my smallest paint brushes - zero additional cost! [;)]
Every time I go to McDonald’s, I grab a handful of their plastic coffee stirrers. They have a small flat paddle on one end, and a longer one on the other. Use 'em once and pitch 'em out. And the price is right!
No wonder the price of coffee at McDonald’s keeps going up in price.
Hey, I’m a stockholder, so what the heck?