Has anyone made a D-I-Y paint bottle shaker or have ideas for how to mix up paint in the bottles before opening them?
Put a couple of small ball bearings in your paint bottle and then, using a hose clamp of appropriate size, clamp a bottle of paint to a cheap jig saw blade, set the saw at the edge of a table with the blade hanging over the edge, hit the “on” button, and let it run for a minute or two.
I might add that this procedure works best with larger jig saw blades.
Shaking paint bottles adds air to the paint, not good for air brushing. Always stir the paint.
Micro Mark sells a nice mixer that works very well for the small bottles of hobby paint.
Joe
Not sure why opening or not opening them makes a difference but her is my suggestion. Sometimes it’s good to work up something on your own and sometimes it’s best not to re-invent the wheel. This is one of those no need to re-invent times. What you need is one of these from Micro Mark
http://www.micromark.com/CORDLESS-MIXER-FOR-MODEL-PAINTS,7616.html
For under $10.00 you won’t be able to find or make one better. I have had mine for at least 15 years now. Just add new batteries every now and then and you are good to go. These do go on sale a couple of times a year for about half price so keep your eyes open.
ratled
If the paint is fairly new or has previously been thinned, shaking it until nothing solid remains in the bottom of the bottle is generally good enough. For paint that has been sitting for some time (this will also depend on the particular paint), I like to first stir it - a small screwdriver works well - then shake it until everything is thoroughly mixed - usually, 60 seconds, at most, is required.
Some paints, such as Tamiya and the old PollyS are better stirred. When in doubt, check the manufacturers’ recommendations.
I won’t waste money on a gadget that does the job no better or more easily than can be done manually. [swg]
Wayne
I echo Wayne’s sentiments, though I keep a supply of old empty plastic sprues on hand. Just snap off an appropriate length when needed, stir away to your heart’s content, then pitch it (the sprue, not the heart). I have antique-store-eligible bottles of Testor’s paint that have soldiered for a very long time mixed thusly.
I remember reading something years back about using a rotisserie motor and a couple of wood dowels to make a paint turner. It was similar to those hot dog warmers you see in gas stations, with paint bottles playing the role of hot dogs. The motor was wired into the lights, so whenever the lights were switched on, the motor would slowly turn the paint bottles and keep them mixed.
You never want to shake paint your not painting your house. Even if you look at the newer machines in the paint stores they spin the cans not shake. That little battery powered stirrer from Micromark is all you need.
Pick yourself up a bunch of empty bottles at AC Moore or Micheal’s crafts take one of the lids and drill a small hole in it just large enough to accept the shaft of the paint stirrer and pull the collar off the bottom of the stirrer and slip the shaft through the hole and put the collar back on the shaft and the whole shaft onto the stirrer. This way when you put your parts of thinner what ever it may be and paint into one of your bottle it will prevent paint from splashing all over the place. I’m not saying the idea of putting two small ball bearings won’t work but I would have some hesitation about putting anything metal in a glass bottle and shaking it violently. I known the way my luck goes what would happen