There was post last week about using a jig saw and a clamp to shake paint bottles. I know that I had asked a question in that thread and now I cannot find any reference to it in the “search this site” or “my discussions”
Where do I look to refresh my memory?
73
I remember a similar online article using an electric carving knife as the “shaker” and a modified blade (modified so as not to have a sharp blade edge- if I recall, by covering it) with the shaking holder attached to the blade. I tried it for a test, having the exact same model in the kitchen as the article showed (without telling the wife), but found that the speed at which the motor operated, even though variable, was too much for the ability of any Jerry-rigged holder device to remain stable and attached. I suspect, based on my experience with variable speed jigsaws, that the result might be similar. I decided to get one of those battery operated mixers (martini stirrers) which I got on sale at a train flea market, or available thru Micro Mark. It has done the job easily and with less fuss, even with some partially sludgy paint that I dropped done thinner into to bring it back to life. Also, just for a test, a friend who works at Home Depot allowed me to use one of their paint shakers (with adequate stabilization f the smaller paint jar inside the holder) but it did no better that my little paint stirrer. Cedarwoodron
You are correct. It was a meat slicer. The jigsaw came later. I wondered about the safety of attaching the bottle as well.
Many thanks,
73
I picked up one of those battery operated stirrers like Ceaderwoodron mentioned at the grocery store one day. It does a good job of stirring the paint, although I think it rotates a bit too fast. Just got to remember to turn it on and off while it’s inside the bottle! Don’t ask me how I know this. The blades are a big too big to fit in the tiny Floquil bottles, but that’s not a big problem as we can’t get Floquil paint in Canada any more. No matter for me as I prefer acrylics anyway.
Here’'s a link to the video where a clamp is modified to fit in a sabre saw.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMmMls-GYOI
Tom
You really do not want to ‘shake’ the paint bottle. We all do it, but it does not mix up the paint real well. Those battery powered ‘stir’ devices mentioned are the best way to really mix paint. I was a confirmed ‘shaker’ and even bought a battery operated shaker that used rubber bands to attach the paint bottle. A ‘stir’ device works much better! If you are going to ‘shake’ the bottle, having something like a round steel ball in the bottle will help the agitation(why do you think ‘rattle’ cans have them?).
I have been told that acrylic paints are best stirred - the alcohol or water used to thin them may bead up and cause ‘spots’ on your model when you shoot it. It has never happened to me, but I always use the ‘stir’ machine - Mine is one sold by Badger. Like in the previous posts, you can find them in hobby shops, on the Internet, and from Micro-Mark.
Jim
I agree with Jim. In fact, most modelers warn against shaking the paint as it causes chunks of dried paint to fall into the paint. I bought one of the paint stirrers from Micro-Mark, and I love it!