15 replies to this topic

[MsDano85gt]

Hopefully this is in the right place, -Ikm sure I'm def not alone on this problem I have.
- I have quite a variety of jar paints little 1.5 oz I believe are the small ones and I've got some larger ones(model master)
How do folks keep there paints from seperating?? - I go without useing paints for awile and come back after absence from them and the pain has seperated from the 1)oil and 2) water. I do prefer the water based paints simply because its water washup for the brushes, but I do have a lot of enamel paints too where the oils? Seperate from the color/ paint
This is so annoying all that vigorous shaking and sometimes iyt seems like the paint is never right again? Do I need to physically stir?(Keep. A full box of toothpicks on hand). Rotate my bottles every so often?
Any help on this matter would be great

[JunkPile]

Stir before use. Wider stick like popsicle stick works better than toothpicks

[my80malibu]

There are available battery operated paint stirring tools and even a paint jar shaker

[DavidChampagne]

Ya know..sometimes, even new paints need to be stirred a lot.
I use those little flat wood stirrers. Break them in half, you don't need a long stirrer. Sometimes must add a bit of thinner also.
Don't be concerned if they separate in the bottle.
I lost interest a while back (2-3 years ago) but am back into it now that I retired. I have paints that are years old and they still work fine. Like you said though, a bit of stirring is required.
Good luck.

[crazyjim]

I use a Badger battery operated stirring stick. It's works very well.

[slusher]

l use tooth picks and then shake them by hand and use no problem. Just part of the hobby...

[58 Impala]

All types of paints separate, I bought one of those battery powered stirrers from MicroMark and it works great.

[VW Dave]

I drop a couple Crosman 'Copperhead' BBs in each jar(3 in the larger ones), so shaking them like a spray can mixes the paint.

[crazyjim]

Not copper. Use the larger steel BBs for slingshots.

[VW Dave]

Not buying specific BBs for paint...I always have copper-clad BBs around because I have airguns, and they've worked fine for 20+ years so far.

[mnwildpunk]

Yup I switched to b.b.s they make a modeler's life easier

[scalenut]

I have found nothing stirs paint better than the battery operated stirrers , it's only about $8.00 and once I got mine, I use it religiously.
I've tried bb's , stirring, shaking.. no comparison

[Monty]

I use a Badger battery operated stirring stick. It's works very well.

I agree with Jim

This is the one you want & you should be able to pick one up at your lhs for less than $12.00. Also, IMNSHO, it's a much better product than the one Micro-Mark sells.

[crazyjim]

That's the one, Monty. Wonderful little tool.

[MsDano85gt]

I found something that works great too looks almost like that badger tool except casing is orange and the tool is up/down(like a sawzall) motion insted of rotation(its a batt operated pumpkin carver tool)
It was so cheap it couldn't cut pumpkins very well(at all for that matter) seems to jossles up and mix my paint great though!

[Aeroteto]

Normally I avoid wood for stir.
Wood absobs moisture then transfer to your paint.
In small quantities you can't notice, but if you store your paint for some after stirring with wood it may turn into a blob, specially if done in high humidity conditions.
So why run risk, use metal for stirring.
Cheers.