Hobby Paint Shaker For Under $10, How To Make Your Own

[Keef]

After reading this tip I immediately went and dug out my old jigsaw that I bought years ago and only used once and tried this.

 

Results are…. IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!!! 
 

I had bottles of paint that I bought 4-5 years ago and it mixed them up like they were brand new. Now to go through and shake up the other 50 or so bottles ??

[Belugawrx]

I never shake my paints anymore, it leaves gross dried gum on the lid,...

and occasionally drips down the bottle, especially Testors Met. silver ..yuck...I always stir my paints.

But cool idea

[NOBLNG]

If you want to shake them maybe put some plastic like saran wrap or stretch & seal under the lid before shaking to keep the lid clean.?

[mvadrag]

I found an old saw at a pawn shop for $5.00 and picked up a couple of small clamps at Harbor Freight.  I had to do some grinding to fit the clamp to the saw, but it all works great! Thanks for the tip.

I use some foam shelf liner stuff to hold the bottle to the clamp, otherwise it can go flying...

[Kelly Burns]

I like my Badger paint mixer quite a bit.

[Dpate]

I use a four e's mixer and badger mixer. 

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

On 8/15/2022 at 10:08 PM, Dpate said:

I use a four e's mixer and badger mixer. 

How does the Four E's work?

[Dpate]

1 hour ago, Perspective Customs said:

How does the Four E's work?

Works fantastic.  Little pricy, but it gets the job done.  You basically sit the bottle in the middle hold down and the motor does it thing.  Add a mixing ball in your bottles, and mix right side up and upside down for good 2-3 mins and you're golden.  Thick paint can take a few mins to mix properly.  Think barbatos rex on youtube made a video about if you wanna check it out in action.

[deuces wild]

Yep! I've seen that video.... Awesome!!!!!...??

[TexasRoadWarrior]

Thanks for this tip. I have been using a Sawzall with a carbide blade, and assorted sizes of automotive hose clamps, depending on the size of what I am shaking. I haven't used Testor's in years now, but I DO use acrylics, both craft store brands and also Createx, as well as use it to shake rattle cans. One thing I bought online which is also a huge help are stainless steel paint mixing balls, so instead of a rattle can I get rattle bottles. This method looks like it could do one size fits all, so I just need to pick up a spreader clamp and I should be good to go. Thanks for the video!

[TexasRoadWarrior]

On 10/3/2017 at 8:53 AM, randyc said:

Bought a reciprocating saw over the weekend.  Can't find my little sliding clamp.   So in the interest of trying to shake up some separated paint and play with a new tool, I did a ghetto version.  I wrapped masking tape around a blade and the bottles and cans.  This is where it can get dicey.  it takes a LIGHT TOUCH on the trigger.  I kept the speed to where I could hear the ball rattling in the can.  Too fast and the ball seemed to stop rattling.  Go slow and it works. 

I've been using my  Harbor Freight reciprocating saw for several years now to shake my paints. Instead of tape I have an assortment of hose rings that I can clamp the paint bottle to the blade (I use a carbide blade, which is nowhere as sharp as the other blades). The clamps have a 5/16 hex nut to adjust the tension. I put the clamp over the bottle about halfway down, and slide that whole assembly over the blade. I use the 5/16 hex bit in my cordless screwdriver and it snugs up good and tight. I pull the trigger slowly at first and then once the paint balls are rattling I give it about 5 seconds at mid-speed. I tried the ratcheting clamp like in the video, but I couldn't get the end into either my jigsaw or my reciprocating saw, without having to do some serious grinding down. I also have a hose clamp big enough to shake both 5 and 11 ounce rattle cans, and they are ready to use in about 15 seconds. 

I'll still look around and see if maybe I can find a thinner clamp that WILL fit into either my jigsaw or my RS. I got this clamp at Wally World, so maybe I should check out HF next time I am near one.