Model Boat Mayhem
Technical, Techniques, Hints, and Tips => Painting, Finishing and Care. => Topic started by: sinjon on March 15, 2007, 10:20:07 am
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I just dug out an old tin of cellulose grey touch up paint, thin on top, very solid at the bottom. I managed to break up the solids into chunks, but no amount of stirring seemed to reduce them, then I remembered my Humbrol stirrer, a bamboo kebab stick, with a small 8mm x 5mm platicard insert at the bottom. Cut the stick down to about 10cm long, chamfer the end to fit in a Dremel and away you go, but even at minimum speed you could end up with it all over the ceiling, so I used a small piece of folded plasticard between thumb and forefinger around the 'chuck' to reduce the speed. It works.
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Good tip, Sinjon.
At the risk going OT, I have to say that there are many stirrers on Mayhem that will be pleased to learn how to improve their performance!
Rick
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If you have an IKEA near you, they do milk frothers for £1 ( or maybe 99p!). Remove the spring bit from the loop at the bottom to make an excellent paint stirrer. Still need to be a bit careful, but does a great job.
Barrie
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Squires do a humbrol one for about a tenner, are they any good? yes I bought another when the motor on first burned out after many years.
But found another motor so now I have 2.
Bob
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I love mechanical/motorized paint stirring! Last used was a dremel tool, a short straight stick of wood that just fit the chuck. Tried it first, wobbled slightly but would even live over full speed in the dremel. Inserted carefully in small paint bottle, turned on, and 'WAA-LA'! Painted the @#$ ceiling, me, desk, not a @#$ drop on the boat. Patterning was unique! May go into 'bid-nez' doing custom ceilings.
Got this small pump. Been thinking about 'dynamic' paint mixing. Also an air compressor. Think about 75 - 90 pounds of pressure should do it?
- 'Doc
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I just dug out an old tin of cellulose grey touch up paint, thin on top, very solid at the bottom. I managed to break up the solids into chunks, but no amount of stirring seemed to reduce them, then I remembered my Humbrol stirrer, a bamboo kebab stick, with a small 8mm x 5mm platicard insert at the bottom. Cut the stick down to about 10cm long, chamfer the end to fit in a Dremel and away you go, but even at minimum speed you could end up with it all over the ceiling, so I used a small piece of folded plasticard between thumb and forefinger around the 'chuck' to reduce the speed. It works.
Great idea but you will shorten the life of your Dremel as gripping the chuck to slow it down will be overloading it, I use Minicraft tools with the larger variable speed transformer they do. :)
Do Dremel offer a variable speed power supply ???
Clive :)
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Clive,
Yes, they do. Or, at least a variable speed tool. Considering the time it takes to mix the average container of paint, and the heat build up between the plastic strip/fingers and chuck. I sort of doubt that a Dremel will be over loaded too bad. You might also consider the properly applied curse. 'Cures' most anything if done correctly.
- 'Doc
Pun intended.
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Mine is a small gearwheel from an old servo glued to a cocktail stick [right angles]
small rubber tube to a small mabuchi motor on 3 volts, just fits into humbrol tin
HOLD TIN with left hand firmly, and I have a footswitch to operate the battery, Works great
Just don't lift the wheel too far up the tin!! :-[
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I use one of those battery operated fans you buy to take on holiday to warmer climes. Replaced the fan with a short rod bent at the end into a small paddle shape. Works fine - but make sure you cover the top of the tin with a bit of something or you'll emulate Doc's method of ceiling decoration.
Andrew
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I stir enamel paint with the same screwdriver which I use to mix epoxy....................... ;)
Works for me!
FLJ
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I try to rotate my cans of paint regularly and then just stir with an appropiate sized stick, as MR FLJ says works for me......
Roy
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I use lollipop sticks - works for me.
Ian
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I use the coffee stirers from McDonalds and KFC for paint.
I lick them and keep them.
Or if I go to Starbucks I take a slack handfull of the wooden ones. They are good quality wood and I am sure they have many other potential modelling uses.
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Ice lolly sticks for stirring paint, mixing glues, wooden planking and ice lollies.
Richard ;)
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handy item for mixing epoxy in, depending on how much you want to mix..
Peter
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handy item for mixing epoxy in, depending on how much you want to mix..
Peter
Good one, should be in hints and tips too.
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I use empty fruit juice cartons cut in half for epoxy mixing.
Ian
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I also save plastic butter cartons, and larger trays from the Chinese chippy.
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hi all for small tins of paint ive found a coffe wisk from the ikea store £1.20 works great just hold the your finger on the shrft ti slow it down you have to take off the end bit to big for tin good luck
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hi all for small tins of paint ive found a coffe wisk from the ikea store £1.20 works great just hold the your finger on the shrft ti slow it down you have to take off the end bit to big for tin good luck
Same think abet from the £1:00 shop at you got it 1 English pound plus if you remove 1 battery and bridge the gap it spins slower and is easier to control.
Richard,
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good idea Richard
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Maplin used to sell dummy batteries on various sizes. Now that a use has been found for them, they will be discontinued forthwith.
Doc - your room decorating - isn't that how Jackson Pollock got started? If you are well connected you can call it art and make your fortune.
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hi all, just to add my two penneth, I have just adapted an old battery operated tooth brush, works well too..just stick a small bit of 1/16 ply to the end after taking off the bristles... Ken
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Drop an old ball bearing in the tin and shake it.
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Drop an old ball bearing in the tin and shake it.
Best idea yet.
As the ball stays in the paint till the post is empty.
Every time you stir you get waste on the stick.
So the ball = less waste.
I believe new ball bearing work just as well ;D
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when you have used all the ball bearings the wheels fall off
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I have thrown away my paint mixing sticks, and after reading Bobs decorating ideas gave up on the Dremel, so tried the cordless drill with variable speed control trigger works terrific........
Roy
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I don't need a stirrer, my wife does a bloody good job all on her own bigH
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Good tip, Sinjon.
At the risk going OT, I have to say that there are many stirrers on Mayhem that will be pleased to learn how to improve their performance!
Rick
Just tried the idea of holding a bit of plasticard between thumb and forefinger. All it did was make typing more difficult.
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Naaaaaaaaaaaaaa this is what you need , about 3 quid from tesco ,complete with the batteries , all you need to do is pull the brush of and fit a piece of bent wire. just the right speed and will stir even the thickest paint .
Peter
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Is it a sex toy - for fairies? ;D
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Is it a sex toy - for fairies? ;D
Colin, are we talking of the winged variety here or some of the many very friendly gents I have met during my career on the waves?
Either way it brings tears to my eyes thinking about it!!
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If you think I am gonna be seen wandering round with one of those in my hand THINK AGAIN!!!
:) :) :) :) :) :)
Bob
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Naaaaaaaaaaaaaa this is what you need , about 3 quid from tesco ,complete with the batteries , all you need to do is pull the brush of and fit a piece of bent wire. just the right speed and will stir even the thickest paint .
Peter
Just what I've been looking for a cure for painful haemorrhoid's.
Richard ;D
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Naaaaaaaaaaaaaa this is what you need , about 3 quid from tesco ,complete with the batteries , all you need to do is pull the brush of and fit a piece of bent wire. just the right speed and will stir even the thickest paint .
Peter
Just what I've been looking for a cure for painful haemorrhoid's.
Richard ;D
Cure???
Kill more like :o
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Puts a whole new dimension on the phrase "wash and brush up"! ;D
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It will work fine if you want brown paint........ ??? ???
Roy
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Or red :-[ :'(
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- with bits in... :o
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Oh pleaseeeeeeeeee ??? :'(
Do you mind ?
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bits? carrots? oops sorry, wrong end! ;D