Essential, useful or luxury ?

[NARSES2]

When I first saw this in Airfix Model World I poo-poo'd it, but upon reflection I don't know.

Given the recommended "shake" time is 20/30 seconds I suppose you could be shaking one bottle whilst using another, especially when detail painting in cockpits etc. Would save me trying to hold 5 bottles in one hand whilst shaking vigorously and counting to 100 

This is the type of purchase I could make at Telford, especially if there's an attractive female behind the stand 

https://www.timodel.co.uk/

[Steel Penguin]

handy, BUT  ive heard of several wargamers who ended up covered when lids came off, or when the mixing ball inside the dropper bottler chewed its way out   

[chrisonord]

Sort of takes the fun out of it really  doesn't it.  Especially when you have carpal tunnel syndrome, and you  have to put it down and not use it for a  while after 
Chris

[TomZ]

I want one!

TomZ

[Leading Observer]

When I first saw this in Airfix Model World I poo-poo'd it, but upon reflection I don't know.

Given the recommended "shake" time is 20/30 seconds I suppose you could be shaking one bottle whilst using another, especially when detail painting in cockpits etc. Would save me trying to hold 5 bottles in one hand whilst shaking vigorously and counting to 100 

This is the type of purchase I could make at Telford, especially if there's an attractive female behind the stand 

https://www.timodel.co.uk/

Always a risk pooh-poohing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeF1JO7Ki8E

[frank2056]

I poo-pooed the idea for a while... until some of the paint I was using stopped working properly. I've been using the Badger Stynylrez Primers (acrylics) for a while and they're amazing. I noticed half way through a bottle of black that the paint just wasn't sticking as well as it used to and the pigment wasn't as thick. It turned out that most of the pigment (and probably some of the carrier) had settled and gooed up at the bottom of the bottle.

I bought a cheap nail polish shaker machine and some stainless steel balls from Amazon and added a ball to each bottle. I give them a minute or two worth of shaking in the machine. This is really helpful with some Vallejo and Scale 75 acrylic paints. I haven't had an issue with the paints since.

[buzzbomb]

Just another gadget to find precious bench space for.
As handy as it looks, would most probably end up in the "Tools that are great but use very seldom drawer" like the Harbour Freight mini Drop saw, the suction vice, the set of 6-15mm punches, the nibbling tool... it goes on

[zenrat]

DIY Electric toothbrush based shaker.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3D2Inna0-k

DIY Electric Jigsaw based shaker.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7jwhy7neaI

[Dizzyfugu]

DIY Electric toothbrush based shaker.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3D2Inna0-k

A friend of mine scratched a handheld mixer for enamel and acrylic paint tins/pots from an electric toothbrush and a "mixer head" attached to the rotating/vibrating head instead of the bristle. Pretty successful (V2.0 is currently in use), even though it is not suited for enamels where the pigments have thoroughly separated from the thinner and form a kind of concrete at the tin's botton.

[zenrat]

While power assistance is nice I do find poking a stirrer into the tin or pot and moving it in a circulating motion is often quite successful.

[PR19_Kit]

WAY back in the mid 60s I converted one of my, then superceded, slot race motors (A Revell 500 actually...) into a paint stirrer. I soldered a shortish (4") length of brass tube onto the motor shaft, flattened one end and bent and twisted it like a single bladed propeller. Then I fashioned a switch from an old paper clip so I could turn the motor on and off by pressing the paper clip against one of the motor's brush housings. Voila, a paint stirrer.

I usually run it at around 8 volts, but even then I need a sawn down toilet roll holder, held around the paint tin, to act as a shield or else EVERYthing gets painted, even me!

I still have it and still use it, almost every day.

[zenrat]

I have a number of discarded childs electric toothbrushes.  The cheap ones you put batteries in rather than the expensive rechargeable ones.  I shall be experimenting...

[Rheged]

I have a number of discarded childs electric toothbrushes.  The cheap ones you put batteries in rather than the expensive rechargeable ones.  I shall be experimenting...

I suggest that you experiment with a degree of caution.  A paint splattered  Zenrat would not be a good thing, and should any portion of the Zenrat Manor be anointed with paint, I anticipate that a degree of domestic discord might occur.

[JayBee]

Well, I have in my hands, a paint stirrer from the "Badger Air-brush Company" .
I have suffered no splatter. You just have to remember to NOT switch it on BEFORE you put it into the tin, and switch it OFF, BEFORE you take it out.
No problemo.
Anyway, what is the problem with some splatter?
It is just a hazard of the hobby.
Mind you,, there are armour modellers who would give their lleft arm to perfect the technique for their models. 

[zenrat]

I have a number of discarded childs electric toothbrushes.  The cheap ones you put batteries in rather than the expensive rechargeable ones.  I shall be experimenting...

I suggest that you experiment with a degree of caution.  A paint splattered  Zenrat would not be a good thing, and should any portion of the Zenrat Manor be anointed with paint, I anticipate that a degree of domestic discord might occur.

I appreciate your concern.  All experimentation will take place in one of stately zen manor's extensive outbuildings.  I will have to remember though NOT to try it out just before going to work while wearing my official Australia Post uniform shorts.