I would like to sponsor a contest, build a paint mixer

Cabe · Post by **Cabe** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:03 am

If anyone else would like to add any prizes to this, I think it would be a great contest.

I have looked over the internet at some DIY hobby paint mixers, they are all decent ideas, but I am looking for the BEST idea.
You can use what you see on the internet, but improve on it.
You can use household tools or appliances, but remember not everyone has these tools and if what you choose to use is expensive or impractical it won't weigh in very well in judging. Let's just say a dremel is better than a drill press.

The mixer I am looking for should have these qualities:

stable- whether it sits still or needs a vise to hold it down, fine. Just let's not make something that make babies laugh and cats hiss.

low or no clean up

no risk or room being re-painted

safe (as in no fire or personal injury possible, well ..beyond normal human stupidity)

versatile- handles all different types of paint jars and bottles both glass and plastic,. the prototype can be made for a specific type with instructions how to make it work for different sizes, but the easier it is to swap out the better

Power supply? battery operated is ok, but corded is coolest.

Noise factor- ah the late night painter, bad enough with my airbrush compressor going on and off.So the less noise the better, even if that means giving it a noise silencing enclosure it runs inside of.

cost- cheap materials? You are scoring BIG points. The best paint mixer out there I see at stores is $30 battery operated and $40 corded. Same model just different power supply. So aiming for half the price of the $30 one is optimal. I am aware of the badger hand held mixer and no, i don't like it, but if you can make that one better go for it since it runs about 11 dollars in stores.

Ease to make- Should be able to be reproduced by even the dumbest of the bunch.

my favorite on the internet so far is called the Mark II hobby paint mixer, but it is definitely still in its beta stages.
here, to get your minds going:

http://www.io.com/~beckerdo/games/artic ... Mixer.html

Winner will get their choice of a repaint of one of their tanks by me, a repaint of my choice from my collection (or heck I may let you choose for the ones I plan to repaint). But I cannot go out and buy a new tank to paint for you, if I did? I would just go buy a me a corded paint mixer for $40.
Or you can choose to have me paint a portrait of someone or a band or whatever. Heck if you have a favorite plane or tank, source imagery must be provided to work from. (see my talent database below for link to examples of my work.

To win you must provide a film or have another member reproduce your mixer and vouch for it, or yeah let me check it out. I want one anyway hahah.

If anyone else would like to add to the purse here go ahead. I would love to see what folks come up with.

Remember, you have a bunch of different bottles to deal with from Vallejo to Humbrol to tamiya and model master. Heck even some of the larger Airplane paints. If you must choose shoot for the the larger group: The tamiya- Vallejo crowd.

tmanthegreat · Post by **tmanthegreat** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:40 pm

I've always found that a little plastic cup, toothpicks, and a good eye work just fine for paint mixing

Cabe · Post by **Cabe** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:56 pm

Thank you for your submission to our Paint Mixer Contest o8.
We receive many submissions from members just like you. We spend the time to review each one individually and weigh its merits.
We regret to inform you that you submission has been:
rejected
For the following reasons:
not automated
We thank you for you submission and encourage you to try again as there is no limit to the number of entries a member can submit. Remember every submission is a great submission, unfortunately yours wasn't.
Thanks!
Mary Schitt
PM'08 Judging Panel Secretary

grunt1 · Post by **grunt1** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:07 pm

ostketten · Post by **ostketten** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 2:15 pm

I've always found that a little plastic cup, toothpicks, and a good eye work just fine for paint mixing

LOL, well T... you certainly do have the "low tech" angle covered there... I like low tech, plus it's low maintenance...when done you simply toss it in the trash, no fuss, no muss.

Be interesting to see what people come up with...

Panzer_M · Post by **Panzer_M** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:59 pm

tmanthegreat wrote:I've always found that a little plastic cup, toothpicks, and a good eye work just fine for paint mixing

I suggest the same, but with a small motor powered by a 9v that would spin the toothpick in the paint.

Cabe · Post by **Cabe** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:09 pm

I had an idea where you make a small mixer, in my case I can use my dremel stylus or plain ol dremel., use a toothpick as you say, but

Take a lid from an old bottle of paint from each of your types of paint.
say for instance a tamiya lid. drill a hole and insert some sort of gasket, rubber washer of some sort, it could even be created with silicone as long as we are taking acrylics.
when you want to mix paint you take this drilled lid and place it on the bottle you want to mix and insert the toothpick through the dried silicone or rubber wahtzit and turn on dremel. hopefully the seal around the tooth pick is tight enough to avoid leaking but not too tight too prevent spinning.
I guess to provide for less friction that wood, use old sprue or a plastic q-tip stick with cotton all removed.
Its' worth investigating, just don't have the time right now. Re-arranging and cleaning my whole studio. blah

pickelhaube · Post by **pickelhaube** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:09 pm

Use one of them there 'letric toothbrushes.

MG40K · Post by **MG40K** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 2:23 pm

pickelhaube wrote:Use one of them there 'letric toothbrushes.

LOL