Stirred not shaken?

[chaoshead]

Has anyone used a rock tumbler to shake their paints?

 

I was looking at one in a hobby shop with my gf, she thinks she wants to get into jewelry making or polishing rocks or something like that, and the thought occurred that I may be able to use that to keep the paints mixed thoroughly.

 

Obviously you wouldn't add any of the polishing grit or stones and just run it with well sealed paint pots or bottles.

 

They are way cheaper than any of the other mixing devices that I have thought about getting for the same purpose.

 

I would think that the motors are pretty heavy duty.

 

They don't spin super fast.

 

They are sealed fairly well just in case a bottle opens.

 

Thoughts, suggestions, ideas, outbursts?

[Doug Sundseth]

Has anyone used a rock tumbler to shake their paints?

 

 

I've never tried it, but you should: For Scienceâ„¢! 

 

If I were to try it, I think I'd start by wrapping the bottle tightly with bubblewrap to reduce shocks and the chance of damage to the bottle. You could probably set up a bubblewrap holder and just slide bottles into it for tumbling.

[chaoshead]

I was thinking that you could put a few of the bottles in at a time to minimize the amount of distance traveled between falls and tumbles.

 

I guess I would also need to figure out if the tumbler chamber is long enough to hold a bottle of paint from end to end.

[Gadgetman!]

A rock tumbler is the last thing I would consider. 

 

Why not get a cheap electric jigsaw and strap a pair of bottles to the blade? 

[Xauhaudoom]

I bought a vortex machine off E-Bay that was used.  It works great for mixing almost any paint bottles, even the 2oz bottles.

[chaoshead]

@Gadgetman!  --  Why is that sir?  The motion seems smooth and it just spins around and around, unless I am missing something?

 

@Xauhaudoom  --  I have looked at those and they can get expensive from what I have seen.  Most don't come with any sort of holder that could hold paint so you would have to purchase something separately or build something yourself. 

[Pegazus]

@Gadgetman!  --  Why is that sir?  The motion seems smooth and it just spins around and around, unless I am missing something?

First thing I thought was that it may not be violent enough. Maybe after enough time, it would get mixed properly. But there's just something about a little roughness to get things mixed up.

[chaoshead]

I agree that it would probably take more time to get the paint mixed well enough after it has sat for awhile but if you are using a set of colors for a set of minis it could easily keep them mixed while using other colors.

 

I am not sure about this still so I will wait to see if the gf is going to get into that hobby before trying anything.

[junex]

I also went for the vortex touch mixer, used from ebay. Mine is still in transit. I have to admit though that I had to wait for a particular set-up to be listed at a price I was willing to pay. I got mine for $50 shipped to the US.

 

The one I bought comes with a pop-off cup like in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xN4KAO0qBQ

 

edit: found a better video.

Edited May 2, 2016 by junex

[haldir]

Even cheaper then a jigsaw. Second hand electric knife!

 

Duct tape & a pill jar large enough for bottle. Done!

[Gadgetman!]

@Gadgetman!  --  Why is that sir?  The motion seems smooth and it just spins around and around, unless I am missing something?

It's too smooth, really. It says 'shake vigorously' on many types of paint, and for a reason. When paint starts to separate pigments starts clumping together, and you want to break up those clumps as quickly as possible.

Also, circular motions tends to result in a circular movement of the liquid, and that will leave 'eddies' in corners, allowing sediments to stay undisturbed.

 

That, and that rock tumblers are a bit more expensive than the cheapest electric jigsaws.

[knarthex]

Vallejo recommends spinning the paint bottles. ..

[Guildenstern]

Well I have the cheapest fix available known to man (and woman, although woman, being woman was probably quicker on the uptake, sorry guys, since she's "mom" and thus has of course been taking advantage of this natural resource since it first appeared!):

 

ahem

 

slaves, err minions, I mean children!

 

Seriously though, handing a paint pot to one of my kids to shake has two advantages over much more mechanical methods, one, cheapest possible solution*, two, they tend to avoid the area more giving you peace and quiet.

Over three years old is recommended however, they still tend to put stuff in their mouths.

 

*this is assuming you have offspring. Do not simply have offspring for this purpose, it's simply not cost effective unless you've already arranged for offspring for other reasons.

[Willen]

I have nothing to add to the original question, but thought it was funny how this thread, like any other talking about a mixing device, quickly turned into "do it this other way" "vortex shaker" "jigsaw" "children of course".

 

 

As for the rock tumbler, I have no idea. 

[Gadgetman!]

Spinning? 

Can't imagine how that will work out.

Anyways, all my Vallejo bottles says 'Shake well' on them. 

(Primers, varnish, an airbrush metal, that kind of stuff)