"Jig Saw Paint Mixer: YouTube is not exactly correct..." Topic

I purchased a Jig Saw (mine is actually an old Black & Decker; the HF model is illustrative of how inexpensive they are), a few years ago, at an estate sale, but not for paint mixing. I paid $10 USD for it. Recently, I found videos on YouTube, on how I could purchase $2 clamps, at Harbor Freight, which would fit into the blade clamp on almost any Jig Saw…

The HF clamps were too thick to fit into the blade clamp on my Jig Saw. Still, I persevered, as the concept was too effective, to give up so easily. I visited my local DIY store, and came up with the idea of attaching the paint bottles to a regular, inexpensive blade, which would fit into my saw… It worked superbly.

In the interest of proof of concept, I used blue painter's tape, to secure an empty pill bottle to the blade, inserting the smaller paint bottles into this, and securing the locking cap in place. It mixes paint super-fast, super-easy. I do NOT recommend going full-throttle on the saw, however, as it may tear the tape off of the blade!

I wrapped the tape around the blade, and the bottle, twice. The paint bottles were the small, Reaper premium paints, as they were all I had which would fit inside the smaller pill bottle. The mixing was impressive, at moderate speed, for all of 30 seconds.

I highly recommend using some sort of container, to hold the paint bottles in place. The container should have a sealing cap, to contain the paint, should the bottle rupture (very unlikely). Blue painter's tape is very inexpensive, and easy to use. It is not excessively strong, and it is easy to peel off, when necessary. Duct tape is much stronger, and may suit your needs better.

If you really want to get crafty, you can drill a couple of holes in the steel blade, and attach the bottle with two, small bolts (I suggest round heads to avoid puncturing the paint bottles), and locking nuts. Get creative, knock it out of the park with 'over-kill', but please be safe, and careful. To paraphrase Miracle Max and his wife, Valerie, from The Princess Bride movie:

Max: "Have fun crafting your paint mixer, Boys!"
Valerie: "You think it will work?"
Max: "It will take a miracle…"
Together: "Good-bye, Boys!"

LOL! Cheers!

"Hey, Bubba, hold my beer and watch this!"

Jim

LOL! Cheers!

Why am I now thinking of Jeremy Clarkson and his V8 powered food mixer…

I did this entire project for less than $30 USD:

• I bought a $20 USD variable-speed Black & Decker jigsaw on Amazon
  
• I bought a cheapass friction clamp at Harbor Freight ($2 or $3 USD, I don't remember now)
  
• I ground the teeth off one of the blades and drilled some holes in it (the clamp already had convenient wire-diameter holes in it)
  
• I wound bailing wire through the holes in the blade and the clamp's post to attach them firmly together, to give the clamp a mating surface designed to fit the saw

Voila! Paint shaker.

Works like a charm.

I depend on the clamp to hold the bottle closed and prevent paint spraying disasters.

This clamp is a bit weak (I did say cheapass), but it works well enough to secure all bottles except dropper bottles (like the Vallejo paint bottle pictured). To help secure these, I drilled a hole into the cushion on one of the clamp jaws (as you can see in the photos).

The inherent weakness of the clamp is also a benefit: it's not strong enough to crush a paint jar. Not even the wimpy soft plastic squeeze bottles like the Vallejo bottle in the photo.

I'm also careful not to agitate the paint jars too violently. The variable speed control (a dial on top) never goes above speed "3", and usually around 2-ish. I only need to agitate the paints, not aerosolize them.

Since this tool is made to chew through hard materials like wood and metal for years of robust use, I expect that in this role it will last for generations. The plastic will probably age and crack before the motor gives out.

- Ix

Brilliant! Never thought to dull a blade, and then attach the clamp to it. Consider your technique stolen… >;-) Cheers!

I use masking tape to tape the bottle to the blade. Works like a charm.

It might be safer to use duck tape.
"The handyman's all purpose adhesive."
"Remember, if the women don't find you handsome, they should at least find you handy."