"Spray Paint Can Mixer" Topic

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Recently I found a project on youtube that was so easy, even I could do it. And it was very inexpensive, only about $12. USD

Using an electric drill you can mix your spray paint cans quickly, easily and completely. Much easier than shaking the can, and it does a better job too.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek
Bunker Talk blog

That's neat! Thanks,

Jim

Yep, did the exact same thing. I used the same pipe test plug, and similar PVC piping. It is amazingly effective.

I use it to mix my viscous cans of urethane-stain (The Dip Technique), as well, though I do not use a towel: it mixes these better than I can achieve shaking them manually, for 5 minutes (this does it in 30 seconds). I run my drill on high speed, and the loose cans spin effectively, but the whole does wobble quite a bit. I use my free hand to keep it under control using it as a loose guide. I also reverse directions, spinning the cans both ways, 3-4 times each, to ensure complete mixing. It does make a difference in spray paints, and urethane stain mixes.

Whatever liquid material in a can that you need to thoroughly mix, this is the bomb, Baby! Cheers!

I made one of these a couple of years ago!
Worked great, for a while…
The whole affair wiggles a bit and eventually the bolt gets crooked, causing wild gyrations.
Does work great on little Vallejo paint bottles. You can put a handful in and spin them up in preparation for the next painting session.

Then I guess it would also work with 2 ounce craft paint bottles.

Jim

For the 2 oz. craft paint bottles I use, I wrap blue painter's tape around my jigsaw blade, then around the individual bottle, attaching it to the blade. I run this at a pretty good speed, but slow enough to avoid tearing the tape, and the bottle, away from the blade. This works superbly for the craft paints.

I switched to acrylic paint pens a couple of months ago, and I only use the 2 oz. craft paints when I have to (only gold and silver metallics available in pens, so far…). Cheers!

That is clever.

Or I'm easily convinced about technical stuff. But I will be trying that one.

My problem with spray cans is dried up holes:( I spray once, wipe hole, put on cap, go to use a month later and nothing comes out. Where to buy new spray tops, or how to open up the hole? Thanks.

Bobgnar, when you finish painting you should turn the spray can upside down and press the button for like 30 seconds. The propellant will clear the nozzle for you and you'll be good to go next time!

bobgnar, like you I wipe the nozzle with a paper towel about every ten sprays, or ten seconds of use. I make sure to put the nozzle away clean.

I wrote to Rust-Oleum customer service and they sent me a dozen new nozzles. They own Testors so they may do the same.

I also keep old nozzles when it is time to toss out the old can. Use them to swap out a bad nozzle when a old nozzle clogs.

If you buy the paint at Wal-Mart they will exchange it for free. Sometimes without a receipt.

Happy spraying.

Mike