i did an experiment

[JaPizzy]

Hello All,

I started an experiment to find a good paint agitator material for vallejo paints, besides pewter bits, just for fun. I got some stainless steel Slingshot ammo, and some hematite beads. I put them each in plain tap water and then two more in salted water, which is known for corroding things in the marine environment that I work in.

After two days the steel ammo in salt water started to corrode and rust and it took about a week and a half for the plain water one to show starts of corrosion.

The Hematite beads didn\'t corrode at all and are just as shiny as when I started, and that was over a month ago now.

So it seems that if you want bigger agitators for your paint then hematite beads would be safe to put in paint. If salt water isn\'t going to break it down, then I doubt that water based paint will in any way do it.

Do you think it\'s safe? I\'ve had a few in paint for that long now and they are all okay as well. I got them at Michales pretty cheap.

 

[vincegamer]

I don\'t see why it would be a problem.

I also don\'t see why glass beads would be a problem and they\'re usually cheaper.

 

[Ogrebane]

I use very small rocks. nature has has a couple of billion years and hasnt worn them out yet, but I might try glass beads.

 

[DaN]

Haematite is iron ore, and has already oxidised the iron (FeO), so as long as the stones themselves are cleaned they SHOULD be ok

(A level geology is sometimes useful!)