Paint Pot Agitator

[thegrayson]

The way my vallejo paints settle is getting on my nerves, even with good shaking they can still be quite thin with the pigment on the bottom. Have seen here that a lot of people use agitator, I have tried plastic and its too light, I dont have enough metal offcuts to be of use and some people seem to have ss ball bearings rusting on them. I checkecd my local bead shop and they dont have any decent sized pewter beads. What would you think of brass? When immersed in the paint it can't really oxidise can it? so it should be okay, the shop have a nice sized 8mm bead thats quite weighty, would be ideal if it won't taint the paint.

 

[gohkm]

I tossed a couple of those necklace-type beads in my Vallejo bottles. Works just fine - been using and recycling those same beads for 3 solid years now. For the really gunked up stuff, I've got a Robart paint shaker, but I barely use it. I've never heard of brass being used, but why not? Go ahead and experiment and post the results up here. You might just start a new trend !

 

[thegrayson]

I have a robart shaker too but it only works if the paint is fluid, its no good at all if all the pigment is settled to the bottom. The difference a heavy agitator has made to the three bottles I used today is massive.

 

[gohkm]

You could simply add some water to any dried up paint, then use the Robart shaker. But an agitator helps heaps, you're absolutely right.

 

[freakinacage]

where in the world are you?

 

[thegrayson]

Ireland, why do you ask? Does anybody think that brass will contaminate the paint or should it be okay?

 

[airhead]

Ireland, why do you ask? Does anybody think that brass will contaminate the paint or should it be okay?

I've used BB's (small copper or brass balls for an air rifle). They will corrode and may affect the color of your paints.
Since then, I've switched to pellets (lead projectiles for air rifles). They come in a huge quantity in a tin and are relatively cheap.

 

[thegrayson]

I recall reading in the past that lead can also colour the paint not too mention contaminate it, no more brush licking...

 

[IdofEntity]

Please don't use brass. It will oxidize in small increments and over time discolor the paint. Same goes with bronze, or anything with a high copper or iron content. Every time you shake the thing you're introducing air to the piece of metal, and if you're thinning your paints you're giving it prime opportunity to oxidize.

My recommendation is to use small marbles as your agitator. Marble, Glass and Dense Plastics (with care choosing them) are my favorites. The best part is it's easy to remove paint off of most marbles to be reused in other paint pots.

 

[uberdark]

pennies. or plastic lego bits. the legos have a tried and true color safe thing that makes them not fade even if set out in the sun all day. which means when a lego is in the paint, it wont bleed or degrade, i usually use the small cylinder pieces and bobs your uncle.

 

[thegrayson]

Thats a shame, the brass beads are a good size and weight, and really rattle 'round the bottle when shaken. Guess its back to the bead shop for another look, all of the glass beads just seem so light. Better tip the brass beads out of the three bottles I have tested them in so far.

 

[Serenity]

I wouldn't trust copper/brass, but I know at least one person who says he uses BBs successfully. Lead pellets ought to work, but I don't really want extra lead in my paint. I seriously doubt much leaches into the paint, but why take the chance?

I suspect if you sprayed primer and/or varnish over the various metal bits, they'd stay well sealed and not cause the problems naked metal sometimes does.

I've also used non-lead fishing weights. I've had some in water and paint over a year and they look like new. They're not ferrous (magnet test). I suspect they're made of tin, but there's no listing on the package of what's in them.
View attachment 5427

 

[Einion]

Lead pellets ought to work, but I don't really want extra lead in my paint. I seriously doubt much leaches into the paint, but why take the chance?

Roger that - very important consideration for anyone who points their brushes in their mouths.

I suspect if you sprayed primer and/or varnish over the various metal bits, they'd stay well sealed and not cause the problems naked metal sometimes does.

The agitation would be sure to bash off the primer or varnish if there's more than one bit in the same bottle.

The non-lead fishing weights might be tin or bismuth, given how bright they are I think you're right they are tin, or a tin-heavy alloy.

Einion

 

[freakinacage]

i have sent you a pm

 

[heniosha]

I use 'Ceramic Beans' - they are designed for spreading heat evenly throughout the oven when cooking but make perfect paint pot agitators. They are ceramic, so wont corrode, non toxic, wont taint the paint, fairly heavy and fit Vallejo pots.

Also they are very cheap and reusable.

http://www.google.co.uk/products/ca...=X&ei=nsGFTcCSOoXNhAf4vNSuBA&ved=0CDUQ8wIwAg#

 

[thegrayson]

I'm starting to think that the brass beads haven been treated or coated in some way, high tin content maybe. I have a few left in jars of different paints and solutions and none of them are even discolouring let alone corroding. Acid, alkaline, salt, no change at all.

 

[IdofEntity]

I'm starting to think that the brass beads haven been treated or coated in some way, high tin content maybe. I have a few left in jars of different paints and solutions and none of them are even discolouring let alone corroding. Acid, alkaline, salt, no change at all.

It's possible. Brass has a pretty wide range of alloys within it's range, and quite a few of them have unexpected properties. It's not an immediate discoloration, but I've experienced it when I used tightly coiled 16 gauge wire as an agitator. Three bronzes I've tried have done the same thing, and I've given up on using anything with copper in it.

As a thought, anodized aluminum might be a viable option as an agitator. Then again at that point it's just easier to use a marble. Those ceramic beads henoisha mentioned sound like a top notch idea.

EDIT: Anodized aluminum would be perfectly acceptable, just don't put in a piece that has any scratches on it. All other metals that are practical will corrode, even submerged in paint, if it's agitated and oxygen is introduced. Well technically they all will, but only the really expensive ones seem to be slow at it. (gold, cadmium, platinum, etc)

EDIT #2: With further research it appears ceramic beads are in fact the BEST option. Glass will corrode and discolor a paint if the paints PH deviates from a certain point. (I didn't bother checking what that point was) Ceramic has almost no corrosive potential, because it's ionic/covalent bonds are pretty much as void of chemical energy as they can get.

 

[QuietiManes]

Why hasn't anyone suggested stainless steel balls? You can buy them online and they're very cheap, google it.

Lead pellets are sounding like the best idea to me, since I don't lick my paint...actually, I do paint my nail while I work...and it gets on my skin all the time...so yeah, maybe not.

 

[Einion]

Why hasn't anyone suggested stainless steel balls?

Maybe because the first post mentions them? Ball bearings would be my first thought for an agitator, although those ceramic beans do seem like a brilliant idea.

Einion

 

[airhead]

Why hasn't anyone suggested stainless steel balls?

Because even stainless steel will rust in that environment.
Steel with some nickle (and a few other bits) to slow the oxidation.

Aluminum will corrode too. Leaves a white powder instead of red rust.