Paint Agitator Balls

[NiceGuyAdi]

I've got some paints that aren't getting used much, and before they turn to gloop, I think I should get some agitator balls for them.

 

I've read some saying that steel ones aren't great because they corrode and ruin your paint anyway. I've found some glass ones on eBay. 50 of them costs about the same as one pot of GW paint, so seems like a no-brainer. Just wondered if anyone had any experience with them?

 

Here's the eBay link, for as long as it lasts.

[WarriorFish]

I know that metal isn't the best for the noted reason, but I have had a discussion on this recently - what about a bit of sprue cut up and put in? Not like it has much use generally and as you've already bought it anyway... All it is doing it agitating so the exact shape doesn't matter right?

[Marshal Loss]

I know that metal isn't the best for the noted reason, but I have had a discussion on this recently - what about a bit of sprue cut up and put in? Not like it has much use generally and as you've already bought it anyway... All it is doing it agitating so the exact shape doesn't matter right?

Wouldn't be heavy enough, putting a bit of plastic sprue in a paint pot and shaking it around won't do a thing because of the paint's viscosity.

 

To OP: you can still use steel agitators, just be sure to buy decent stainless steel ones. I bought a large bunch years ago and have run into no issues with my paints. But glass works well, as do lava lamp beads.

[battle captain corpus]

Plastic airsoft BB's.  

 

Cheap and a bottle will last you a LIFE time!

 

BCC

[Rik Lightstar]

I misread the title as "Paint Alligator Balls" suffice to say I'm both relieved and disappoint at the same time.

 

Also small Hematite Beads seem to work fine for me.

 

Rik

[Lord Marshal]

Stainless steel should be fine. I've not had any problem with mine.

[WrathOfTheLion]

I have some stainless steel agitators from Scale 75 I think, they have worked great for me.

[Sky Potato]

I’ve used those glass agitator balls from eBay. Worked fine for me

[NiceGuyAdi]

I misread the title as "Paint Alligator Balls" suffice to say I'm both relieved and disappoint at the same time.

 

This tickled me good and proper. I didn't watch this all the way through but you may find it helpful Rik.

 

Thanks all, my main worry about the glass ones was them not being heavy enough, but I'll give 'em a go.

[Firedrake Cordova]

I've used these without (finding) any issues: https://ak-interactive.com/product/stainless-steel-shakers/

[ranulf the revenant]

Hmmm, yeah I heard that some people run into problems with the steel ones, but I didn't have any so far. It seems that "stainless steel" isn't a very precise term and that some of them can indeed rust, but I don't think this would be the case with the ones designed specifically for that purpose ^^

[Fajita Fan]

I got beads from Walmart.  They're also good glued to terrain to make lamps.

[WarriorFish]

I will be sure to send said person to this topic, with regards to the weight I'm presuming so long as it's of a decent weight relative to the paint you're good so there should be a variety of materials you can use

[Bung]

Hmmm, yeah I heard that some people run into problems with the steel ones, but I didn't have any so far. It seems that "stainless steel" isn't a very precise term and that some of them can indeed rust, but I don't think this would be the case with the ones designed specifically for that purpose ^^

You have at least some 30000+ sorts of steel with different mixes of other elements for different purposes. So stainless steel is indeed a rather vague term to sort steel. Normaly the ones for high quality ball bearings are great.

I dissmanteld alot scrapped bearings from Work and the balls are still rust free after years, so they worked fine for me in paint bottles.

[Firedrake Cordova]

with regards to the weight I'm presuming so long as it's of a decent weight relative to the paint you're good so there should be a variety of materials you can use

Indeed, it depends on the paint a lot.  With the Vallejo Air ranges, the stainless steel agitators whip through it like water, but with some of the Model Colour range (i.e those at the thicker end), the same stainless steel ball is completely inaudible when shaking it (i.e. I don't think it's moving much/at all).  The Coat d'Arms/Formula P3, and Citadel lines are in the middle. :)

[Razblood]

Hematite beads work great on thinner paints, but struggle with denser pigment. I primarily use either the mig or Army painter agitators these days and have had zero rusting occur.