Easy DIY Paint Mixers

Have you ever opened an old can of paint and it was in desperate need of mixing? Worse yet, have you ever purchased a brand new can of paint and forgot to get it mixed before leaving the store?  If you answered yes to the latter… glad I’m not the only one!

When paint sits on a store shelf or in your home, the colourant settles.  If paint sits for a long period of time, the properties will separate and/or congeal. Paint will not perform in this state but it is EASILY fixed by giving it a thorough mixing!

I had heard DIY Paint Mixers are super easy to use and mix paint perfectly so I HAD to give it a try. Yes, I’m a sucker for these little gadgets that make my life easier.  

These diy paint mixers fit all standard drills, have corrosion resistant shafts and come in 1 and 4 gallon sizes. There are plenty of brands and styles to choose from and they usually sell for between $4-$10.

I used my new little gadget on an older can of Ralph Lauren Paint.

Note ~ If you’re not sure if your old paint is usable, here are some great tips and an easy tutorial on how to strain paint.

This old can of Ralph Lauren was in bad shape. It didn’t require any straining, but my good ol’ fashion Stir-Stick-Method or my DIY-Paint-Mixer-Dance would have taken forever.

{To give you a good laugh, I should post a video of me doing my “paint-mixer-dance”. I’m like Elaine dancing on that Seinfeld episode.  Seriously… just 10x faster with a gallon of paint  in hand!}

 

 Here’s How It Works ~

 

1. Attach the mixer to any standard drill

2. Place the mixer in the bottom of your paint can or container and start mixing

3. Increase the speed as you move it around and work your way to the top of the paint can/container

 

 

DIY Paint Mixer Substitutes ~

 

Don’t want to spent any money? Here are some great diy at home paint mixer substitutes.

1. Bend a thin steel rod into an “L” shape and insert into your drill chuck exactly as you would the store bought mixer.

2. A long handled wood spoon from your kitchen! If the handle will fit into your drill chuck, it will mix. I wish I could remember what blogger did this. If anyone knows, please let me know so I can refer back to her site.

3. A coat hanger. Here’s an easy how-to-video on bending a coat hanger into a paint mixer.

 

With this inexpensive gadget, my paint was mixed thoroughly. It saved me time because it only took a couple of minutes and required almost no effort at all.

If you know of any other DIY Paint Mixers you can make a home, feel free to share them below.

Enjoy your day!