What is the theory behind mixing paint?

MJM

MJM

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I've read when mixing automotive paint, that the paint should me mixed by making figure eights 58 times.

Why 58 times, why not 56 or 60 times?
 
Figure 8's work in quart or gallon mixing cups. Hard for me in pint cups.
I go "swirl to the right, swirl to the left" until I think it is mixed then do it some more. Usually at least 2 minutes.
 
I think the theory is "mix that stuff up."
In reality, it is probably mixed in the first 15 seconds of stirring.
But, we all have this "Freddy Krueger" nightmare kind of thing about "what if is isn't mixed and doesn't cure and I have soft spots and it's all gooey, and I have to scrape it off and do it over, and that was $100 worth of material . . ."
So, we stir the crap out of it and then sleep well :D
 
It's getting pretty technical now......

(a) Experiment with the 'figure-eight' stirring protocol, showing an advected blob of dye (India ink) in sugar syrup (details of the experimental apparatus are given in [3, 4]). The coordinate system used here is also indicated, as is the distance d(t) between the dark mixing pattern and the distinguished parabolic point on the wall. See Fig. 2 for the rod's path. (b) Numerical simulation for the same stirring protocol as in (a), but with the wall rotating at a rate Ω = 0.4 rad/s. Here, d(t) is the distance from the mixing pattern to the hyperbolic point indicated by a dot.​


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The first time I had to stir settled paint in a gallon can, I ordered a paint shaker from HF. It wasn't very expensive 25 years ago, and its still shaking things up. Admittedly, I don't paint much and never have, but the reviews on the new paint shaker are pretty good. It can shake the blob up while you do something else, and I leave Paint on the shaker for 5 minutes even after setting just a day or two.

How long do you spend stirring a blob, and how much cash does that equate to?
https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-paint-shaker-94605.html
 
chevman said:
The first time I had to stir settled paint in a gallon can, I ordered a paint shaker from HF. It wasn't very expensive 25 years ago, and its still shaking things up. Admittedly, I don't paint much and never have, but the reviews on the new paint shaker are pretty good. It can shake the blob up while you do something else, and I leave Paint on the shaker for 5 minutes even after setting just a day or two.

How long do you spend stirring a blob, and how much cash does that equate to?
https://www.harborfreight.com/pneumatic-paint-shaker-94605.html
Click to expand...
I think what is being discussed here is stirring paint with a reducer or an activator in a mix cup.
 
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When I want to get agitation while mixing from the paint can, I use my drill on the Debos mixing lid and tape my wife's adult vibrating toy to the side of the can.

Maybe I should invest in a paint shaker from Harbor Freight so my neighbors will stop staring at me when I'm in the garage holding that vibrating tool :)
 
Okay I can't play with you gentleman right now. I have a fender and door to paint :)
 
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