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  • Bobby Conkers
    • Jan 2020
    • 529

    #1

    A few of mine...

    I have been through this section and have found some marvellous tips. I love the way we all recycle. Sorry I haven't commented but I didn't want to bump a load of old threads, very poor form.

    Here's a few of mine - apologies if they are repeats, and feel free to comment if you have a better way!

    1. Colour mixing, I have found nothing better than waxed pill cups (a fiver for 250 on ebay/Amazon etc.). I find them so much better than palattes, there's little need to clean them, and they seem to be the best way to stop the paint drying or soaking in. I've not found the wax to react with acrylics. Just don't get the folded sided ones, get the tight-rolled. Also, there's little wasted paint as it doesn't dry.

    2. I presume we all use sprue leftovers for stirring? I've found L-shaped to work best, with a corner cut in the heel so paint can be sucked through.

    3. Steal the wife's/daughter's Sanctuary Spa boxes after Christmas. If you are a lady, keep them. Very useful for storage, very sturdy, lots of compartments, they're pretty enough if you don't have a cave, keeps you in touch with your feminine side, and sometimes even come with a carrying ribbon to break at an inopportune moment.

    4. I've found that superglue will keep for a few years once opened if you use a vacuumable sealable jiffy bag.

    5. If using g-clamps, put white tack on the inside. Saves scratching and applies sufficient but cushioned pressure.

    6. When painting, don't paint the dog.

    7. Similarly, don't let the dog do any painting.
  • Si Benson
    • Apr 2018
    • 3572

    #2
    Originally posted by Bobby Conkers
    I have been through this section and have found some marvellous tips. I love the way we all recycle. Sorry I haven't commented but I didn't want to bump a load of old threads, very poor form.

    Here's a few of mine - apologies if they are repeats, and feel free to comment if you have a better way!

    1. Colour mixing, I have found nothing better than waxed pill cups (a fiver for 250 on ebay/Amazon etc.). I find them so much better than palattes, there's little need to clean them, and they seem to be the best way to stop the paint drying or soaking in. I've not found the wax to react with acrylics. Just don't get the folded sided ones, get the tight-rolled. Also, there's little wasted paint as it doesn't dry.

    2. I presume we all use sprue leftovers for stirring? I've found L-shaped to work best, with a corner cut in the heel so paint can be sucked through.

    3. Steal the wife's/daughter's Sanctuary Spa boxes after Christmas. If you are a lady, keep them. Very useful for storage, very sturdy, lots of compartments, they're pretty enough if you don't have a cave, keeps you in touch with your feminine side, and sometimes even come with a carrying ribbon to break at an inopportune moment.

    4. I've found that superglue will keep for a few years once opened if you use a vacuumable sealable jiffy bag.

    5. If using g-clamps, put white tack on the inside. Saves scratching and applies sufficient but cushioned pressure.

    6. When painting, don't paint the dog.

    7. Similarly, don't let the dog do any painting.
    I wish someone had told me about points 6&7! Mind you, he made a tidy job of the kitchen ceiling :smiling5:

    Comment

    • AlanG
      • Dec 2008
      • 6296

      #3
      Originally posted by Bobby Conkers
      1. Colour mixing, I have found nothing better than waxed pill cups (a fiver for 250 on ebay/Amazon etc.). I find them so much better than palattes, there's little need to clean them, and they seem to be the best way to stop the paint drying or soaking in. I've not found the wax to react with acrylics. Just don't get the folded sided ones, get the tight-rolled. Also, there's little wasted paint as it doesn't dry.
      I use the measuring spoon from used baby milk containers. Nice round bottom and it holds enough for any airbrush

      Comment

      • Ian M
        Administrator
        • Dec 2008
        • 18257
        • Ian
        • Falster, Denmark

        #4
        I used to use plastic shot glasses to mix in but in these environmental days with the emphasis on mental, I found some stainless steel eggcups and use those now. :hungry:
        Superglue keeps very long in the fridge. Keep well away from the nasal spray though.
        Group builds

        Bismarck

        Comment

        • Bobby Conkers
          • Jan 2020
          • 529

          #5
          Originally posted by Ian M
          I used to use plastic shot glasses to mix in but in these environmental days with the emphasis on mental, I found some stainless steel eggcups and use those now. :hungry:
          Superglue keeps very long in the fridge. Keep well away from the nasal spray though.
          A very good point. Sadly I'm not allowed to keep glue in the fridge - our daughter is only 25 so we have to keep an eye on chemicals and sharp objects.

          Comment

          • rtfoe
            SMF Supporters
            • Apr 2018
            • 9065

            #6
            My favorite mixing cup is my old Fuji film containers that are transparent. Sadly film is no longer needed in photography now so the five I have is enough for mixing and temporary storage. They've been with me for twenty years.
            McD ketchup dishes are great for acrylic paint pallets or water containers for decalling too.

            Cheers,
            Richard

            Comment

            • SimonT
              • Apr 2018
              • 2824

              #7
              CA glue really does keep well in the fridge as Ian says - I had a couple of bottles in there for ten years and they were still usable

              Comment

              • PaulTRose
                SMF Supporters
                • Jun 2013
                • 6441
                • Paul
                • Tattooine

                #8
                if im mixing paint for airbrushing, or mixing pigments for weathering i use disposable plastic shot glasses

                if im mixing paint for brush painting, or oils/enamels for washes i have some little stainless steel dishes, only about 50mm across/10mm deep, great cos since they are stainless they just wipe out.......think i got 5 for a quid in Ikea ages ago (i hate Ikea but always look for useful stuff modelling wise )
                Per Ardua

                We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no ones been

                Comment

                • AlanG
                  • Dec 2008
                  • 6296

                  #9
                  Originally posted by beowulf
                  (i hate Ikea but always look for useful stuff modelling wise )
                  Their Detolf display cases are fantastic, if a little harsh on the pocket.

                  Comment

                  • Guest

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Bobby Conkers
                    2. I presume we all use sprue leftovers for stirring?
                    You presume wrong :smiling3: I use cocktail sticks for small pots (like Humbrol, Revell etc.) and ice lolly sticks for larger ones (such as Tamiya and Gunze Sangyo).

                    Originally posted by Bobby Conkers
                    4. I've found that superglue will keep for a few years once opened if you use a vacuumable sealable jiffy bag.
                    Oh, I might have to try that one …

                    Originally posted by Bobby Conkers
                    6. When painting, don't paint the dog.

                    7. Similarly, don't let the dog do any painting.
                    You could simply replace these two tips by:

                    6. Don’t have a dog.

                    :tongue-out:

                    Comment

                    • PaulTRose
                      SMF Supporters
                      • Jun 2013
                      • 6441
                      • Paul
                      • Tattooine

                      #11
                      Originally posted by AlanG
                      Their Detolf display cases are fantastic, if a little harsh on the pocket.
                      i find they let dust in too much, got rid of the ones i had when we moved
                      Per Ardua

                      We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no ones been

                      Comment

                      • AlanG
                        • Dec 2008
                        • 6296

                        #12
                        There is a fix on YT on how to seal them up to keep the dust out

                        Comment

                        • Bobby Conkers
                          • Jan 2020
                          • 529

                          #13
                          Dog is going, thanks.

                          Comment

                          • Peej
                            SMF Supporters
                            • Aug 2014
                            • 919

                            #14
                            Something I always do is, a big blob of blu tak on the work surface to stick my Paint pot onto. Must have saved me a small fortune in spilt paint over the years.

                            Comment

                            • Bobby Conkers
                              • Jan 2020
                              • 529

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Peej
                              Something I always do is, a big blob of blu tak on the work surface to stick my Paint pot onto. Must have saved me a small fortune in spilt paint over the years.
                              Ha, forgot that one! Almost every paint/glue/thinner pot I have has remnants of blutac on the bottom. Top tip sir, top tip.

                              Comment

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