Moving Paint

[Prophecy07]

Hey all,

This is probably a no-brainer for some of you, but assuming you don't use squeeze-tube paints, how do you move paint from the pots to the palette (or airbrush or whatever)? Brush? Popsicle stick? I've tried both, and it always seems like there's a lot of wasted paint that doesn't get transferred. Do you just make do, or is there a trick I'm missing?

 

[Da Sub]

You could transfer all your paints into eye-dropper bottles... (most of mine are now) or maybe for small amounts toothpicks.
I normally use an old brush though, I know it seems wasteful but sometimes you can't avoid a little waste.

 

[scottjames]

I use an old brush, it's sole purpose in life is to mix paint on the palette or in my airbrush cup. I don't use pipettes or syringes, I mix by eye and how it looks/feels. It's art, not science.

I do use lolly sticks (flat, wooden - is this what you call popsicle stick?) for getting weathering powders out the pot because a damp brush will slowly form lumps as you introduce moisture into the pot with damp bristles.

By wasted paint I assume you mean on the brush you used to move the paint and mix it on the palette? Once mixed I tend to leave the mixing brush laying with the bristles beside the mixed colour, I'll often take paint from this loaded brush aswell as from the palette, and use it to re-mix if the paint starts to separate (foundation paints do this if they're involved). Over time, I can't say I run out of paint very often at all so it must be ok in the long term.

Maybe somebody has an ultra precise way of doing this without wasting any paint - but, well, I tend to eat quite a bit of paint too so I'm not too precise I guess.

 

[airhead]

Simple answer: Don't use paints with pots, use dropper bottles.

But,
That is not always the practical answer.

I've used stir sticks (you get thousands for a buck or so) designed for stirring coffee. If you are real frugal, you can scarff a few each time you go to McD's, etc.

I've used toothpicks. The 'better' plastic ones are reusable to a degree and some of them are kinda hocky stick shaped allowing me to use them to mix on my ceramic pallet.

 

[Wyrmypops]

Just a brush.

Couldn't be bothered with syringing specific amounts. Dull effort like that would make the hobby less fun - and considering that some pigments are stronger than others, and differing ranges of paints have varying qualities in strength it all comes down to getting it on the palette and mixing it till satisfied anyway.

 

[Torn blue sky]

Yeah, whatever brush i'm using at the time.

 

[lizcam]

A toothpick (cocktail stick). Dip in paint, let drop onto pallet, wipe extra off w/ brush and on you go!

 

[Gus]

I like the Testors pipettes. They are cheap and easy to use.

 

[Wicksy]

I use a citadel std brush.....the one i have was buggered from day one so all it was good for was transfering paint. I'll use a pippette for adding water and a syringe for making batches of paint in empty pots for base coats but for general paint work, the brush is my sole tool. I'll get through maybe a pot every 2 -6 months depending on whether its a colour i use a lot in my armies or not. I dont therefore worry about the prices too much when buying replacements.

 

[gohkm]

Popsicle stick for me - it was first thing at hand a few years back, and I'm still using the original one . It's stained all sorts of strange colours now.

 

[Einion]

I'd get yourself one of these:

My favourites are painting knives shaped something like 26 or 27 in the pic, but play with various profiles if possible to find what suits your hand best. The blades on various makes vary in stiffness and you'll have to try for yourself to see what you prefer but I would recommend for light use getting one that's more flexible rather than stiffer, if there's a choice.

Aim to pay no more than about a fiver; they're a good investment as a well-made knife should last your whole life with luck. Go for stainless steel, chromium or nickel plated as acrylic/vinyl paints quickly tarnish carbon steel.

In addition to their usefulness for dipping and transferring paint from open-topped containers I would recommend getting used to mixing paint with one - it feels a little odd to begin with but once you get used to it you'll wonder how you did without. Big step up from using a brush, brush handle or some random stick especially for mixing stiffer paints, larger volumes of paint as well as your favourite custom muddy mix. They can also be pressed into service as a miniature trowel.

The standard flat palette knife I would not recommend, without going into detail they don't really work as well overall and the flat shape means you're more likely to get your knuckles in the paint. The dogleg type are worth considering (4 or 5 in the photo) but I prefer the finer tip on a painting knife for dealing with smaller quantities like we tend to be dealing with.

Einion

 

[Prophecy07]

Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. Einion, I like your idea and think I may look into getting one or two of those.

 

[Arma]

Yep. Old brush (the citadel ones do just fine!)

 

[-Ice]

1ml syringes and blunt needles for me.

I like my ratios to be exact that way I know how to fix it next time. And I mix paint with an open notebook to jot down ratios and comments on it.