Ink Mixer?

[jsheridan]

I love the wire idea as these paint mixers really are a PIA to clean.

Stainless rod is cheap.


What I want to know is how to clamp buckets.

If you're creative, a vise with custom made jaws could do the trick and or even a lathe 4 jaw chuck with some slight modification would do the job.

[mimosatexas]

Yea it would be awesome to know if someone has figured the bucket clamping part out. 

I'm definitely liking the brazing rod idea.  I also tried the paint mixers first, and cleaning where the twist met the bottom loop was impossible.  The fin bits are a little easier, but still more work than a single bent rod.

Thoughts on 8" vs 13" versions?

Any weird tips or tricks related to using the drill press vs a hand drill?

[mimosatexas]

Would anyone be willing to post a quick vid using one of these?  I know this is a pretty basic part of the process, but any info is good info here.

[jsheridan]

Any weird tips or tricks related to using the drill press vs a hand drill?

 Set the drill press to the slowest speed and hold the ink bucket with two hands, feed it up into the mixer.

hand drills are speed controlled by the trigger and with one hand holding the ink, chances of spin out are high.

I've held the buckets between my feet before.. yeah you can imagine what happened next.. 

[3Deep]

Just tossing out an idea for holding your bucket under the drill press, I don't know what they are called but they hold drums top and bottoms together ( the drum a band drummer would use) you could bolt one end to a base and use the clamp to hold the lip of the bucket 3 or 4 of them would work.

[mooseman]

I've been using these on my handheld drill: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Workforce-5-Gallon-Helix-Paint-Mixer-HM5HD/202251543

They work really well, but aren't very easy to clean.  I tried using just a wire hanger bent in half, which worked and was easy to clean, but would fling ink everywhere as it rode up the wire.  If the made bit with a wide looped wire end with a single straight shaft it would be ideal, but I haven't come across anything like that.  Not sure that would work in a press either since the bit will have to move the ink on its own more than with a handheld drill.

NO NO NO........YES YES YES.........http://www.walmart.com/ip/1gal-Paint-Mixer/17165772
mooseman

[mimosatexas]

Thats actually the exact ones i buy! I just couldnt find the walmart link.

[screenxpress]

I've been using a long allen wrench in my hand held drill to mix ink, but looking at the drill press I'm liking that alot but still might keep using the allen wrench because it cleans off very easy.

darryl

While a long allen wrench would work, the reason I use the bent brazing rods was to avoid scraping off any of the bucket plastic into the ink.

[kingscreen]

5.5mm handheld Allen wrench with the rubber handle cut off. Works great. Super easy to clean.

[ZooCity]

Does anybody know of a mixer that goes from low speed for plastisol to very high speed high shearing for mixing water based ink? I found a couple air options that are fairly affordable but eat up a lot of compressed air about 20 CFM and some more expensive lab mixers that are electric but it's a little confusing with all the options.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

[jsheridan]

very high speed high shearing for mixing water based ink?

are you mixing ink or making meringue?

[ZooCity]

very high speed high shearing for mixing water based ink?

are you mixing ink or making meringue?

Mmmmm.  Meringue.

Sent from my XT907 using Tapatalk

[3Deep]

I know this sounds stupid, but do any of you think a self mixing cake mixer would stir ink in qt can's, I don't think it would mix a gal? might not even mix a qt.  I thought about using my wife's old cake mixer, she going to toss (she got a new one), because it has a turntable I could sit a qt can on and bolt down some how.

darryl

[Binkspot]

That's what we use with dough hooks, plastisol and WB.

[ebscreen]

I know this sounds stupid, but do any of you think a self mixing cake mixer would stir ink in qt can's, I don't think it would mix a gal? might not even mix a qt.  I thought about using my wife's old cake mixer, she going to toss (she got a new on), because it has a turntable I could sit a qt can on and bolt down some how.

darryl

Cake mixer would probably work.

A milkshake mixer (the old school kind) doesn't work. Not strong enough oddly.

Off topic, does anybody need a milkshake mixer?