Making Airbrushing Droppers?

[Shub-Nullgurath]

I got an airbrush recently and one of the problems I've found so far was the whole "mixing the paint with thinner" and then trying to decant it into the airbrush.

An idea I had was to premix the paint in a bottle to just directly put into airbrush.

I've bought a bunch of dropper bottles, some labels, some steel ball bearings and some paint thinner. I've already got the paints I'm planning to thin.

Can anyone see any major flaws in this plan?

[Fitz]

Only that steel ball bearings will tend to rust and discolour your paint mix. Lead shot do the job well, if you can get some decent-sized buckshot.

[Shub-Nullgurath]

Only that steel ball bearings will tend to rust and discolour your paint mix. Lead shot do the job well, if you can get some decent-sized buckshot.

Will stainless steel corrode in the paint?

[Fitz]

Over time, yes. Stainless steel is corrosion resistant, not corrosion proof.

[zemjw]

After a few minor disasters, I watched a video that suggested mixing the paint in a porcelain palette (cleans easily and is difficult to knock over) and simply using a brush to transfer the paint to the airbrush. Note, this does assume a top loading airbrush.

It works very well. The only problem would be recreating the colour the next time. However, if that's not an issue, then the palette route is one to investigate.

As for agitators, I have read about people using ceramic beads (eg from an art shop). They definitely won't corrode

[Malebolgia]

Only that steel ball bearings will tend to rust and discolour your paint mix. Lead shot do the job well, if you can get some decent-sized buckshot.

I just dunk in pieces of metal sprue. Works well and the paints have not discoloured.
For mixing I add some drops of paint, then some thinner, hold the needle back, place my finger over the front and then press the air trigger. The air will flow back into the cup and the paint and thinner are instantly mixed. And then it's back to airbrushing. Works well.

[Shub-Nullgurath]

Over time, yes. Stainless steel is corrosion resistant, not corrosion proof.

The question is what sort of timeframe are we talking about here? Six months, a year, ten?

I've done research and have found nothing about how long it takes stainless steel to corrode in non-ideal solutions. Which is great. :|

[tomrommel1]

I have some bottles of paint with stainless steel beds in them . Some of them are as old as 3 years nothing happened with the color till today.

[Henrix]

It'd depend on what stainless steel it is, and which paint (not just the brand, different pigments are different chemicals).

Use glass beads.

[Melnibonean]

Only that steel ball bearings will tend to rust and discolour your paint mix. Lead shot do the job well, if you can get some decent-sized buckshot.

Or... lead fishing sinkers. Cheap and easy to get.

[Psychopomp]

I bought a big bag of glass beads one day while at the local craft store to pick up some dullcote.  They're chemically neutral, and I drop 3-4 in each new dropper bottle of paint I buy.  They work great!