Disappointment (robart paint shaker)

[bandit86]

Well I finally got to use my Robart Paint shaker(from mircomart) that I received for Christmas.  I was able to shake 2 Vallejo bottles on the 3rd the whole shaker cradle flew off .  the part that held it on has retreated inside the housing and I m unable to reattach it. Very disappointing in this product and will have to contact micromart to see what can be done. back to hand shaking  

[Mancha]

Although I haven't had a major failure like yours, I'm kind of disappointed in my paint shaker as well.  The rubber strap broke very quickly, and I've since been using rubber bands.  It also doesn't seem to really shake the paint effectively, although that may be due to Vallejo's stubbornness and/or to the fact that my paints are now very old.

[Sinewgrab]

Huh - I am very happy with mine - it has saved the tendonitis from neing inflamed by shaking paints, and only by holding brushes...

I have found, however, that I need to take one day every 2-3 months, and expect to spend 4-5 hours doing other things with that incessant rattle going on as I run every single paint through for 10 minutes or more.

And while the strap broke the first time in a month or so, the actual shaker lasted almost 6 years before I had to replace it.

[Mitch K]

I can't comment on this specific bit of kit, but I can say that I've used sample shakers in the lab for nearly 30 years and my experience is that except for the very best (and most expensive!) ones they have short eventful lives - and sometimes even the pricey ones fall to bits distressingly quickly!

Is it worth looking for a second-hand laboratory vortex mixer on fleabay? They are designed for test-tube sized things so paint pots would work well. And in contrast to shakers, vortex mixers go on for ever and ever!