What I do is put 3 or 4 small metal objects in the jar (I'm using small machine screw nuts because I've got a lot of them but I'm looking for something like cheap ball bearings to use instead) and shake the jar thoroughly before opening it. The nuts break up the paint quite nicely, just like the ball in a rattle can.
The next time you need to stir some paint and can't find a mixer for your drill, make your own. As shown in the drawing, I cut the rim of a metal peanut-butter jar lid into a series of segments that can be bent into an effective mixer. Drill a hole in the center of the lid, and affix it to a 3/16-in. -dia. by 6-in.
Glass beads are what people generally tend to use as stirrers - I haven't felt the need so far, I just use toothpicks or cocktail sticks to scrape paint off the sides and bottom, add a few drops of water, and give it a good ol' shake like it owes me the money I spent on it.
Paintbrush: An old paintbrush can double as a stirrer. Just dip it into the paint and use it to mix.
You can whip up a ton of delicious baked goods with simple tools like whisks, spoons, and spatulas. Add a food processor to the equation and you have even more options.
There's a reason that you are given a stirrer every time you buy a can of paint. The ingredients can and do separate—make sure to stir when you start to paint, and again every so often while painting. This ensures that the color and consistency of the finish will look great.
Paint is made up of a combination of liquids and solids and, over time, will separate. If you don't stir the paint before using it, you'll find that it'll be thin and watery or thick and gloopy, which will give you an uneven, patchy paint job.
Palette Knives. You can either use a paintbrush or palette knife when mixing paint colors. Some prefer to use brushes to mix color but this can be damaging to the bristles and it's more difficult to get a thorough blend if you're going for a very pure color.
A spoon for a drink. A hard spatula for scramled eggs, veggies and meats. A flexible spatula for omelettes. A wooden spoon for soup, stew, and chili.
Wooden Paint stir sticks are commonly used to mix paints, epoxies, gel coats, and other general coatings. Made out of wood, these durable mixing sticks may be reused, but are inexpensive enough that they are disposable as well.
I used to use a cut coat hanger to stir my paint, and it works really well.
We suggest the use of a purpose made paint stirrer (a paint stirrer is either made of plastic or wood and resembles a cricket bat in shape) to mix the product.
Plastic sticks, especially those made of high-grade plastic, are resistant to various chemicals. Easy Cleanup: Paint tends to peel off easily from plastic once dried, making the cleanup process straightforward.
Not Mixing Paint Before You Pour
Not mixing paint thoroughly before painting can result in uneven color and flashing (the paint appears to have different sheens in some areas).
When paint is wet, it tends to appear darker due to less light reflection. But as it dries, the water evaporates, causing the paint's hues to lighten up. Oil, acrylic, and latex paints are exceptions to this, appearing darker as they dry.
Stirring the paint every few days will speed up the drying.
Mixing by hand may involve getting your hands dirty but you can also turn to simple tools like a wooden spoon or rubber spatula. The flexible spatula works well for folding dry ingredients into wet ingredients when making a cake batter, while a wooden spoon can stand up to thicker cookie, scone, and biscuit doughs.
Lemon-lime soda, though a little sweet, is a good beginner's introduction to whiskey drinks and works well in fruity punches. Grapefruit soda mixes perfectly with tequila and a pinch of salt. Orange juice works with gin, vodka and rum — freshly-squeezed adds another layer of texture and flavor.
For most recipes, you can use a hand mixer when it calls for a stand mixer, and vice versa. With a few adjustments and only a couple of exceptions, you can modify most recipes for whichever mixer you have in your kitchen!