Harbor Freight Pneumatic Paint Shaker

[cgrutt]

I just bought one of these paint shakers. It's on sale for $119 and I used a 20% discount, so $100. I wanted to buy the Astro Pneumatic but figured the price was too good to pass up. I'm not a professional so it will only be used a few times per year at most. I was actually surprised at how beefy it seems to be, esp. the clamping mechanism. Hope the motor holds up.

Anyway, does anybody have one of these? Do you see any problems if I mount it vertically to the side of a chest or something sturdy. Was thinking it would be better to keep the paint cans upright and it would take up less space (or at least put some unused space to work, LOL).

Your thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks,

Chris G

 

[jakemac]

I can't help with the shaker per se, but having been a paint mixer at a hardware store for 7yrs in a previous life, I'm a firm believer that you get a better/faster mix if the can is on its side when using a shaker type mixer. This allows the sediment on the bottom to mix in more thoroughly than if it has to agitate up from the bottom.

Make sure that whatever you mount the shaker to is firmly secured so that it isn't walking around when the shaker is agitating. Double check that the can is firmly clamped before turning the shaker on and set it up in an area where you don't mind paint splatter if the lid leaks. A can that spits while shaking is a PITA to clean up, it's much worse if the can gets loose and is launched from the shaker. BTDT.

 

[cgrutt]

OK, thanks, good advice. I'll just leave it horizontal hadn't thought of that.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have the previous HF version which I think was made better. It's been great. Only thing is you MUST bolt this to the floor using expansion shields. Nothing else will work. Bolt it to a table and that table is going to dance.

 

[rlitman]

I have the previous HF version which I think was made better. It's been great. Only thing is you MUST bolt this to the floor using expansion shields. Nothing else will work. Bolt it to a table and that table is going to dance.

I don't know if I would write must in capital letters, but it sure is a good idea. Yeah, you're not going to get away with bolting this to a workbench at all. Bolt it to the wall, and it'll shake your whole structure.

I have mine bolted to the cast iron base of my floor standing drill press. It doesn't risk tipping the press (it would, if I bolted it to the table instead of the base), but the whole press would walk around the floor like an unbalanced washing machine if I didn't have a piece of paracord tying the press column to the wall.

The known failure point of these is from lack of lubrication. Be sure you install and fill the inline oiler on the air inlet, and add some grease to the zerk every few years.

I love the fact that the clamp can be adjusted to shake gallons, quarts, pints, and even spray cans. I've commented in another thread about how I also use it to remix natural peanut butter that has separated.

 

[cgrutt]

Thanks guys.

 

[G_P]

You could always put a big rubbermaid type tote container over the thing if you are worried about paint going everywhere.

 

[cgrutt]

I was thinking some cellophane wrap or painters tape on the lid. I don't do that much painting so not too worried about it.

 

[david3921]

I bolted mine to some 2 x 4s. I cut them with enough over hang so that I can clamp them to my bench when needed. I hardly ever turn it on full though. I plug in the air line with the valve off. I then slowly open it up until it's shaking the paint but not the whole bench. I use mine mostly for spray cans.

 

[dslabuda]

It should make for a good prank to clamp a full can of beer in there before giving it to someone. I am surprised no one has brought that up yet.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

 

[fastbike02]

I have seen what happens when the paint lid is not on properly... poor man at walmart was covered in paint along with everything around him

 

[evintho]

I don't mean to dis the OP's thread but..........way, way cheaper...............................



And don't think I forgot about spray cans either........................

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

LOL spray can shaker.

 

[cgrutt]

I considered making one of those Sawsall shakers LOL. I have a few different paddle mixers already. They're best on 5 gal pails but not so good on a $100 quart of automotive paint

 

[rlitman]

I don't mean to dis the OP's thread but..........way, way cheaper...............................





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Also way, way, way less effective. That's suitable to restir paint that's been recently shaken. Not suitable for paint sitting for a few months.

 

[lostmymanual]

Also way, way, way less effective. That's suitable to restir paint that's been recently shaken. Not suitable for paint sitting for a few months.

I just bought the same shaker today because I'm sick of using this stupid mixer and then pitching it out on the grass for hosing off so I could use it to mix the color coat later on top of dealing with paint running off the mixer. PITA. I'll keep it for mixing 5 gal cans but that's usually a all in one primer/color product job for me anyway.