Mixing Balls by Army Painter – metal mixing balls for paint bottles, model 2004481

Mixing Balls by Army Painter are small metal beads intended to improve the consistency of paint and medium in small bottles used for modelling and hobby work. Placed inside paint, ink or medium containers, these mixing balls assist in re-suspending pigments and additives that have settled during storage, helping to restore an even texture before application.

Advantages

These metal mixing balls provide a simple, durable method to agitate and homogenise contents without chemical additives or mechanical devices. Their weight and shape promote effective breaking up of pigment clumps and prevent partial stratification after shaking. Made for repeated use, they are corrosion-resistant and compatible with common acrylic hobby paints and craft media.

Suitable for

• Model and miniature acrylic paints in small dropper or screw-top bottles
• Hobby media such as washes, inks and pre-mixed varnishes
• Situations where pigment settling or separation occurs during storage

When it may not be suitable

Mixing balls are not intended for very large containers or for paints that require mechanical mixers to reach proper viscosity; in such cases, larger-scale mixing tools are more appropriate. They may not be suitable for solvents or chemically aggressive thinning agents that can react with metal—verify compatibility with your specific products before prolonged use.

Key specifications

• Material: metal bead (corrosion-resistant finish)
• Intended use: internal mixing of paints, inks and media in small bottles
• Compatibility: suitable for most hobby acrylics, washes and inks
• Reusability: reusable across multiple bottles and mixes

How to use

Drop one or more mixing balls into the paint or medium bottle, close the cap securely and shake the bottle vigorously until the contents appear uniform. For heavily settled paints, allow the bottle to sit briefly after initial shaking then repeat until pigments are fully re-suspended. Remove the balls if desired before pouring or use them continuously in the bottle for ongoing agitation during shaking.

What to consider before purchase

• Check that the mixing ball size fits inside your bottle neck and cap opening
• Confirm chemical compatibility with any aggressive solvents or thinners you use
• Decide whether you prefer balls to remain in the bottle or to remove them before dispensing

Usage recommendations

Use one or two mixing balls per small paint bottle; for very small dropper bottles a single ball is usually sufficient, while larger screw-top bottles may benefit from two. Shake firmly but avoid excessive force that could damage the bottle or cap. Rinse and dry the balls if you transfer them between incompatible paints to avoid unintended colour contamination.