How long do you REALLY need to shake spray paint?

Testing spray paint: The results were surprising!
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[@MarkWarbington]

Expose the panels to the sun and the elements for a month or so and revisit this. There is more to paint than just the pigment. There are flatteners, UV stabilizers, rust inhibitors and other stuff. Maybe it's those other additives that the shaking is supposed to evenly distribute.

[@BrassLock]

+Mark Warbington : Very interesting comment Mark. The discussion is now entering a deep and meaningful phase . . .

[@philthycox2515]

Exactly what I was thinking. There are also hardeners. It's not only about getting colour on a piece, but protecting it as well. How is the durability of a 5 sec shake compared to a 60 sec shake?

[@turboflush]

Yah.. came here to say this. No shake your getting whatever was at the bottom. If he ran the whole can with no shake.. he would find clear eventually. Granted.. the can from the front of the sales shelf is probably the most mixed of the bunch. A can that has collected dust at the back of a shelf for months or years.. different story

[@scott98390]

The can's bottom is domed, so the straw goes to where the bottom and side meet. The dot tells you where the bottom of the straw is in the can; when you're spraying you get the most paint out of the can (because you usually tip the can forward a little) by aligning the nozzle with the dot (and the straw).

[@sportstertaco]

Thanks for the info. I have always wondered about that dot. Now I know.

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

Yep.👍

[@Engineer9736]

Good info. Though i yet have to see the first spraycan with a dot lol. Now i know the meaning of the dot before even having a can that has one in my hands.

[@LoudNoob]

Scott Baker anyone else keep reading this as the cans bottom is DOOMED!!! Lol.

[@grandolddrummer]

Loud Noob I did the same thing! I've been listening to a lot of doom music lately and it's on the brain haha

[@nelsonbrum8496]

When painting models as a youngster, a helpful hint to make sure sure to get consistent coverage with metallic/metal flake paint was to place the can in a bowl of hot tap water for a minute or so, wiping the can dry, and giving it a quick shake before spraying. This worked really well to get a very smooth finish as well, and it's now my SOP any time I apply any sprayed on finish.

[@HandlebarWorkshops]

I think the cans say to shake for 1 to 2 minutes knowing that no one is going to shake that long. But they figure if they can get you to shake it for at least 30 seconds, that should reduce complaints by about 90%. *shake* *shake* *shake* *shake* That was about 2 minutes, right? Eh, close enough.

[@jonathan__g]

Seems reasonable enough.

[@raabsand]

Yup then if you complain about the results they say did you shake it for 2mins? Of course not!

[@JaredM990]

It's a similar principle to why tech support will ask you to unplug your modem for a full minute. The capacitors in those things don't hold a charge nearly that long. I also had a trick doing phone support back in the day asking customers to swap the cable ends on a phone & jack that wasn't working, I really just wanted them to reseat the connectors but usually they would just look at them and think they were seated properly when at least half the time they weren't quite pushed in all the way. Lots of people just don't follow directions they feel are too simple.

[@elfpimp1]

Lol! Sounds about Right, and I've not had a problem yet.

[@cuttheloop]

Yep. because you KNOW you're gonna blame yourself for not shaking long enough when the job looks like doo-doo.

[@johndjameson]

I’m loving your straight-to-the-point thumbnails. Great deep dive on an overlooked topic!

[@grandolddrummer]

John Jameson Kinda reminds me of Adam Neely's thumbnails. Great KZbinr if you haven't checked his stuff out. Kinda like the Vsauce of music.

[@masongray4983]

Hey Steve, I’m seventeen years old and living in South Africa... your videos are so inspirational, my grand father did wood working. He past away in 2010. I just wanted you to know how much I appreciate your effort for all of us new comers out there. Keep up the great work

[@tabhorian]

Wow, this is a really good idea. I'm the guy that actually does shake it for two minutes. Who knew? You just saved me a lot of time, thanks!

[@businessgreg77]

Did I just watch a 10 minute video of someone shaking cans? Steve you are by far the most entertaining "how to" guy on KZbin. Even in a weird shake video you just make it fun to watch.

[@misterscottintheway]

Haha. Love this idea of reverse clickbait. Answer the question right in the thumbnail! You're the man Steve.

[@farmerdiy9024]

Thank you for helping me conquer my spray paint not shacking long enough guilt!

[@lordrichard8184]

I can’t believe you made a video about shaking spray paint cans interesting. Great job!! I always shake the cans for about 10 seconds after I hear the can start rattling.

[@michaelrusso8033]

They say to shake it so the pigments mix with the propellant. Most cans go weeks/months from factory to your hand while just sitting. American paints like Krylon and Rusto are pretty thin in terms of pigment, but cans that are acrylic/lacquer based are thicker and need more agitation to get a good mix. Good video btw! Loved it!

[@arenassempersolaris3074]

Steve thank you for your videos and sense of humor! I made the garden bench out of 2x4 and 1x3 and that wheelbarrow out of pallet. My parents and friends love them. Thank you for teaching me.

[@finnthorn6291]

I believe certain pigments settle quite a bit when the can sits on the shelf for months or even years so it might be more important for paint that has sat around for a long time and it really helps to make sure the paint is warm if you're using it in cooler weather.

[@0Myles0]

I've been watching your channel a few years or so, good job! Nearing a million subscribers is insane! Congratulations! And thank you!

[@AngeliqueKaga]

I've used you're plans for the mobile work bench, and it worked well.

[@PaulPeck]

Coo video Steve! I'll add that just as important as shaking the can is: After spraying, turn the can upside down and spray till clear and the tip is clean and ready for the next use!👍 Have a great day! -Paul

[@wayne19922006]

I truly enjoy your videos! I wish my shop teachers were as good as you. I think everybody knows how to shake their can now but when finished painting I store my can upside down. Why you ask? ...because if the can sits for a long period of time the thicker pigment will settle at the top of the can and the straw will remain clear. Don't forget to clear the nozzle by shooting a little air through it while holding the can upside down.

[@GrammyVulture]

I have totally shaken a can of spray paint for 2 minutes. Yes! It is a really long time. I was so happy to see this video. Your results are awesome. I appreciate what you did here!🖌🌈😀

[@karl_alan]

Would love to see this done with other spray finishes (i.e. different brands of lacquer, or even polycrylic and polyurethane). I have had a couple of cans of woodworking finishes that said they wanted 3-5 minutes of shaking, and was always curious how much I actually needed to do.

[@moradtamer]

I award you a medal for having the guts to really shake the cans for 2 minutes and saving everyone else's time

[@johnme7049]

Thanks Steve, for another great video. They make a device to go on a sawsall to hold a spray can but I simply rubber band a can to a blade and pull the trigger. No more tired arms and James Bond gets his "Shaken not stirred" spray can.

[@luckyhiker3434]

You are a man of incredible patience! While it was a bit painful to watch I did like your trials. Thanks for your efforts.

[@lanceg133]

Steve, Note that the bottom of spray cans is concave - for added strength against the pressurization. Obviously the tube that brings the paint up from the bottom must not end in the middle of the can, but to one side, or a bunch of paint would be wasted when the can gets low. The dot on the can shows which side the tube inside the can is on, so when you tilt the can the tube is at the lowest point to ensure proper paint flow.

[@chunkymurps]

Great video. I'd say i'd shake for about 10-15secs on average and everything works fine. I'm sure shaking for longer would agitate the ingredients better but at the end of the day, all brands say to apply at least two coats so once it's shaken a little bit (enough) you are applying enough coverage per coat to get a 'good' coat after two or three.

[@RadddahTat]

I was just searching this when this just notified me... not kidding

[@jiggly5881]

I think your experiment was rather scientific, your control and dependent variables were spot on and the qualitative analysis seems to speak for itself. Let's put it this way, I am an Engineering Student at Cal Poly and I have seen less scientific experiments from my colleagues. Thanks for all of the hard work.

[@YourAliasIsNotAvailable]

Hey Steve, this might worked out well for you in this specific case. But if you ever grab an old can from your local store or your workshop which stood there for several years, you wont get any paint out of it these way. With time the heavier components of the paint will seperate and sink to the bottom where they will become kind of muddy. Then you will have to give it a pretty good shake to get this paint well distributed in the carrier medium.

[@eeguy77]

I can't remember where I saw it but one KZbinr was very adamant against people Rust-Oleum. It's kind of nice to see this test verify that. I always love it when people actually put some of these things to the test like you did too. As someone who's been involved in quality testing I fully understand how tedious this is, and I'm glad I'm not the one that did it. So thanks for saving me time Steve!

[@skeptical_bystander]

I usually shake 10-15 sec after I hear the ball in the can... Glad to see you back, Steve!

[@KimandGarrettmakeit]

THANK YOU!!!! I always wanted to know, but never wanted to waste the time finding out or ruining a can of paint.

[@UrbanPanic]

I use a lot of aerosols at work, and I can safely say that there is no one given time to adequately shake a rattle can. Depends on numerous factors including temperature, what you're spraying, what kind of nozzle, how long the can has sat and how much was left in the can before you put it away last time. After a while you get to the point where you can hear not just whether the ball is rattling, but what tone it makes and how long it takes from the shake to the ping as it hits the side of the can and whether it deflects off and hits another wall. Generally, shake till it rattles then continue shaking it a little longer than it took to start rattling might be a good rule of thumb. I'd be willing to bet that the better coverage with the ACE paint has very little to do with the formulation, and more to do with the tip they use. That wide fan means you are essentially getting a few micro-coats with each pass rather than one big thick coat. That gives a chance for some of the solvent to flash out of the bottom most layers leading to more uniform film thickness and less wrinkling. I almost always get better results spraying significantly farther away than the manufacturer recommends, which would have a similar effect to that wide fan. Unless it's really humid, then you might trap some moisture, giving a hazy blush. Or if it's super dry and hot, then too much solvent flashes out before you hit the work piece and you end up with a pebbly, powdery feeling finish.

[@magicrobharv]

I usually buy Krylon, but then again that's the paint that Walmart sells that I like, which could be some of the reason why I use it. Steve, when are you going to hit a million subscribers ? You are so close !!!

[@ryansantiago941]

10 seconds in my homemade can shaker is more than enough and easy. Sawzaw w/ a 12” F clamp attached to old blade. Insert can, clamp snug, hold button lightly for about 10 seconds and the paint is ready ALSO - I glue sandpaper to the clamps as well as to the top of an old spray can cap. Hold the can from slipping out much better than without

[@darranedmundson1505]

I've always taken a green marker and drawn a nice thick line around the edge of the can. It really seems to help with how the paint goes on ...

[@gnarthdarkanen7464]

"...Because NOBODY's going to really shake a can of spray paint for that full two minutes. Right?" ...and I glare nervously at the custom resizeable paint-shaker in the corner... "yeah... sure..." ;o)

[@Matt.Jungfleisch]

Shake it like you Stole it ! Interesting results Steve

[@wing1wing2]

Big THX for that test 🙂 ... so - a can shaker will be a nice helper ...

[@LarryBinFL]

This was useful! The one thing I wondered was if appearance is not the only variable? It is conceivable that without proper mixing, the paint wouldn't, for example, have as durable adhesion. That said...I've never believed the 1-2 minutes!

[@Adrian-ue5hz]

Hey, I just started watching on July 4. And I can't stop. Keep up the amazing work. I have been working in my garage using my dad's tools that he never uses. I'm trying to make some cool things but it's just money. My parents don't share my interest so it's hard to receive support from them. And my brothers just make fun of me but your videos have really inspired me to persevere. Thankyou so much. Don't stop what your doing

[@tseckwr3783]

I use the hose clamps on the reciprocating saw trick running at slow speed. It is fun to watch the neighbors expressions. I cannot take credit for the idea but it is very good.

[@heartforwon]

I'm with you Steve, I have never shook a can for 2 Mins.

[@chemcody5119]

I really miss your build videos Steve. I have been with you for many years and it has been fun to watch your channel evolve but I really miss what you used to do when you first started.

[@MikeBramm]

The pick-up tube that is connected to the bottom of the spray nozzle is longer than the can is tall, so it bends to one side of the can. This is so that it can reach all of the contents (because the bottle of the can is concaved. The dot on the rim at the top of the can shows you where the bottom of the pick-up tube is located. You should always tilt the can towards that dot so that all of the contents can be used. If you're spraying downwards (tilting the can forward), rotate the spray nozzle to line up with the dot and you'll be able to use all of the contents. If you're spraying upwards (tilting the can backwards), rotate the spray nozzle opposite the dot. Note: If the can does not have that dot on the rim, once the can starts running out of contents, try rotating the nozzle and tilting the can in another direction. You can usually get it to spray a bit more once the pick-up tube is submerged again. I shake the can for 15 seconds, turn it upside down and shake for another 15 seconds, then repeat this process for a total of 60 seconds. I find that turning the can upside down helps to get the solids off the bottom. I repeat this process each time I use the can.

[@sharoncraig4231]

I just watched a video of a product called MixKwik that you attach to a reciprocating saw and it does all the shaking. Looked pretty good and could save an arm!

[@Steelgeek]

All right I loved the fact that he had the answer in the thumbnail.

[@VividlyMakeup]

Please add some more videos with princess meow meow ! It’s always a joy to see her in your videos.

[@HWPcville]

My theory.. A full can needs to be shaken longer because it may have been sitting on a shelf for a long time and it is a full can so there is less room for thorough mixing to take place. A partial can will have more room inside for the contents to slosh around so might not need as long for mixing as a full can. Also (only you would know) it might have been recently shaken/ used so settling would be less of a problem.

[@olivepressdesign]

Now all your pieces can look like Kreg Tools.

[@AJB2K3]

Running under warm water while shaking until the can stops turning cold help to improve the results. (especially in the damp UK and Ireland atmosphere!)

[@LoudNoob]

Adam Bryant in the winter I use, extremely carefully, my heat gun.

[@AJB2K3]

huh! I won't ever use a heatgun, I'm scared that I will end up on youtube or get a Darwin Award!

[@e2linuxos]

I'm in Scotland and totally agree unless it's a hot day then put the can somewhere warm for 10mins (fan heater/radiator etc); means you aren't shaking the can for 5mins before the ball starts to rattle... Am mainly shaking galv spray... Regardless a cold rattle can of anything spits more than it sprays.

[@garrettducat5769]

The can works be way, way too hot to hold before it was at risk for exploding. The heat gun method will be fine.

[@Engineer9736]

Garrett Ducat As long as you’re very careful maybe. Move the heat gun quickly pas the can a few times and check the temperature of the can with your hands, repeat. I wouldn’t introduce this method for production work though.

[@nevet1212]

I think the best test would be coverage based. The less you shake the more accelerate you spray with less paint products come out. I know this was only to test small project use, but the better test would be if you used several different cans of paint and base the results on how well you cover an object, perhaps drywall would be the best to test it. Also the funny thing to note, Ace brand spray paint is actually manufactured by Krylon.

[@FlashSprues]

Aligning the spray nozzle to the dot on the aerosol can will allow full use of the contents. According to the manufacturer, the tube inside is angle slightly at the bottom of the can.

[@charlesmcmasters]

great video, great info for a wide spectrum of crafters. this may be the first crafting youtube video I've actually shared on FB

[@thedistractedmaker]

The most useful video currently online...

[@stankolodin5586]

He is a pillar of the DIY community.

[@Jargs27]

I'd like to see the same test with cans that have been in a cupboard for 2 years. That's usually the kind of spray paint I use.

[@elfpimp1]

Hahaha!!! Right?!?!

[@lennycruz4558]

Watching your videos is a stress reliever, i love you man

[@thenerdofalltrades8190]

Good test. Honestly though, I never, EVER paint ANYTHING any more without first priming. It is absolutely necessary for every project, regardless of material or if the paint says it is “paint and primer.” You will never see results as good as when you prime well first.

[@Medickep]

A guy at a paint store gave me the greatest tip. Fill a bucket with warm tap water. Let them sit in there for five minutes. The paint comes out flawless!

[@sublimationman]

Love your videos. I think of the shaking is important when a can has set on my shelf for months without use. Also I have noticed some paints (metallics, special effects....) do require a LOT of shaking before and during use to keep the stuff mixed properly. I once used a wrinkle paint that said to shake for 3 minutes and I gave it a good solid minute of shaking and it never wrinkled like it should, so I did it again after shaking 3 solid minutes and it wrinkled perfectly.

[@jaednhowlar2359]

Thankyou for the plans you are one of my faves, very precise, covering all bases. Taking carpentry this yr in school, gonna refer to you while I do woodworking at home in my mini shop.

[@clfields0524]

This was as exciting as watching paint dry. 😎

[@HenkJanBakker]

Okay. Why you should shake. The paint is a mixture of solvent and pigment (and more stuff but lets stick to these two) Pigment tends to sink and solvent tends to.. erm.. float. The longer the can is out of the factory sitting on a shelf, the more this splitting in components will be. But keep in mind we are talking days her or even weeks. So if you shake and you hear no rattle the ball is stuck and there is some real need for shaking. That ball is stuck in the pigment that has settled on the bottom. That ball by the way is mixing the paint. Shaking a can without that ball would not mix your paint at all. And as it is a tiny ball and not an effective mixing item you need to shake for that long. Once you got the paint well and truly mixed it takes the ingredients a while to start sinking and floating again. During a job there is no real need to shake again...but you'll find it is hard not to give it a shake anyway.

[@flyingpictures1100]

good test now I will have confidence in my usual 15-20 sec shake ty!

[@dslynx]

Wow, awesome video! I've always wondered about this myself and I even tend to shake the can in the middle of painting something when I'm not spraying! Heck with that! 5-20 seconds and that's all they get from me from now on.

[@RepTalez]

The dot you line up to is where the tip of the tube in the can is. you get best paint flow when tipping the can that way.

[@PaulWoodWare]

You’ve answered a question I often thought myself very well, Thanks!

[@mversantvoort]

Great test, thanks Steve!

[@randypittman279]

I would guess that shaking a longer time helps get an even result throughout the whole can of paint.

[@StephenDaw]

I was going to say that. Shaking is more to mix up the propellant.

[@videodistro]

Ace paint labs have always put out very good paint. I'd prefer their house paint over almost any other.

[@DonsWoodies]

Steve, while I don't always agree with some of your methods, I always learn something from your videos. This was no exception (I mean the part about learning something.) Something I've always wondered about, but never had the patience to try. Thanks for doing this. It was very interesting to see the results. It's almost as interesting to see some of the comments telling you what you did wrong. All praise to you for still putting up videos like this while having to put up with comments from people who would never take the time to do something like this themselves. As an aside, I may have to take a look at the Ace Paint - my usual for spray paint is Krylon.

[@timothymbess]

To get a better (more pure) test, you should have used a brand new can for each shake duration (5 sec, 30 sec, etc). As you sprayed the paint, the can had less paint left inside, which affects how quickly the ball can rattle, and how much volume of liquid inside is getting mixed around. It's entirely possible that each brand's nozzle puts out vastly different quantities of paint so that by the time you're comparing the 2 minute shake test, one brand might have been half full and another might have been only 1/4 full.

[@timsawyer7443]

Thought process: 1. Wow, he's run out of "real" woodworking ideas - this is scraping the bottom of the barrel. 2. Actually, it would be interesting to find out what he discovered (since, to be honest, I've always wondered this myself). 3. OMG, this is actually interesting! 4. No wonder Steve made this video - it's actually useful! Great job, Steve! PS: Yeah, especially after reading so many of the comments (e.g., thoroughly mixing all of the elements and ingredients), "OCD-tending me" is still going to shake for closer to the 2-minute mark. But still a very interesting video!

[@thee_number_six6227]

The nozzle and dot is to position the draw tube. As for shaking its not something you shouldn't do. The paint and accelerants need to be mixed to allow for appropriate dry and cure times. Its a chemical thing not a visual one. Im an hvlp painter you shake the spray paint for the same reason you stir the paint or shake the paint.

[@rodpeterson4485]

As always, Great demo.

[@mariah4451]

Very helpful. This video will now save me many many MANY minutes of can shaking in the future :-) I've previously been one of the 2 minute shakers !

[@JDStoneCreations]

That was an excellent and informative video on something I've always sort of wondered but never been bothered to test or find out... Thanks Steve!

[@drekberg]

Nice test. The Ace brand gave it a stained look which was pretty interesting.

[@tdkrei]

I thought the same thing, interesting. I wonder if that's been explored by any manufacturer.

[@Omellykim]

Dr. Sten Ekberg, yeah it looks very nice I wonder if anyone will make a project with it

[@Quirk77]

Thanks for the new video Steve! I'd really like to see some kind ood build again. It was a Friday ritual for my son & I. I'd come home from work & that was one of the first things we'd do was watch Steve's new video!

[@MichaelRpdx]

I checked with a Bogotá graffiti artist Crisp, he replied that it's very brand and quality dependent. "If you don't shake enough you're likely to get clogged caps or an uneven colour output. This test should be continued through full cans of paint. :)

[@Askjerry]

Thanks for doing that... I've never really wondered what the minimum was... and always went about a minute or so... good to know that 20-30 seconds are more than enough.

[@Dav4122]

Great experiment and good to see the brands compared side by side too

[@Przykominku]

Now it's time to use those planks in a project :)

[@timucingorkem]

You've been very helpful. Thank you. we really do not know anything about the paint in the pressure box.

[@brianhawkins8397]

One thing I will add: shaking does seem to get more out of your can as you near empty. I was finishing a couch with spray lacquer (per Steve’s advice btw), and when I was hardly getting anything out I shook it several times. Got a lot more out than I expected.

[@mikefricker3603]

I hadn’t thought about the movement until you mentioned it!

[@kshatriya1414]

I’ve always thought the shaking is to mix the propellent and paint so that the propellent don’t run out with a ton of paint inside the can (It always does but I mean not as much). Oh FYI, The mark on the Can marks where the tube (Or intake on the tube) is at the bottom, Lining up the nozzle with the mark means that you suck up paint better.

[@BDGilly1990]

The ACE brand looks the best with exception of the “no-shake” round

[@webosm6494]

It is much easier. You shake it until the ball rattles and does not 'stick' inside. If it does stick it means the solids and solvents are not mixed well. In some shops the less popular paint colors can be on the shelf for a year, so 'new' is not as new as you think.

[@jessshane1339]

In my experience it depends on temperature and application. I have to shake longer and more frequently in the colder months to prevent clogging in the spray head.

[@rashakawa]

Amount of Shaking time required I think comes down to temperature. Here in Oregon unless it's in the middle of summer you got to shake the paint out of that can...

[@shawnmurphy8781]

Another great video Steve! I love shop experimentation videos like this!

[@jordanakin8953]

the reason behind the shake for 1 to 2 mins is to make sure the paint is mixed well especially after sitting for weeks or months or even yrs .and yes i shake for a full two mins. to makesure the paint is mixed as well as it can be and i get a perfect coat each and every time

[@sparkyenergia]

My method is to shake for a few seconds till the ball is moving. Then place said can in a sink of warm water for a few minutes, shake for a few seconds, back in the water trying to even out the temperature of paint in the can. Then give it a final shake till I see dents in the bottom from the ball hitting the bottom. I place it back in the water between coats.

[@ahikernamedgq]

Steve, you're going to hit 1M subscribers soon! Thanks for the super helpful, great videos.

[@jay_chang]

I usually shake until the ball kind of rattle with a crisp metal sound, so the paint is kind of well mixed with least "sediment" or very viscous pigment with little to no lacquer.

[@vollverfraest2880]

You save us all a lot of life time! 👍👍👍

[@mc4kvb]

Good test Steve. I think you covered....he, he...everything in all different case tests. You saved me some time!!! Now I won’t shake my spray cans as much now!!

[@elpibe2020]

I miss your videos Steve!

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

Try improving your aim.

[@elpibe2020]

cuack

[@hashemal-haddad9078]

Me to

[@miningbruno]

The dot on the nozzle indicates where the the end of the little tube is inside the can. If you try to spray with the nozzle away from that position, you end up with an "empty" can that in reality has some paint still left. I realise my explanation isn't that good, but you can visualise it with a plastic spray bottle.