Mixers

The problem with most paint mixers is that they are a pain to clean. Use them a few times, and they are so clogged up with a thick layer of paint that they lose their hydrodynamic shape.  The one of the left was used maybe twice, the one right many dozens of times. The difference is that I can wipe it right off. The flat plate design can loosen the thickest solids without clogging.

 

You really can't buy the sort on the right. Most of mine were lab mixers. I have dozen and will leave them to my children. A few, for special sizes, I made by welding a rectangle to a length of rod. If you can't weld, I'm sure the plate could be soldered to the side of a flattened rod.