I just bought the larger Four E's mixer and it is awesome. It is solidly built and when placed on a wooden bench it doesn't move around at all while mixing. It is pretty quite and it does a great job mixing. The worst paints I have are small acrylic paints in plastice dropper bottles that separate out and are very difficult to mix by hand, even if I take the dropper off and try and mix it with a Tamiya paint stirrer. With the Four E's mixer, it gets the thicker paints evenly mixed in double quick time. I put a ball bearing in them for extra mixing power. I have found that the USB port does work for charging my bluetooth ear muffs. I haven't tried it with my phone though.
My wife bought me the 4E one last year. It's absolutely fantastic. Not only great for mixing 'good' recently purchased paint, it's resurrected some really old, congealed acrylics. The oldest pot was some Humbrol gloss red I picked up in the eighties. I'm not even sure they still sell that stuff! That wasn't a selling point, more an added bonus I discovered while messing about with my new toy. Highly recommended. Try and stretch your budget enough to get yourself one, girls and boys, you won't regret it.
The Four E's mini vortex is an exceptional piece of kit. Buy once or buy twice is my motto, so stump up the bigger cash and invest in the more expensive unit 👍. These are essential for proper paint mixing. Especially thick paint that has been stood for a long time. Excellent review sir 👏👌👍🖌️
Thanks for the comparison! I think these things save paint too, if you have had some paints lying around for a few years manual shaking just wont mix these. I find the vortex mixers get the whole bottle moving so you can mix in some manual shaking too. I used to use a thin stirring stick but you pull a lot of paint out on it after each mix.
My old paint mixer was a $30 jigsaw and a $3 clamp that I jury-rigged together. Worked brilliantly but it was crazy loud, and the clamp eventually snapped off and flew across the room
You can’t compare anything to the smaller 4E one. It’s easily the best out there. Plus, that’s spaceship one is taking like 3-4x the room of it for not much better/less of a result. What’s the point of that? I’ll stick to my 4E.
I actually use the Artis Opus Vortex Mixer and never had a problem with it. When I saw this vid pop up in my feed, I was surprised to see it omitted from the test products, therefore I am unsure how it compares to this line up.
Yeah I have the cheap one :-P and I like it to be fair, just don't use it all that often (mainly as I don't get much time to paint!) That said when it breaks I will be upgrading, thanks for the comparison! Keep up the great work!
Vortex mixers are great. Shaking by hand is not conducive to small detail painting with a brush. I have the Intellab model (not a good as the Four E's model but only half the price. With an agitator in the bottle it works great.
I’m looking for one for xmas gift for hubby. He has citadel paints in shorter ‘fatter’ bottles than the ones in video. Would the wee cheaper one still work on those bottles? Thanks.
Four E/LabGenius Mini-Vortex is worth every penny! If you are on a budget, save up, and grab it! You really do get what you pay for. Your wrists and elbows will thank you later.
I own also all 3 of those and my experience is quit different for the 2 expensive one. The Big one is in my case way better than the one without the legs. they are similar bu the one with the legs feels way faster in mixing.
absolutely no content, check my previous vid as I explain it there www.fauxhammer.com/featured/best-paint-mixers-shakers-for-miniatures-and-wargames-model-paints-2019/
I use a nail varnish shaker Noisy. However about 25 euros. Easy to use and works like a charmveven on army painter bottles. GW paints have to be strapped over the cap or they can pop open. Not fun. Very good overall and can run on batteries.
I've been interested in getting a mixer like this but worry about HAVS, no one seems to address this issue when making videos about them, is there any documentation regarding these mixers and their potential risks?
I honestly don’t know enough about it to comment. I didn’t see any warnings in the paperwork. I suppose it depends, I’ll mix a pint for about 5 seconds every hour or so. Someone in a lab could spend hours on end mixing test tubes
Hey jackalaus9000. I'm a scientist in a lab and I vortex every day often for fairly long periods of time. Normally I use equipment with equal or significantly higher RPM to the ones in the vid and I've done so for the past 5 years without any issue. Hope that puts your mind at rest with regard to getting one for yourself. I have one for my paints and they are great.
Useful video. Have you tried the jigsaw tool method? It requires a bit of enineering/creativity, however for $50 (australian currency) vs $100+ for some it may be worth it
I have tried that but my Jigsaw is super old with a proprietary clamp from the 80s. I had to tape the clamp to the saw blade but it kept a slicing through. Good DIY option though
You're not using them proper way. Put two steel agitators in empty clear bottle and use it on shaker. Usually agitators stay on the bottom or are stuck in the nozzle. Then check how they behave when the bottle is on the side. They should fly like mad everywhere. Most people only waste time holding the bottle upside down on their mixers. Bottom and side, this is the way.
@@boneshaman8912 yeah that works. At least you didn't attach a bottle to a drill which I have seen people do... because that creates a centrifuge, not a mixer!
I can't seem to find the product code on the mid model in this video. I would like to get the same one if possible... I have a lot of paints to bring back from the dead! :D
there's no product code, as this is quite a generic product, this is the one you want though,amzn.to/40nznHo If stuck, just search Vortex mixer on Amazon and if it's the same shape, it's the same thing.
Tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me you didn't watch the video. RPM alone is not a fair metric to go by, this the exact reason I made this video.
I bought a used vortex genie 2 from a closing lab for 100 usd and it just shakes the sh*t out of my paints :) I had the black chineese one before but it lasted 3 months and it was pure garbage in terms of mixing
Still getting over my latest round of covid, (check my previous vids for examples) but cheers for the Constructive feedback. You did not come across like a privileged tool at all.
I just bought the larger Four E's mixer and it is awesome. It is solidly built and when placed on a wooden bench it doesn't move around at all while mixing. It is pretty quite and it does a great job mixing. The worst paints I have are small acrylic paints in plastice dropper bottles that separate out and are very difficult to mix by hand, even if I take the dropper off and try and mix it with a Tamiya paint stirrer. With the Four E's mixer, it gets the thicker paints evenly mixed in double quick time. I put a ball bearing in them for extra mixing power. I have found that the USB port does work for charging my bluetooth ear muffs. I haven't tried it with my phone though.
My wife bought me the 4E one last year. It's absolutely fantastic. Not only great for mixing 'good' recently purchased paint, it's resurrected some really old, congealed acrylics. The oldest pot was some Humbrol gloss red I picked up in the eighties. I'm not even sure they still sell that stuff! That wasn't a selling point, more an added bonus I discovered while messing about with my new toy.
Highly recommended. Try and stretch your budget enough to get yourself one, girls and boys, you won't regret it.
well said, had a similar experience of resurection muself on some 20 yr old Tamiya paints
The Four E's mini vortex is an exceptional piece of kit. Buy once or buy twice is my motto, so stump up the bigger cash and invest in the more expensive unit 👍.
These are essential for proper paint mixing. Especially thick paint that has been stood for a long time.
Excellent review sir 👏👌👍🖌️
exactly
AKA "Buy Once Cry Once"
All those bottles should have a steel ball bearing in though. They're like a fiver for a pack of hunners.
If everyone just did it by hand then Ann Summers would have no market whatsoever! Interesting video and straight to the point.
I agree with this 100%, in fact I did so here; th-cam.com/video/t2fW2URPAVs/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this evaluation demo. Just what I needed to know!!
Glad it was helpful!
I use the tripod 4 E’s. Love it. Mixes every type of paint from enamels to acrylics. One of my best tools on the bench.
I agree it’s very very good, just wanted to show that the smaller one was more powerful
Thanks, I'll take that recommendation. I was just away to buy the most expensive one before seeing this.
Glad to have helped
Thanks for the comparison! I think these things save paint too, if you have had some paints lying around for a few years manual shaking just wont mix these. I find the vortex mixers get the whole bottle moving so you can mix in some manual shaking too. I used to use a thin stirring stick but you pull a lot of paint out on it after each mix.
Great tip!
My old paint mixer was a $30 jigsaw and a $3 clamp that I jury-rigged together. Worked brilliantly but it was crazy loud, and the clamp eventually snapped off and flew across the room
You should add a metal/glass ball or two to the mix. It will help with the mixing process.
Yep, 2 is the perfect ammount.
@@FauxHammer yup. You always want two balls.
Looking and sounding very good dude! Nice lighting and very informative. Needs more airhorn sounds though
thanks very much
Wish I saw this a few days ago - I just bought the spaceship looking one. It's good though, and it has restored paints I thought were gone!
You can’t compare anything to the smaller 4E one. It’s easily the best out there.
Plus, that’s spaceship one is taking like 3-4x the room of it for not much better/less of a result. What’s the point of that?
I’ll stick to my 4E.
I use the Intllab vortex mixer and highly recommend it and yes I have had stuff fall over on my desk
I've seen a few people with that one, never had hands on though
I actually use the Artis Opus Vortex Mixer and never had a problem with it. When I saw this vid pop up in my feed, I was surprised to see it omitted from the test products, therefore I am unsure how it compares to this line up.
It’s about on par with the Big One shown here. The smaller one is still far more powerful but the difference is small
Yeah I have the cheap one :-P and I like it to be fair, just don't use it all that often (mainly as I don't get much time to paint!) That said when it breaks I will be upgrading, thanks for the comparison!
Keep up the great work!
yeah, they do work and a few people were asking how good they are in comparison.
Vortex mixers are great. Shaking by hand is not conducive to small detail painting with a brush. I have the Intellab model (not a good as the Four E's model but only half the price. With an agitator in the bottle it works great.
yeah i think these things are designed with agitators in mind.
Great video, but do you have any recommendations for us regular sized painters too?
Bu-da-bum
I got the 4e big spaceship one. Now received two of them that turn on and lay there like a dead fish and does nothing. Done with 4E at this point.
I’m looking for one for xmas gift for hubby. He has citadel paints in shorter ‘fatter’ bottles than the ones in video. Would the wee cheaper one still work on those bottles? Thanks.
Hiya. Yeah they do work with this too. Normally I flip them upside down to press the centre button easier
@@FauxHammer thank you so much!
Four E/LabGenius Mini-Vortex is worth every penny! If you are on a budget, save up, and grab it!
You really do get what you pay for. Your wrists and elbows will thank you later.
Agreed
I own also all 3 of those and my experience is quit different for the 2 expensive one. The Big one is in my case way better than the one without the legs. they are similar bu the one with the legs feels way faster in mixing.
Wow, how odd. I went back to them and explained my findings and they agreed then showed me a German video where they had the same experience
Great video. Thanks
Glad you liked it!
How does a vortex mixer compare to a shaker like the one by Robart?
absolutely no content, check my previous vid as I explain it there
www.fauxhammer.com/featured/best-paint-mixers-shakers-for-miniatures-and-wargames-model-paints-2019/
I use a nail varnish shaker Noisy. However about 25 euros. Easy to use and works like a charmveven on army painter bottles. GW paints have to be strapped over the cap or they can pop open. Not fun. Very good overall and can run on batteries.
If it’s what I’m thinking of, I had one of those and it died during the first use
@@FauxHammer Yeah, some are really badly made. Buying from a beauty salon supplier ensured it was reliable.
@@WanderingCelts good call.
I would like to know how inks and airbrush paints would mix with these?
Very easily, they are typically much thinner than acrylics
I've been interested in getting a mixer like this but worry about HAVS, no one seems to address this issue when making videos about them, is there any documentation regarding these mixers and their potential risks?
I honestly don’t know enough about it to comment. I didn’t see any warnings in the paperwork. I suppose it depends, I’ll mix a pint for about 5 seconds every hour or so. Someone in a lab could spend hours on end mixing test tubes
Hey jackalaus9000. I'm a scientist in a lab and I vortex every day often for fairly long periods of time. Normally I use equipment with equal or significantly higher RPM to the ones in the vid and I've done so for the past 5 years without any issue. Hope that puts your mind at rest with regard to getting one for yourself. I have one for my paints and they are great.
@@will_reilly that's reassuring, thanks for the reply 👍
@@jackalus9000 yeah no worries. If you get a vortex I hope you enjoy it. 👍
4:22 - how long have you been painting minis?
Decades on and off
Wrist issues come from work though
Great review thanks
Useful video. Have you tried the jigsaw tool method? It requires a bit of enineering/creativity, however for $50 (australian currency) vs $100+ for some it may be worth it
I have tried that but my Jigsaw is super old with a proprietary clamp from the 80s. I had to tape the clamp to the saw blade but it kept a slicing through. Good DIY option though
Screw RSI, I'm more concerned with the "Dead arm" or "dead hand" issues I've heard rumors about from using these.
You're not using them proper way. Put two steel agitators in empty clear bottle and use it on shaker. Usually agitators stay on the bottom or are stuck in the nozzle. Then check how they behave when the bottle is on the side. They should fly like mad everywhere. Most people only waste time holding the bottle upside down on their mixers. Bottom and side, this is the way.
Hi. On the side you mean horizontaly ?
Do they really work for mixing paint vs. Shaking. Im getting old and shaking is getting harder to do.
Oh yeah. The good ones are incredible!!
@FauxHammer i just had a friend show me to tape a paint pot or droper to a reciprocating saw blade and use that.
@@boneshaman8912 yeah that works. At least you didn't attach a bottle to a drill which I have seen people do... because that creates a centrifuge, not a mixer!
Doesn't look like the small Four E is available anymore. All i can find from them is the big spaceship one.
Probably why they were trying to get me to review the new one.
Anyone know where Four E’s mixers are made, or at least where the firm is based?
(Trying to cut back on Chinese made stuff.)
Good vid, subbed!
Thanks for the sub!
I can't seem to find the product code on the mid model in this video.
I would like to get the same one if possible... I have a lot of paints to bring back from the dead! :D
there's no product code, as this is quite a generic product, this is the one you want though,amzn.to/40nznHo
If stuck, just search Vortex mixer on Amazon and if it's the same shape, it's the same thing.
Do these also work well on contrast paints?
amazingly well!
@@FauxHammer thank you! Got my order in for the mini!
I thought you had to add the little BB's to get it to mix
you don;t "need" to. but it helps.
not a drill, I used a jigsaw! wrapped the (dull) blade with rubber bands and added a paint bottle, shook the life out of it in seconds
I tried the same but sawed through the tape I was using
You really need an agitator, 2 or 3 steel or glass bearings.
True
You mention space in your comment. The price is certainly from outer space. I notice it runs at 3000rpm. I a cheaper one that runs at 78000 rpm.
Tell me you didn't watch the video without telling me you didn't watch the video.
RPM alone is not a fair metric to go by, this the exact reason I made this video.
I’ll be right back, I’m just going to go and sellotape a paint pot to my drill…
lol, FYI in case you didn't know, that will make a centriguge and seperate your paint.
I bought a used vortex genie 2 from a closing lab for 100 usd and it just shakes the sh*t out of my paints :) I had the black chineese one before but it lasted 3 months and it was pure garbage in terms of mixing
Glad to get confirmation I’m not talking sh!t on my videos…
The cheap one breaks quite quickly
I tape my paints to the mrs sex toys. 😂
During?
i bet the bottles have episodes of little squirts of "joy" lol
Good god man, shorter sentences, you ran out of breathe like 8 times!
Still getting over my latest round of covid, (check my previous vids for examples) but cheers for the Constructive feedback. You did not come across like a privileged tool at all.