What is the Hurricane Paint Mixer?
The KBS Hurricane Paint Mixer is a drill-driven mixing paddle with a round metal shaft and a plastic mixing head that lifts settled pigment off the bottom of the can and blends heavily pigmented, high solids coatings. The Hurricane fits any corded or cordless 3/8" variable speed drill run between 500 and 1500 RPM.
10 Seconds
Mixes in as little as
3/8" Drill
Corded or cordless
500 to 1500
Drill RPM range
2 Sizes
Quart/Gallon and 5 Gallon
Heavily pigmented and high solids coatings settle in the can. Pigment and matting agents sink to the bottom, and paint poured off the top of an unmixed can gives an uneven sheen and finish. For high solids coatings such as KBS MAXX, thorough mixing is also key to long term durability. The Hurricane Paint Mixer puts all of it back into suspension so every coat goes on the way the formula was designed.
The mixing head is designed for quick mixing with no splashing. Connect the Hurricane to a standard drill, start mixing at the bottom of the can, and the head lifts and blends paints and coatings from the bottom up. Mixing is more effective than shaking and produces a nicer finish, because violent shaking produces air bubbles that affect the finish.
Watch the Hurricane Paint Mixer in Action
KBS directions recommend a mechanical mixer such as the Hurricane Paint Mixer for RustSeal matte sheens, BlackTop, XTC, XTC Primer and KBS MAXX. Each of these coatings is heavily pigmented or high in solids, so settled pigment and matting agents must be lifted off the bottom of the can and fully blended before application.
- RustSeal: RustSeal is heavily pigmented. For matte sheens, the matting agents must be remixed into suspension with a mechanical mixer on a drill or, at minimum, a paint stir stick. RustSeal directions
- BlackTop: BlackTop directions call a mechanical mixer on a drill highly recommended, repeatedly touching the bottom of the can and lifting to disperse settled pigments and matting agents. BlackTop directions
- XTC and XTC Primer: XTC and XTC Primer are heavily pigmented and can take at least 5 to 10 minutes of mixing with the Hurricane Paint Mixer to reach a fully uniform state. XTC directions
- KBS MAXX: KBS MAXX is a high solids coating, so the Base (color) must be mixed smooth with a mechanical mixer before it is measured into the mix ratio. KBS MAXX directions
- Resins, epoxies and other viscous materials: The Hurricane Paint Mixer is also ideal for resins, epoxies and other thick materials that are hard to blend by hand.
Low speed for DiamondFinish Clear and Tank Sealer: Both coatings need gentle mixing, touching the bottom of the can and lifting, without whipping or shaking. Air bubbles whipped into either coating affect the seal and finish. The Hurricane Paint Mixer at low drill speed is ideal for both. See the DiamondFinish Clear directions and Tank Sealer directions.
The Hurricane Paint Mixer pairs a heavy duty round metal shaft with a durable plastic head that lifts and blends coatings from the bottom of the container without splashing. The Hurricane mixes paint in as little as 10 seconds, cleans up quickly and hangs for storage from the plastic cap on top of the shaft.
- Made to Last: A heavy duty round metal shaft and a durable plastic head stand up to thick, high solids coatings job after job.
- Highly Effective: The plastic head mixes materials quickly and evenly, lifting and blending paints and coatings from the bottom of the container.
- No Splashing: The mixing design is built for quick mixing with no splashing.
- Quick: The Hurricane mixes paint in as little as 10 seconds. Heavily pigmented coatings such as XTC take longer; keep mixing until nothing remains on the bottom of the can.
- Key to a Quality Finish: Mixing is more effective than shaking and produces a nicer finish.
- Multi Use: Ideal for paints, resins, epoxies and other viscous materials.
- Simple Operation: Connect the Hurricane to a standard drill and begin mixing at the bottom of the can.
- Versatile: Works with corded and cordless standard 3/8" variable speed drills.
- Easy Clean Up: The metal shaft and plastic head clean up quickly and easily.
- Easy Storage: A plastic cap on top of the shaft lets you hang and store the mixer.
The Hurricane Paint Mixer comes in two sizes. The Quart/Gallon mixer has a 9-1/2" shaft for quart and gallon cans, and the 5 Gallon mixer has a 15" shaft that reaches the bottom of a 5 gallon pail. Both sizes fit a 3/8" variable speed drill run at 500 to 1500 RPM.
| Size | Shaft Length | Overall Dimensions | Use For |
|---|
| Quart/Gallon | 9-1/2" | 3" x 3" x 10" | Quart and gallon cans |
| 5 Gallon | 15" | 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" x 18" | 5 gallon pails |
Drill requirement: any corded or cordless standard 3/8" variable speed drill, run between 500 and 1500 RPM.
Pro Tip: Turn the can upside down for a short time before opening it. KBS directions note this aids proper mixing.
To use the Hurricane Paint Mixer, chuck the shaft into a 3/8" variable speed drill, lower the mixing head to the bottom of the can before starting, then run the drill between 500 and 1500 RPM while repeatedly touching the bottom and lifting. Keep mixing until no pigment remains on the bottom of the can.
- Step 1: Loosen what has settled
- Turn the can upside down for a short time before opening it.
- Step 2: Start at the bottom
- Lower the mixing head to the bottom of the can, then start the drill.
- Step 3: Touch the bottom and lift
- Repeatedly touch the bottom of the can and lift to disperse settled pigments and matting agents. Heavily pigmented coatings such as XTC can take 5 to 10 minutes.
- Step 4: Clean the mixer right away
- Clean the shaft and head immediately with KBS #1 Thinner or lacquer thinner, the clean up solvents named in the RustSeal, BlackTop and XTC directions, then hang the mixer by its cap.
Watch How to Properly Stir KBS Paints and Coatings to see what a fully mixed can looks like.
A drill paint mixer blends heavily pigmented coatings faster and more completely than a hand stir stick, because the powered head lifts settled pigment and matting agents off the bottom of the can. KBS directions for RustSeal, BlackTop, XTC and KBS MAXX recommend a mechanical mixer and treat a stir stick as the minimum.
| | Hurricane Paint Mixer | Hand Stir Stick |
|---|
| Power | 3/8" variable speed drill, 500 to 1500 RPM | By hand |
| Mixing time | As little as 10 seconds; 5 to 10 minutes for XTC | Several minutes of steady stirring |
| Lifts settled pigment and matting agents | Yes, the head lifts and blends from the bottom of the container | Only as far as the stick is worked along the bottom |
| KBS directions | Highly recommended for RustSeal matte sheens, BlackTop, XTC and KBS MAXX | Acceptable minimum for RustSeal matte sheens and BlackTop |
| Container sizes | Quart and gallon (9-1/2" shaft), 5 gallon (15" shaft) | Depends on stick length |
A stir stick is the better choice only when no drill is on hand; for RustSeal matte sheens and BlackTop, KBS directions treat it as the acceptable minimum.
Once the coating is fully mixed, these are the tools KBS customers most often add to the same order.
- Pour: KBS Paint Spout
- A reusable, no-drip spout that fits gallon, quart and pint cans and keeps the lid groove clean for resealing.
- Measure: KBS Paint Mixing Cup
- A clear, graduated 1.75 quart cup for measuring a working amount and mix ratios.
- Thin and clean: KBS #1 Thinner
- The thinner and clean up solvent for RustSeal, BlackTop, KBS MAXX and other KBS coatings.
- Apply: Poly Paint Brush
- Black poly bristles with a chisel trim for a smooth, uniform finish.
How to Properly Stir KBS Paints and Coatings
A short video on lifting settled pigment off the bottom of the can.
Watch Video →
RustSeal Directions
Opening the can, stirring, and remixing matting agents for matte sheens.
Read Directions →
BlackTop Directions
Mixing and storage, brush, roller and spray application, and clean up.
Read Directions →
XTC Directions
Why XTC and XTC Primer need 5 to 10 minutes of mixing before application.
Read Directions →
KBS MAXX Directions
Mixing the high solids Base, then measuring the mix ratio in a mixing cup.
Read Directions →
KBS Application Guides
Step by step project guides for chassis, tanks, engines, floors and more.
Browse Guides →
Have questions before you buy? Find answers to the most common Hurricane Paint Mixer questions below, or
order the Hurricane Paint Mixer now.
The KBS Hurricane Paint Mixer is a drill-driven mixing paddle with a round metal shaft and a plastic mixing head. It lifts settled pigment and matting agents off the bottom of the can and blends heavily pigmented, high solids coatings in as little as 10 seconds.
The Hurricane Paint Mixer fits any standard 3/8 inch variable speed drill, corded or cordless. Run the drill between 500 and 1500 RPM.
Choose the Quart/Gallon mixer, with a 9-1/2 inch shaft, for quart and gallon cans. Choose the 5 Gallon mixer, with a 15 inch shaft, for 5 gallon pails. Overall dimensions are 3 x 3 x 10 inches and 3-1/2 x 3-1/2 x 18 inches.
Many paints mix in as little as 10 seconds with the Hurricane Paint Mixer. Heavily pigmented coatings take longer: XTC and XTC Primer can take at least 5 to 10 minutes. Keep mixing, touching the bottom of the can and lifting, until no pigment or matting agent remains on the bottom.
Yes. Mixing is more effective than shaking and produces a nicer finish. Violent shaking produces air bubbles that affect the seal and finish, while a mixer lifts settled pigment and matting agents off the bottom of the can and blends them back in.
KBS directions recommend a mechanical mixer such as the Hurricane Paint Mixer for RustSeal matte sheens, BlackTop, XTC, XTC Primer and KBS MAXX. At low drill speed, the Hurricane is also ideal for DiamondFinish Clear and Tank Sealer, and it works well with resins, epoxies and other viscous materials.
Yes. At low drill speed, the Hurricane Paint Mixer is ideal for DiamondFinish Clear and Tank Sealer. Both coatings need gentle mixing without whipping or shaking, because air bubbles affect the seal and finish, so keep the drill slow and repeatedly touch the bottom of the can and lift.
Clean the metal shaft and plastic head immediately after mixing with KBS #1 Thinner or lacquer thinner, the clean up solvents named in the RustSeal, BlackTop and XTC directions. Then hang the mixer by the plastic cap on top of the shaft.
Lower the mixing head to the bottom of the can before starting the drill, and keep the drill between 500 and 1500 RPM. The Hurricane head is designed for quick mixing with no splashing when it runs at the bottom of the can.
