Drinking Straw Paint Holder
Using drinking straws to measure & transfer paint
Introduction
The humble drinking straw which can be bought in large numbers for very little cost makes a great tool for measuring paint and transferring it from the pot to the airbrush or palette.
Method
The paint will stay in the straw so long as you hold a finger over the end of it.
You probably will not need the full length of a drinking straw so cut them up into halves or thirds.
Dip a drinking straw into the paint pot without covering the end and the paint will move up the straw level with the paint in the pot. In fact, you could use the straw to stir the paint although it may be a little too flexible.
As soon as you lift your finger off the end of the straw, the paint will run out.
Put your finger or thumb over the end of the straw and remove the straw from the paint. The paint will stay in the straw. Hold the straw over your palette or airbrush and take your finger/thumb off the end of the straw. As soon as the end of the straw is open the paint will flow out of it.
Occasionally, if the straw is narrow and the paint is quite thick, it may not want to come out, so gently blow the end of the straw to get it going.
This method works equally well for thinners and any other liquid.
If you want to measure exact amounts of paint and thinner, then make marks on the outside of the straw to show how deep the straw should be dipped into the paint/thinner.
~~ Last updated June 9, 2009 by Peter Hall. ~~