Tool Review: Hyde Stir Whip mixing paint + joint compound

The inspiration for this tool review of Hyde’s Stir Whip is a little outside my usual “I like this tool and I have a website so I’ll write about this tool” mojo. Rather, it was a conversation with Guy at my local Sherwin-Williams (not sherman, Mark, grow up!) store where we buy a lot of the paint and stain we use. 

While he mixed up the deck stain I was buying, I meandered off to check out whatever tools were hanging on the wall. Next thing I knew he was standing there with the paint. I said “Thanks.” And because I was standing in front of the Hyde Stir Whip, I also said, “By the way, this thing is awesome.”

He then said, “I don’t get a lot of feedback from my customers, I just know what sells”.

And then, we started talking more and this review was born. 

What is the Hyde Stir Whip?

Other than saying I’ll never again shake a can of paint or deck stain, the Hyde Stir Whip is a simple, effective tool that makes getting paint or deck stain properly mixed with near zero effort. 

Essentially the design involves stiff rubber bristles on a rod that chucks into your cordless drill. (Would it be asking too much to make it a ¼-inch hex drive so I could chuck in into El Slimpacto, my name for my impact drivers?) It fits into a 1-gallon paint can and you can, well, whip up its content with nary a moved hair on your head. 

By goosing the trigger, slower for fuller cans and a little faster for emptier ones, raising the tool from the bottom to the top to move the solids in the coating up. You can easily not whip paint into the room. 

What do you need to know about using it?

One key to using it successfully is to have a landing zone for the Hyde Stir Whip. Since it comes out of the paint can with paint on it, it needs somewhere to go that isn’t going to wreck your project or home. 

I usually use two of those click-together rubber gym matt things as my paint management HQ. Usually in the center of the room, it’s where I do all my mixing and pouring into the roller pan and store my brushes and other items. They’re impervious, and easy to transport and store when not in use. 

I suppose you could mix up fast-setting joint compound or grout with it too, but I usually do that in small batches so a margin trowel is fine. And if I never see another bag of either of those items again, I’m also fine. 

What I do know is that you can use it to mix joint compound in a 5-gallon bucket. I just retrimmed a basement that involved drywall replacement and the Hyde Stir Whip whipped up the heavier green-bucket mud into a lovely paste that spread wonderfully smoothly. Holy schmackeroonies! One more reason it earns its spot in my paint box. 

Having the right tools for the job is essential for success and the Hyde Stir Whip is one of them. 

Rating: Full chooch. 

Mark

A licensed contractor, tool expert, wood and outdoor enthusiast, and elite Spartan Race competitor, he writes about home improvement and tools for national magazines and websites, and teaches hands-on clinics for other remodeling professionals. Check out his book, The Carpenter's Notebook.

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