The measurement is described of shearing strengths of paints using a small (2 by 2 by 0.02 cm.) aluminum plate suspended from a tensiometer arm and located in the paint. Thixotropy can be demonstrated by making measurements after various periods of time at rest, and consistency can be measured by noting the motion of a shear plate located between two narrowly-spaced plates sandwiching it. Surface tension can be measured with a du Nouy tensiometer. -- AATA