Painting Fundamentals Tools onboard - Handyman Club of America

Painting Fundamentals
Tools onboard
BY CONNIE BASTYR
To keep your painting tools from being lost among other household
gear and gadgets, designate one “sacred storage” container for painting essentials.
You’ll save time gathering equipment each time you paint and have a system for
collecting everything when you finish the project. Best of all, you’ll be more likely
to succeed — and a lot less frustrated — if you have all the right stuff handy.
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PHOTOGRAPHY BY PHIL LEISENHEIMER

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This bag from Duluth Trading keeps painting tools well-organized,
and its adjustable straps are perfect for holding an articulating pole
(B).
Sure, a wooden broom handle would gain your paint roller some
reach. But an easily adjustable, lightweight, splinter-free articulating
pole is incomparable. Once you try one, you’ll be hooked.
Roller frames and sleeves of various sizes and nap lengths are
paint-kit staples. Start with the universal 9-in. frame for walls and
ceilings. (Roller covers with a 3/8-in. nap suit most wall applications
and are cheaper by the package.) Use a 6-in. frame with a
longer handle and narrower sleeves to paint behind radiators or to
cover smaller surfaces.
A small bucket, such as the Handy Paint Pail, is easier to hold and
dip your brush into than the gallon bucket of paint. Its onboard
magnet keeps an idle brush out of the paint but in easy reach.
Safety glasses are essential when you’re painting over your head,
and you’re much more likely to use them if they’re close at hand.
Designate two screwdrivers (a Phillips and a flat-blade) to keep
with your painting supplies so you don’t have to hunt for them.
Note: The flat-blade screwdriver is not for opening paint cans
(see G).
Paint can openers are usually handed out for free whenever you buy
paint, and they are easier and safer to use than a screwdriver. Keep
one in your paint bag; they seem to vanish from general tool collections
(maybe because the handle features a bottle opener).
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The tape measure is another tool that seems to grow legs, so it’s a good
idea to allocate one to your painting gear for accurately sizing up rooms
to calculate paint quantities.
Keeping your good-quality paintbrushes out of the household’s general
tool supply helps to protect them from misuse. Store them with their
covers on to keep the bristles clean and straight.
A paintbrush comb makes cleanup easier and more thorough, especially
for pulling paint from the base of the bristles.
A 5-in-1 (7-in-1, 10-in-1, whatever it takes) tool is worthwhile for its
roller-scraping feature alone, which removes a surprising amount of
paint from the roller sleeve — allowing you to save paint for reuse and
conserve water when you wash the roller. Read the label to see all the
other tricks this tool can perform; you’ll love it.
Although masking tape has myriad household uses, keep at least one
basic type with your paint supplies. (After all, blocking paint was its
original purpose.) To prevent seepage and improve adhesion, always
clean surfaces before you apply tape.
Stir sticks are free from paint retailers, so get at least one new one for
each color of paint. When you’re finished, let the paint-coated stick dry;
then label it with the date, paint brand and color and area of application
for future reference.
To protect your good brushes from misuse, reserve an inexpensive brush
for sweeping dust from crevices before painting or for applying paint
stripper.
OTHER ESSENTIALS
(not shown in the photo):
Painters’ hats cost only about $1
and protect your hair and face
from spatters and drips – or from
accidental contact with a freshly
painted surface. Keep one on
hand, if not on your head.
A canvas drop cloth is traditionally
considered a professional
painter’s tool, but its advantages
make it worthwhile for a DIYer to
own. The sturdy fabric doesn’t
shift easily, is not slippery to walk
on, and is way more absorbent
than an old bed sheet. (Like a pair
of jeans, the canvas becomes
softer and friendlier with use.)
Roller trays come in different
thicknesses, shapes, sizes and
designs. You may have to try a
few before you find one you like.
Look for one sturdy enough to
hold a quart of paint even if you
pick up the tray with one hand.
Once you settle on a favorite,
keep it in your paint bag.
A hammer comes in handy for
setting nail pops or pulling nails
from the wall when prepping the
surface. Use it to tap down the lid
of the paint can when you’re finished.
(Just be sure to hit the lid
only along the very edges.)
Sources for Painting Fundamentals Web Extra
A. Duluth Trading Co. (gatemouth bag) 800-505-8888, www.duluthtrading.com
B. Shur-Line (articulating pole), 877-748-7547, www.shurline.com
D. Bercom International (Handy Paint Pail), 877-464-1170, www.handypaintpail.com
K. Hyde Tools Inc. (10-in-One tool) 800-872-4933, www.hydetools.com