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Paint Basics: Time-Savers, Specialty Tools Paint Basics: Time-Savers, Specialty Tools From "Ask DIY" episode ADI-606

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Figure A Figure B Figure C Figure D Figure E Figure F Figure G Figure H Figure I

DIY home-repair expert Brad Staggs shows a variety of tools that will help make the job of painting faster and easier.

• Painting-prep is a pain, but a necessary part of the job. Pre-taped plastic drop-cloths (figure A) are easy to apply and will help protect floors, furniture and other objects from paint drips and splatters. They come on rolls, and are available in several sizes.

• A drill-powered paint stirrer (figure B) attaches to an electric drill -- just like a drill bit. The spinning action of the end-piece speeds up the process of stirring paint in the can.

  
  Important: Remove the end of the paint-stirrer from the paint-can only after the drill has been turned off (figure C). Otherwise, you'll have a big paint-mess to clean up.

• Paint-can replacement lids are available with built-in pour-spouts (figure D) to help make it easier to pour paint into roller trays and other containers without making a mess.

• Minimize the prep-work necessary for edging by using a rolling paint-pad (figure E). The pad has plastic wheels on its edges that ride along the edges of the molding or baseboard. Just be sure to avoid getting paint on the wheels themselves when using the pad.

• Another handy tool for edge-painting is a small roller equipped with an edge-guard (figure F). The edge guard retracts for applying paint to the roller, then snaps back into position for worry-free painting around doors, windows, cabinets, molding and baseboards.

• A corner-pad makes it easy to apply paint evenly in the corners of the room (figure G) rather than using a brush to get into the corners.

• A spindle-roller (figure H) is great for painting oddly shaped banisters and spindles.

• A paint-glove simply fits over your hand and allows you to use your hand like a paintbrush. Simply slip your hand inside the glove (figure I), and dip the glove in paint for application in tight areas or trouble spots. An inner liner protects your hand from the paint.

• Cleanup is made easier by using pre-moistened wipes designed specifically for cleaning up oil or latex paint.

Recap:

• Use pre-taped drop-cloth.

• Specialty edgers simplify edge-painting.

• Use special clean-up wipes for oil-based and latex paint.

RESOURCES :

HGTV's Complete Fix-It
Author: HGTV