Painting more enjoyable?
#1
06-01-07, 07:58 AM
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Painting more enjoyable?
Are there any products that enhance painting more enjoyable?
Do we need to clean the paint tray after finished the job without throwing it away but reuse it? I think cleaning the paint tray would harm our environment that everyone is concerned now. Where can I find the products that:
1. No cleaning of the paint tray required for painting job
2. No more messiness during the painting
3. Keep hands clean
4. Re-use paint tray again and again.
5. Evironmentally friendly products.
I would be greatly appreciated your ideas or recommendations
Thomas
Do we need to clean the paint tray after finished the job without throwing it away but reuse it? I think cleaning the paint tray would harm our environment that everyone is concerned now. Where can I find the products that:
1. No cleaning of the paint tray required for painting job
2. No more messiness during the painting
3. Keep hands clean
4. Re-use paint tray again and again.
5. Evironmentally friendly products.
I would be greatly appreciated your ideas or recommendations
Thomas
#2
06-01-07, 08:50 AM
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Your requests appear to be at cross purposes.
You can either clean the paint tray, brushes, roller covers, etc., and reuse them, or you can discard them after use.
In other words, if you want to reuse the tray, etc., you MUST clean it. If you don't want to clean it, your only other choice is to discard it.
All major paint companies work toward 'environmentally safe' products. Check with the dealer you prefer for the best product for your needs. I would suggest a full line paint store, not one of the 'box' building supplies.
All paint stores have gloves, etc., to keep the paint off the user. Aside from that, just try not to be messy!!!
You can either clean the paint tray, brushes, roller covers, etc., and reuse them, or you can discard them after use.
In other words, if you want to reuse the tray, etc., you MUST clean it. If you don't want to clean it, your only other choice is to discard it.
All major paint companies work toward 'environmentally safe' products. Check with the dealer you prefer for the best product for your needs. I would suggest a full line paint store, not one of the 'box' building supplies.
All paint stores have gloves, etc., to keep the paint off the user. Aside from that, just try not to be messy!!!
#3
06-01-07, 11:10 AM
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For a single job, try wrapping brushes and rollers in large baggies or saran wrap between coats. A friend sticks her brushes in the fridge after wrapping them - don't know how that helps but she swears by it. Wrap the disposible trays in plastic wrap as well, maybe add a wet paper towel on the dry side of the tray to keep the humidity up? Gloves are really the only way to keep paint off your hands though - you could reuse the gloves.
Kelly Moore sells recycled paint. Limited colors, but less expensive, and again, the paint is recycled. Also check out the "ooops" paints at paint stores and big box stores - someone else's trash color may be your treasure. You can also try Habitat outlet stores, but I would be concerned with the condition of the paints (how they were stored, did they freeze? etc)
As for throwing stuff out, use canvas drop cloths instead of plastic. Maybe look for recyclable paint tray liners - pour back the unused paint and let the remains dry, peel off the dry paint and discard, then you can recycle the tray liner. Certainly makes cleanup less messy. As for brushes you have to decide if you will put paint into the water/environment, or put a paint-covered brush or roller into the landfill.... catch 22. Thinking about masking tape, you really need it unless you have learned to paint corners and joints very well, at which point you might even learn to dislike using tape. And of course use a good quality paint to prevent having to re-paint a room or item later!
Kelly Moore sells recycled paint. Limited colors, but less expensive, and again, the paint is recycled. Also check out the "ooops" paints at paint stores and big box stores - someone else's trash color may be your treasure. You can also try Habitat outlet stores, but I would be concerned with the condition of the paints (how they were stored, did they freeze? etc)
As for throwing stuff out, use canvas drop cloths instead of plastic. Maybe look for recyclable paint tray liners - pour back the unused paint and let the remains dry, peel off the dry paint and discard, then you can recycle the tray liner. Certainly makes cleanup less messy. As for brushes you have to decide if you will put paint into the water/environment, or put a paint-covered brush or roller into the landfill.... catch 22. Thinking about masking tape, you really need it unless you have learned to paint corners and joints very well, at which point you might even learn to dislike using tape. And of course use a good quality paint to prevent having to re-paint a room or item later!
#4
06-01-07, 01:27 PM
Member
---Are there any products that enhance painting more enjoyable?
Quality tools and materials generally make painting projects more enjoyable
---Do we need to clean the paint tray after finished the job without throwing it away but reuse it? I think cleaning the paint tray would harm our environment that everyone is concerned now.
You either need to clean the paint tray, or purchase liner that you throw away
A little (water-based) latex in the water, a little plastic in the landfill, take your pick
---Where can I find the products that:
---1. No cleaning of the paint tray required for painting job
Sorry, none
----2. No more messiness during the painting
That's technique...I am not messy at all...it's a personal thing you'll have to work on
----3. Keep hands clean
You can use latex-type disposable gloves...unfortunately they also end up in the trash
Other than that, work on technique to not be so messy
----4. Re-use paint tray again and again
I use a paint tray liner that I dispose of
Truthfully I usually use those more than once also
---5. Environmentally friendly products.
Your local Paint Store (not paint dept. in a big box store) should have lots of environmentally friendly products
Quality tools and materials generally make painting projects more enjoyable
---Do we need to clean the paint tray after finished the job without throwing it away but reuse it? I think cleaning the paint tray would harm our environment that everyone is concerned now.
You either need to clean the paint tray, or purchase liner that you throw away
A little (water-based) latex in the water, a little plastic in the landfill, take your pick
---Where can I find the products that:
---1. No cleaning of the paint tray required for painting job
Sorry, none
----2. No more messiness during the painting
That's technique...I am not messy at all...it's a personal thing you'll have to work on
----3. Keep hands clean
You can use latex-type disposable gloves...unfortunately they also end up in the trash
Other than that, work on technique to not be so messy
----4. Re-use paint tray again and again
I use a paint tray liner that I dispose of
Truthfully I usually use those more than once also
---5. Environmentally friendly products.
Your local Paint Store (not paint dept. in a big box store) should have lots of environmentally friendly products
#5
06-01-07, 01:28 PM
" Are there any products that enhance painting more enjoyable? "
Mostly it is a state of mind. If you start the job thinking about how good it will look once done and how proud you will be to say I did it myself - your halfway there. If you dread the job from the get go I doubt you could enjoy it.
That said using quality paints and good tools [and the right ones for the job at hand] will both make the job easier and more enjoyable.
Mostly it is a state of mind. If you start the job thinking about how good it will look once done and how proud you will be to say I did it myself - your halfway there. If you dread the job from the get go I doubt you could enjoy it.
That said using quality paints and good tools [and the right ones for the job at hand] will both make the job easier and more enjoyable.
#6
06-01-07, 01:31 PM
Group Moderator
Unlike George, Marksr, and the others, I'm not into painting fulltime, but I do it enough to dislike it. Actually I don't hate it as much as I used to.
The funny thing is that everyone thinks "they can paint". Yet those same people use cheap brushes that end up looking like they've been through the wringer, and have almost as much paint on them and their clothes as they do on the surface they were painting! IMO, a few simple things will make painting a lot more enjoyable.
-Buy a decent brush! Paint stores usually have high quality brushes that hold the paint better and will give you years of painting pleasure. I use the word "pleasure" loosely.
-Keep the brush clean! I've found that keeping the brush clean also makes painting easier and less messy. If painting with latex in the sun, you'll need to clean your brush out often- every 2 hours or so. For interior painting I clean the brush out when I break for lunch, then again at quitting time. When you clean the brush out, use a wire brush to comb the bristles straight as you clean the brush. DO NOT let any paint accumulate and dry at the top of the bristles where they meet the metal. Also related to this, do not dip the brush into the paint so deep that the paint gets up into the metal sleeve. I usually dip the brush no more than 1 1/2".
-Don't paint out of the paint can! It not only will contaminate your paint with bits and pieces of gunk, but it will also inevitably make your brush (and hand) messy as you get near the bottom of the can. It also increases the chances that you might dump the whole gallon over, making you very angry with yourself when you spill it all over.
-Do buy a paint bucket and a hook / swivel. The hook allows you to hang the bucket on a ladder or gutter or what have you. You will fill the bucket with about 2" of paint, so that you don't dip the brush too deep. As you pull the brush out of the paint, tap it inside the bucket against the front and back sides. This will "set" the paint in the bristles so that it doesn't drip as you remove it. It also helps keep the bristles together. Usually, I don't clean this bucket out with water- instead coat the sides and top to "seal" the edges. Once it's dry you can reuse it again. Painters I have learned this from have "trophy buckets" that weigh about 5 lbs from all the layers of paint. It must give them some sort of joy to do that. LOL
-Do use latex gloves if you want to keep your hands clean. I hate the way they feel and only use them when I have to.
-Do reuse roller trays and roller covers as long as possible. A used roller cover that has all the fuzz out of it is better than a brand new one that leaves bits of fuzz in the paint. High quality roller covers may cost more but they usually leave less fuzz in the paint. Spinning roller cleaners (a spiral handled tool you can find in paint stores) make cleaning up a breeze. Also one of the least favorite parts of painting.
-Do clean your brushes rather than wrapping them up. If you have an expensive brush you want to keep it clean. Brushes should look amost spotless after every use. Rollers are a different story. If you will be painting with them the next day, they can be wrapped up temporarily.
-Do buy lots of canvas runner drop cloths. I have tons of 5x12 ones that I can practically encircle a house with. They are great for keeping everything spotless and have saved me from disaster a time or two.
-Do buy a nice adjustable painting pole. If you've never used one, you need to. When rolling walls, it enables you to roll from top to bottom, not back and forth or in a random fashion like you see DIY'ers do on TV shows. If you are using a lot of paint, painting out of a 5 gallon bucket with a paint screen works great, along with your paint pole. It sure saves the back, making you happier at the end of the day.
-Do roll somewhat slowly, keeping plenty of paint on the roller. Some people let the roller get too dry... push hard to try to squeeze paint out of the roller... and then speed over the wall to take out their lap marks. This will inevitably spray little paint specks all over the floor, baseboard, and probably on your face, too. Unless you are painting a ceiling, you can usually stay perfectly clean while painting.
-keep a box of clean rags handy so that you can wipe up any little drips as they occur. You can also use it to keep your hand and brush clean as you go.
-keep the cardboard sleeve that your brush comes with. When you are done painting and the brush has been cleaned, wrap the brush back up the same way it was when you bought it. This will keep your bristles straight and working like new. Don't leave a brush sitting in a bucket to dry, since it will likely permanently bend the bristles, ruining the brush for trim work. I like to rap the brush as I wash it out to force dirty water out of the metal sleeve. You can use the hole in the handle to hang it up to dry as well, before putting it back into it's cardboard sleeve.
Also it will be more enjoyable if you have special painting clothes to wear. Then you won't be mad at yourself later when you ruin your good pair of shorts because you accidentally got paint on them.
Something else to consider if painting outside: try to work in the shade. Why would you paint the east side in the morning and the west side in the afternoon??? Common sense would dictate that you avoid the sun if at all possible. Not just because of sunburn, but also because painting and staining in direct sunlight can affect the quality of the job. Sometimes it's inevitable but it sure is a lot more fun to paint in the shade!
The funny thing is that everyone thinks "they can paint". Yet those same people use cheap brushes that end up looking like they've been through the wringer, and have almost as much paint on them and their clothes as they do on the surface they were painting! IMO, a few simple things will make painting a lot more enjoyable.
-Buy a decent brush! Paint stores usually have high quality brushes that hold the paint better and will give you years of painting pleasure. I use the word "pleasure" loosely.
-Keep the brush clean! I've found that keeping the brush clean also makes painting easier and less messy. If painting with latex in the sun, you'll need to clean your brush out often- every 2 hours or so. For interior painting I clean the brush out when I break for lunch, then again at quitting time. When you clean the brush out, use a wire brush to comb the bristles straight as you clean the brush. DO NOT let any paint accumulate and dry at the top of the bristles where they meet the metal. Also related to this, do not dip the brush into the paint so deep that the paint gets up into the metal sleeve. I usually dip the brush no more than 1 1/2".
-Don't paint out of the paint can! It not only will contaminate your paint with bits and pieces of gunk, but it will also inevitably make your brush (and hand) messy as you get near the bottom of the can. It also increases the chances that you might dump the whole gallon over, making you very angry with yourself when you spill it all over.
-Do buy a paint bucket and a hook / swivel. The hook allows you to hang the bucket on a ladder or gutter or what have you. You will fill the bucket with about 2" of paint, so that you don't dip the brush too deep. As you pull the brush out of the paint, tap it inside the bucket against the front and back sides. This will "set" the paint in the bristles so that it doesn't drip as you remove it. It also helps keep the bristles together. Usually, I don't clean this bucket out with water- instead coat the sides and top to "seal" the edges. Once it's dry you can reuse it again. Painters I have learned this from have "trophy buckets" that weigh about 5 lbs from all the layers of paint. It must give them some sort of joy to do that. LOL
-Do use latex gloves if you want to keep your hands clean. I hate the way they feel and only use them when I have to.
-Do reuse roller trays and roller covers as long as possible. A used roller cover that has all the fuzz out of it is better than a brand new one that leaves bits of fuzz in the paint. High quality roller covers may cost more but they usually leave less fuzz in the paint. Spinning roller cleaners (a spiral handled tool you can find in paint stores) make cleaning up a breeze. Also one of the least favorite parts of painting.
-Do clean your brushes rather than wrapping them up. If you have an expensive brush you want to keep it clean. Brushes should look amost spotless after every use. Rollers are a different story. If you will be painting with them the next day, they can be wrapped up temporarily.
-Do buy lots of canvas runner drop cloths. I have tons of 5x12 ones that I can practically encircle a house with. They are great for keeping everything spotless and have saved me from disaster a time or two.
-Do buy a nice adjustable painting pole. If you've never used one, you need to. When rolling walls, it enables you to roll from top to bottom, not back and forth or in a random fashion like you see DIY'ers do on TV shows. If you are using a lot of paint, painting out of a 5 gallon bucket with a paint screen works great, along with your paint pole. It sure saves the back, making you happier at the end of the day.
-Do roll somewhat slowly, keeping plenty of paint on the roller. Some people let the roller get too dry... push hard to try to squeeze paint out of the roller... and then speed over the wall to take out their lap marks. This will inevitably spray little paint specks all over the floor, baseboard, and probably on your face, too. Unless you are painting a ceiling, you can usually stay perfectly clean while painting.
-keep a box of clean rags handy so that you can wipe up any little drips as they occur. You can also use it to keep your hand and brush clean as you go.
-keep the cardboard sleeve that your brush comes with. When you are done painting and the brush has been cleaned, wrap the brush back up the same way it was when you bought it. This will keep your bristles straight and working like new. Don't leave a brush sitting in a bucket to dry, since it will likely permanently bend the bristles, ruining the brush for trim work. I like to rap the brush as I wash it out to force dirty water out of the metal sleeve. You can use the hole in the handle to hang it up to dry as well, before putting it back into it's cardboard sleeve.
Also it will be more enjoyable if you have special painting clothes to wear. Then you won't be mad at yourself later when you ruin your good pair of shorts because you accidentally got paint on them.
Something else to consider if painting outside: try to work in the shade. Why would you paint the east side in the morning and the west side in the afternoon??? Common sense would dictate that you avoid the sun if at all possible. Not just because of sunburn, but also because painting and staining in direct sunlight can affect the quality of the job. Sometimes it's inevitable but it sure is a lot more fun to paint in the shade!
#7
06-01-07, 02:38 PM
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You guys pretty much nailed them all, top of the list for me are good brushes and rollers, and paint tray liners.
Also:
- Use an old pair of shoes that you can kick off when walking out of the room.
- Keep the parts like outlet covers and screws in those plastic newspaper bags
Basically, there is no way to cut corners and have it look good. You just have to go through the steps and knock it out.
Also:
- Use an old pair of shoes that you can kick off when walking out of the room.
- Keep the parts like outlet covers and screws in those plastic newspaper bags
Basically, there is no way to cut corners and have it look good. You just have to go through the steps and knock it out.
#9
03-25-10, 10:25 AM
Usually, I don't clean this bucket out with water- instead coat the sides and top to "seal" the edges. Once it's dry you can reuse it again. Painters I have learned this from have "trophy buckets" that weigh about 5 lbs from all the layers of paint.
#10
03-25-10, 01:17 PM
If the paint is dried and cured, flaking shouldn't be a problem. The so called 'trophy' bucket is usually coated with solvent based paints which dry to a harder film. Solvents [to clean with] cost money but when using latex paint there really isn't a good reason not to wash the bucket thoroughly...... and I'd toss the work pot long before it ever got enough paint on it to affect the weight 
#11
03-27-10, 05:16 AM
Best thing to make painting more of a pleasure is upbeat music that you enjoy. Don't use your bare hands to paint with, it really does get messy that way. Try a rubber glove with a wool mitten over it. Just dip your mitt in the can and away you go. Keep painting until you have emptied the can. Peel the label off the can then put it, the glove and mitten in the bottom, some potting soil on top, plant a flower in it and give it to a friend. My Mom really enjoys these for Mother's Day. Don't drink while painting, you may confuse the mitten with your cat and the cat won't like it!
Attitude it what you make of it. Smile and have a great day everyone, I have to get back to painting. Where is that darn cat?
Attitude it what you make of it. Smile and have a great day everyone, I have to get back to painting. Where is that darn cat?
