Tools Used for Painting

A big part of doing a fast, great-looking paint job lies in using the right painting tools. Painting can be broken down into two stages: preparing the surface and then applying the paint with brush, roller and spray. Tools used for painting usually fall into either the preparation or the application category. There also are many specialized painting tools that professional painters use that get the job done right.

Preparation

The secret to a great paint job lies mostly in good preparation. Exterior surfaces need to be free of dirt and peeling paint. Nails need to be set, holes filled and unsightly gaps caulked. Hand tools typically used include scrapers, wire brushes, hammers, screwdrivers, caulking guns and putty knives.

Power tools also are used for painting prep. A power washer will remove peeling paint, dirt, mildew and chalky surfaces. Rotary and belt sanders speed up the paint removal process and smooth out surfaces prior to painting.

Masking and taping prevents paint overspray. A hand masker is a useful tool, allowing the painter to apply tape and paper quickly. Canvas drop cloths are essential, whether painting inside or out.

Brushes

The most iconic tool of the painting trade is a paintbrush. These come in a wide range of sizes and bristle types. Synthetic blend brushes are the most common, used for oil- and water-based paints and available in widths from 1 inch for small, narrow spaces to 7-inch wall brushes.

For specialty and fine finish painting, using oil-based paints and stains, most painters use natural china bristle brushes.

Foam painting pads are sometimes useful for edging corners or applying stain, but are rarely used by professional painters.

Rollers

Most people use a roller to paint interior walls and ceilings. A roller consists of two parts. The roller frame or cage is the handle-and-roller apparatus. Rollers are typically 9 inches wide but can also be found in 7- and 14-inch widths.

The roller cover may be foam, synthetic pile, sheepskin or lambswool. Roller covers come in several naps (thickness of the pile) from 1/8 inch for doing very smooth walls or woodwork to 1 inch or greater for heavily textured surfaces like stucco.

Specialty rollers include small, narrow ones called slim jims or toilet rollers (because they are narrow enough to fit between a toilet tank and the wall) and curved pipe rollers, allowing pipes and similar rounded surfaces to be painted quickly.

Extension poles come in lengths from 2 to 16 feet, making it easier to paint ceilings and high walls.

Sprayers

For painting exterior siding, new interior construction and hard-to-paint surfaces like acoustic ceilings and wicker furniture, spraying is the way to go. Airless sprayers are available in compact, hand-held models for smaller projects or big rigs capable of putting out a gallon of material or more per minute for larger jobs.

Accessories are very handy when using a sprayer. Tip sizes differ in size--you would need a different tip to spray stain or lacquer than to spray latex house paint. Extensions let you stand on the ground while spraying soffits and higher ceilings.

Ladders

There are few paint jobs where a ladder isn't a necessary tool. Whether it's a short folding stepladder to reach the top of an interior wall, a taller stepladder to get to higher walls and ceilings or an extension ladder to paint the upper walls in tall foyers or two-story exteriors, a safe ladder in good condition is invaluable.

Specialty Tools

Many specialty tools are available to make a paint job easier and safer. Ladder levelers allow you to set a ladder safely on stairs, roofs and other uneven surfaces. Brush extenders (also called "broken arms") let you clip a brush to the extender, attach that to an extension pole, and paint hard-to-reach areas. Other painting tools include protective shields that can be slipped over doorknobs and switch covers, edge guards that protect carpet when painting baseboards, drill attachments for spinning excess paint from brushes and roller covers to clean them, and thin bendable paint pads to paint the fins of cast-iron radiators or the underside edge of doors.

References

• Painting Tools
• PiViT Ladder Leveler

Resources

• The Painter's Toolbox