How to Pour Paint Into a Paint Tray

Properly pour paint into a paint tray.

A painting project always begins with the task of pouring paint into a bucket, or a paint tray. Pouring paint straight from an open paint can, or a full 5-gallon paint bucket can get quite messy if you are not an experienced painter who frequently pours paint. The heavier weight of a full paint bucket provides less control while pouring and even pouring from a small 1-gallon container can cause excessive dripping, destroying the important product label on the can.

Things You'll Need

• Painter's plastic
• Drop cloth
• Paint tray
• Paper towels
• 5-gallon paint bucket
• Paint spout
• Water
• Soap
• 1-gallon paint can
• Paint can opener
• Flat-head screwdriver

Instructions

5-Gallon Paint Bucket

1. Spread a sheet of painter's plastic, or a drop cloth over the floor for protection. Place a clean paint tray, paper towel roll, 5-gallon paint bucket and paint spout on top of the drop cloth.

2. Unscrew the sealed plastic cap on the top of the paint bucket lid. Position the bucket with the uncapped hole facing the paint tray.

3. Grab the paint spout and carefully insert the spout into the uncapped hole on the bucket lid. Twist the spout to screw the piece onto the existing thread inside the hole.

4. Lift the paint bucket, using your legs, not your back. Carefully pour paint from the bucket spout into the well of the paint tray. Set the bucket back down on top of the drop cloth.

5. Tear off a paper towel sheet and quickly wipe dripping paint from the mouth of the paint bucket.

6. Rinse the plastic paint spout in soap and warm water to prevent clogging from dried paint.

1-Gallon Paint Can

1. Pop open the lid of a 1-gallon paint can, using an official paint can opener, or a flat-head screwdriver.

2. Screw the specially designed paint can spout onto the open face of the paint can. Inspect the spout to make sure the piece is secured tightly, without space between the lid and the spout.

3. Spin the paint can around, with the spout pointing towards the paint tray and pour the paint into the tray. Slowly pour the paint to prevent messy over-flow from the top of the spout.

4. Wipe paint from the plastic spout. Unscrew the spout from the lid and wash the entire piece with warm water and soap.

Tips & Warnings

• Do not attempt to pour paint from a full 5-gallon paint bucket without using a paint spout.