Keeping those paint edges straight

Problem Solution I've tried tape and did not like the results - is there any other way to get a straight paint line particularly up against the ceiling ? Of course, using a top quality tape is the best choice but if you feel you have a steady hand and a good eye, you may want to try “working without a net” - in other words, painting by hand with no tape or other guide. The key to this strategy is the quality of the paint brush. Many professional painters work this way all the time and they will all tell you that aside from the steady hand and good eye, the quality of the outcome is directly correlated to the quality of the brush. Dynamic has many choices that will do the job - Infinity Pro Series, Stubby Pro ergonomic handled series and Half Pint Pro short handled brushes just to name a few. How do I get a straight line up against baseboards and other trim that I want to avoid removing ? There are many ways to do this. The most common way is to use a good quality painters tape like Dynamic EdgeWise which will prevent paint from getting onto the trim and yet can be easily removed. Another method is to use a paint edger which has wheels on it to keep the paint away from the trim or you can get a trim guide (Dynamic has a variety of sizes and shapes to choose from) which you hold against the trim, paint that stretch and move to the next stretch. I need to paint my trim and I want the top edge that is against the wall to be perfectly straight - what should I do? Apply EdgeWise tape on the wall as outlined below. Tack down the tape on the wall at one end above the stretch of moulding you are painting. Then, holding the tape tightly to keep it straight, lay out the tape over the rest of the run, keeping the tension up, and tack it down lightly over the entire stretch. Now smooth over the tape with your hand or finger after you are satisfied it is straight. To protect floors, Dynamic's handy Carpet Shields (which work equally well protecting laminates, tiles and hardwoods too). Will do the trick! Carpet Shields come in a pack of 6 x 3' lengths that you wiggle under your baseboards to protect the floor. For added protection, you can also slide a drop sheet under the Carpet Shields to protect more of your floor area. I want to paint two walls that butt against each other in the corner of my room two totally different colors! The last time I tried this the line between the two was nearly impossible to get straight from floor to ceiling. Help! This is a common problem due to corners not being really square and other issues. The best advice we can give is to first sand the corner really well with a square Dynamic sanding sponge (making sure to sand both sides evenly). This will help square up the corner. After you have wiped down the corner with a tack cloth, paint the wall with the lightest color first in such a way the the corner where your two colors will meet is well covered. After letting the light colored wall dry for at least 24 hours, use Dynamic EdgeWise tape to make your line. Tack the tape first at the top of the wall and reel off enough tape to go all the way to the floor. Holding the tape tightly, try and tack it next at the floor so that the tension you kept on it keeps it straight. Once you are satisfied that your tape line is straight, run your hand over the length of the tape to give your first color the protection it needs from your second darker color. Paint - remove tape after 24 hours.

One of the best keys to keeping your paint edges straight is the right tape. Using a top notch tape like Dynamic EdgeWise is the most important step to a professional job. Choosing an inferior utility grade tape is just a problem waiting to happen. As always, the best tools yiled the best results! Always sand before you put on a layer of paint or primer and sand lightly between each subsequent coat of paint - 120 or 150 grit will do nicely. Another key 'ingredient' to a successful paint job is the applicator. If you are doing your cutting in with a brush, be sure to buy a great brush. Look for a couple of things - when you put the end of the brush against a flat surface and bend it a little, you want the very end to be very straight. Then, assess is how firm the brush head is - a flimsy brush will make it very difficult to get the paint where you need it to be.

Half Pint Pro - a short handled brush series with a comfortable rubber handle available in either a tapered polyester filament or a polyester/bristle blend - 4 sizes in either angle or flat sashes. The brushes are easy to grip, lightweight and made with superior filaments all of which combine to give precise handling and control when painting. And, quality and control are give you the ablility to put paint where your want it. Stubby Pro - same basic structure, quality and options as the Half Pint Pros with one major difference - that being the handle shape. The Stubby Pro series is made with the Flowline bent handle that conforms to the shape of your hand to reduce strain and stress and increase comfort even more. Infinity Brushes - for the traditional painters out there, this is our newest series of top value brushes. They are made with the traditional long hardwood handle, copper colored ferrule and polyester/nylon blended filament. The quality of the components and the care that goes into making these tools ensure that you will get those straight and even edges you are looking for. EdgeWise Tape - a painters tape with an acrylic based adhesive that is strong enough to give you the straight and clean edges you want and yet removes easily after use. It also can be used over uncured coatings with little fear of removing the new finish. Paint edger - a handy pad painter with guide wheels on the edge to keep your paint line straight and even Trim Guides - Choose venetian blind style (in three sizes) or a heavier duty option (in two sizes) both of which allow you to keep paint off the things you DON'T want to paint. Sanding Sponge - four sided abrasive tool in a variety of grit combos with a core of high density foam. Very efficient at sanding small repairs, edges, corners, moulding and trim, hard to reach areas or even entire walls for that matter. Can be cleaned and even reused. Carpet Shields - 18' (5.5M) of protective strips (6 lengths of 3'/.85M) that slide under trim and baseboards to keep paint from dripping on your floor. Cleanable and reusable too ! Hook & Loop Comfort line of abrasives - an ergo designed sanding block that is the most comfortable abrasive tool to hold. It uses a wide variety of paper types and grits that cling to the block using a hook & loop fastening system. Paper will not shift no matter what kind of abrasive pressure is applied and yet, switching to a new sheet is much easier than changing papers on any other sanding tool. Convenience, comfort and easy to use !

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