[edit] Stirring Paint

Paint should be carefully stirred in order to get the best distribution of the various ingredients. This will ensure an even colour and texture throughout.

Flat sticks are much better than round objects for stir­ring paint, but a special tool called a 'paddle', which has holes to allow thorough mixing, is the ideal instrument.

[edit] Paper Tape Dispenser

Painting close to surfaces which need protection from drips and overspray can be a problem. A drop sheet is not always practicable, and on wall surfaces, not appropriate. The paper dispenser is designed for such difficult situations. A roll of 144mm or 288mm wide, self adhesive brown paper fits onto a feeder and is pressed to the surface to be protected.

When painting is finished the paper is peeled off and discarded.

[edit] Roller Cleaning Ring

Removing paint from a paint roller can be a messy business. Not only that, unless you are careful, the nap on the roller can be damaged and the core twisted out of shape. This little wire device does most of the dirty work, leaving a minimum amount of paint to be washed out. The device has a paint can opener at the end opposite the ring.

[edit] Brush and Roller Washer

Brushes and rollers must be thor­oughly and carefully cleaned after use. A spiral operated tool which holds both brushes and rollers makes cleaning easy. After removing excess paint, brushes and rollers that have been used for water based paints are attached to the tool and spun in a bucket of water. Paint is cleaned out by cen­trifugal action.

[edit] A Soft Broom For Decks

Although an airless spray gun is probably the quickest way of paint­ing a timber deck, there are situa­tions in which the use of a spray is inadvisable. Even in moderate breezes, using a spray gun to paint horizontal surfaces can result in messy, perhaps damaging over spray. Also, spraying an elevated deck will almost certainly lead to paint falling on lower walls.

Rollers do not reach the edges of boards and brushes do not cover the area quickly enough, so a soft house broom is the answer.

Pour paint into a rectangular plastic bucket which is wide enough to take the broom head. Dip the brush and scrape off any excess on the side of the bucket. Apply paint along the boards, making sure it gets down to the edges. Coverage will not be as good as with a roller, but a second coat, applied either with the broom or a roller will finish the job satisfactorily. When painting elevated decks, whether with roller, brush or broom, lay drop sheets on the ground or building below.