How to choose paint tools

Do you feel like painting your walls and carpentry, and you don't know what paint tools you need? To paint you don't just need paint and a brush. Also painter's tape, protective canvas, scraper... With this guide you will not run the risk of mixing the brushes. Let's take a look at the paint tools you'll need!

Essential tools for painting

Paint rollers, paint brushes, and paint spray guns are some of the fundamental tools used for painting. Rollers and brushes are chosen based on the type of surface, the type of paint and the desired performance. The spray gun is very practical and is suitable for many types of paint, although some experience is required to handle it. Scrapers are very useful for finishing or even preparation. The paint trays are essential and the telescopic handles, very practical to avoid having to climb on a footstool. Plastering knives are also a must for preparing cracked walls!

Paint with a roller or paint with a brush

Roller - How to choose a roller for painting?

A roller is used to paint large surfaces such as walls, ceilings, etc., on a regular basis. The roller is made up of the following elements: Roller, which is the cylindrical part that is used to spread the paint. The quality of the roller is measured mainly by the roller, which can be made of synthetic, natural or mixed fibers.

If you are going to use a water-based paint, synthetic fibers have greater gripping power. For an oil painting, it is preferable to use a roller made of natural fiber or a blend. Long hair rollers are more suitable for rough surfaces and short ones for smooth surfaces. You can also find special rollers for each use, such as special ones for facades, for plaster, for wood, etc. And don't forget the anti-drip rollers, to paint the ceilings!

Mount is chosen according to the size of the roller. The mounts without screws, (clip) facilitate the assembly of the roller; plastic or wood handle, must be ergonomic to hold it well. Some paint rollers cannot be disassembled and therefore are not very practical since you will have to change them completely when the roller wears out. They are not recommended unless you are only going to use it once.

Brushes and Paint Brushes

The brushes are used for small surfaces such as frames, woodwork or furniture, and to border large surfaces. There are several types of brushes for the different types of surfaces to be painted: Rectangular or flat brush or brush can cover a large amount of paint in a single pass. To reach areas that are difficult to access, the small ones will be perfect; a round brush to paint precise areas such as angles, windows, trim, etc.; a buffer brush to create multiple effects.

It is used above all for small surfaces or for stenciling; finishing brush to achieve impeccable finishes thanks to its fine hairs. There is nothing more unpleasant than seeing the hairs of the brush stuck to the surface that we are painting. It is therefore essential to choose a good quality brush!

Due to its quality, elasticity and durability, natural silk hairs are better than synthetic ones. But if you are going to use acrylic paints, synthetic hair will be better. As for the handle, whether it is made of wood or plastic, keep in mind that those with a longer handle are more comfortable to use.

Advantages of Paint Kits

Acquiring a painting kit is always advantageous because it contains the main tools for painting. There are offers for different types of needs. If you must buy all the utensils, the best is a kit that contains the most essential at a good price: brushes of different sizes, handles and mounts, a palette knife and a bucket of paint.

If you are looking to complement the utensils you already have, there are kits that contain different tools. For specific uses or jobs of little importance, it is better to buy this type of complementary kits or only the tools that you are going to need.

When to use a telescopic stick for painting

The painting extensions are an alternative to the ladder when it is necessary to paint heights. And they are also very practical! You can opt for an adjustable telescopic handle that adapts to the desired length or with an adjustable system that facilitates access to beams or cornices!

Paint Booth for Painting

Paint booths are the most recommended to achieve an impeccable result. On the one hand, they facilitate the application of paints, varnish, etc., according to safety and hygiene rules to avoid any risk of exposure to SOV. On the other hand, they suck up the cloud of undesirable particles, and lastly, they allow painting without dust, etc.

Paint booths are mostly used with airbrushes. How will you understand, you will not be able to find a paint booth to paint the living room!

Choosing Brush Cleaning Products

After each painting session, the utensils must be thoroughly cleaned, especially in the case of the use of synthetic paints. Cleaners must thoroughly remove paint from rollers and brushes, preserving their intrinsic properties (elasticity of the hairs, softness of the brushes, etc.). If the hairs of your brush or roller are too dry or poorly cleaned, you will need a renovator.

Painting and varnishing are jobs that require the use of solvents and solvents to dilute oil paint. Turpentine (white spirit) is the best known. To erase any trace of glue or varnish, acetone is used. Above all, pay attention to the surface on which it is to be used. You also have to be careful with the type of paint. It is not worth using a solvent to clean tools that have been used to apply water-based paint. With water will be enough!

How to prepare the paint and the surface to be painted

To prepare the walls and surfaces to be painted, there are three essential elements.

Spatula

Before starting to paint, cracks and holes must be filled in order to even out the surface to be painted. For that, you will need a stainless steel or polyamide spatula. The choice will depend on how long you want it to last: stainless is very durable and steel is very resistant to shocks. As for the material of the handle, the wooden ones are more pleasant to the touch and the plastic one, more ergonomic. The board must be wide enough to fit the surface to be plastered.

scraper

For impeccable work with a minimum of effort, the scraper is indispensable. Your choice (triangular scrapers, glass scrapers, molding scrapers, corner scrapers, etc.) will depend on the space to be scraped, the material and its appearance. Choose a smooth, manageable scraper. Models with interchangeable blades are more efficient.

paint mixer

To distribute the pigments, you must prepare the paint with the help of a mixer. You can homogenize the paint with a manual mixer or an electric mixer (which is mounted on a drill or an electric mixer). The rotary mixer has the advantage of mixing all kinds of building materials. Between the two rotary models, the electroportable ensures a good grip.

Most common painting utensils

You are about to become a professional painter! To the utensils that we have just seen, some others should be added, such as a sponge to remove stains, gloves, a blouse or gown and a protective mask to protect against VOCs. (For those of you who know this acronym in Chinese, consult the advice guide How to choose paint for walls and ceilings. If not, here is a quick list, before you get down to work.

This is what you will need:

Rollers for painting large surfaces;

finishing brushes;

paint tray and rack for clean work;

masking tape and protective plastic so you don't have to spend more time cleaning than painting;

telescopic pole in case you don't want to do tricks on the ladder, or for when you have to paint high;

mixer for mixing paint;

cleaner to leave everything perfect until the next use;

a female opinion or a decoration studio about colors!

And that's all... Let's get to work!

How to choose a roller for painting?

Flat or round brush or trowel. Spalter brush, to be or at an angle to paint radiators? Synthetic or bristle hair? If you are going to apply lasur, varnish or paint, the brush or the brush will be essential.

These are the different types of brushes and brushes

A brush or brush is chosen depending on the product you are going to apply: paint for wood or lasur, paint for radiators, paint for metal, etc. The quality of a brush or palette is valued according to the material of its hair or fiber, its ability not to lose the hair (which improves the result), the density of the hair, its ferrule and the quality and ergonomics of its mango.

The shapes and sizes of the brushes are varied and depend on the tasks to be carried out. Thus, we distinguish between five types of brushes:

Trim Brush

The trimming brush or palette has a round shape and ends in a point. It is useful for effectively painting wall/ceiling junctions, corners, angled finishes, or carved or embossed surfaces (mouldings, etc.).

Flat Brush

The flat stirrer has a rectangular shape and has a high capacity for absorbing liquid. It is mainly used for smooth surfaces and with medium reliefs. It is the most used, and it is available in different widths, so you can choose the one that suits you best according to the surface to be painted.

Spalter Brush

The spalter brush is a very wide and fine brush, created especially for painting or varnishing large surfaces and on all types of surfaces. The Canary paletina is a variant with greater thickness and more density of hair.

Angled Brush (for radiator)

The angled brush, also called a radiator brush, has a curved elbow at its end that allows you to access the elements of the old hot water radiators (accordion type). A variant of the brush with a long and straight handle is the lata handle, which allows you to reach difficult accesses.

Stencil Brush

The brush to be around is a round, straight-haired, small-sized brush. As its name suggests, it is used to decorate using templates.

Synthetic Hair or Natural Hair

Regardless of its density, choosing the quality of the bristles is important if a good finish is sought.

Synthetic Hairs

Synthetics, yes, because they are made of nylon, polyester or Teflon. The fiber of its hair is soft, flexible and resistant. Synthetic hairs can be used with all types of paints, although they are more recommended for robot paints, foils and barns because they are more resistant to products when used (used in paint dilution and cleaning of paints). painting tools).

Natural Hairs

The hairs of these brushes are made of bristle (from boar, pig, horse, etc.); they are elastic and resistant and allow a good grip of the paint; although less resistant to solvents for cleaning. Natural hairs offer a good finish, with a uniform density and a smooth effect.

Handle and Ferrule: qualitative characteristics

The handle of brushes can be made of wood, plastic or bi-material (these last two options are easier to clean). The ferrule, a metal piece that girds and holds the hair, can be made of steel or stainless steel (recommending the latter material for obvious reasons).

Some brushes offer an inner padding made up of bristle and synthetic hairs. If you want your brushes to last a long time, remember to clean them well and above all, rinse thoroughly when you have used a cleanser or turpentine.

How to choose a paint spray gun?

Ideal to paint any surface with perfect finishes, the paint gun is low or high pressure and compressed air or electric. It is chosen depending on the job: for professional use with fog lights or an economical model for occasional jobs. We present a comparison of paint spray guns.

What are the different types of paint spray guns

Low pressure electric paint gun

The low pressure electric spray gun is the simplest of all paint guns - for very small jobs. Basic and cheap but gets the job done!

Low Pressure Paint Station

Known as a low pressure paint station, spray station or HVLP, this spray gun is electrically powered and suitable for small to medium sized surfaces. Provides a better finish, if you have small renovation works or if you want to start in the plastic arts, this is the one to buy. It is a good option to avoid the fog effect -dispersion of paint particles in the air.

High Pressure Electric Gun

The high pressure electric gun is also called "Airless". Now we are talking about professional issues!

There are different powers and pressures, several nozzles -related to the viscosity of the paint that we project-, good tank capacity and some even have the option of submerging a supply hose directly into the paint bucket. Give color to your walls and facades!

Pneumatic Paint Gun

Pneumatic guns or compressed air guns to paint like professionals. Connected to an independent compressor, the gun is attached to a tank. If it's above the gun, it's called a gravity gun, and if it's below, it's called a suction gun.

The first is used with a compressor that has little pressure and its use is limited - it cannot be painted horizontally in high areas, it is more suitable for vertical or horizontal work close to the ground. The second, the suction gun, has a reservoir underneath and is suitable for all other applications.

Of course, the compressor is not supplied with the gun. There are different qualities of spray guns. For careful work, used in bodywork.

Paint gun, what paints can be used

The spray gun allows you to apply paint on the chosen surface. It must be diluted to make it more liquid (5% to 10%).

To avoid mistakes, let's start with some vocabulary: Water-based paint, water-based paint (vinyl or acrylic): diluted with water. Solvent-based paint, solvent-based paint (glycerophthalic or polyurethane): diluted with a solvent - specified in the painting.

But the paint gun can also be used to apply other products. For example, you can spray lacquers or paints and special products for wood such as enamels (to be diluted) or varnishes. However, pay attention to the viscosity index.

Stun Gun and Air Gun

How the electric paint gun works

The electric paint gun contains a motor that activates a piston, its action generates pressure and this projects the paint on the support, with a variable pressure depending on the models (the pressure is relative to the flow and power). The Spray Control technology reduces the mist effect and provides a very fine product layer.

Air gun operation

The pneumatic paint gun works with compressed air supplied by a compressor. The air is sent directly to the gun which, depending on the pressure received, will be by gravity or suction. You must choose your gun based on the product you are going to apply and your needs.

Paint spray gun, what is the fog effect

As its name suggests, it is "the mist" that is created when applying paint.

Typically, fog residue settles on unprotected surfaces. You must install a good protection (tarpaulin, adhesive tape) and, if your work allows it, opt for the HVLP electric gun that considerably reduces the fog effect. In any case, remember to wear a protective mask to protect your airways.

Paint gun: flow, pressure and power

These three elements are interrelated and have a direct influence on the product to be projected and the way it will be applied. They are adjustable and will allow you to adapt your gun to the product you are going to apply: paint, varnish, coating, etc.

In the case of electric paint guns, the flow rate and pressure in pneumatic paint guns must match the characteristics of the compressed air compressor, otherwise the use will not be optimal and the result will not be as expected.

Tips for choosing the right paint spray gun

To choose the right paint gun, you have to take into account some characteristics:

Adjustable flow rate, if it is too strong, there is a risk of dripping.

Warranty period, good to know, especially in the case of a major investment or renovation.

Adjustable spray jet, the mobile nozzle allows for a concentrated vertical, horizontal or circular jet (especially in small areas).

Deposit to rest on the ground or carry in the hand? Watch out for the wrist and maneuverability!

Tank capacity. If you have to carry it with you, it's a weight criterion!

Hose length: if you are going to paint very high areas or facades.

Surface covered in 1 minute.

Anti-fog system and easy dilution.

If compressed air is used, the position of the paint reservoir and the quality of the injector (or needle) must be made of an abrasion resistant alloy.

The frequency of use tells you how much money you should spend.

The nozzles must be adapted to the type of product to be applied.

A removable pump is preferable for cleaning.

The flow rate is related to the amount of product to be projected or to the execution speed！