I totally get what you mean about the plastic tarps. I tried using one of those dollar store ones when I painted my kitchen cabinets, and it was like trying to wrestle a giant, slippery fruit roll-up. Paint still managed to sneak under the edges, and I swear I spent more time taping it down than actually painting. The worst part? The static made all the dust and hair stick to it, so now my cabinets have a few bonus “texture” spots. Lesson learned.
Do you think there are any other tools or supplies where it’s actually worth spending a bit more? I keep looking at those fancy angled brushes and thinking, “How different can they really be?” But after the drop cloth debacle, maybe I’m just being stubborn...
I keep looking at those fancy angled brushes and thinking, “How different can they really be?” But after the drop cloth debacle, maybe I’m just being stubborn...
Honestly, I was right there with you on the brushes. Thought it was all marketing hype until I caved and tried a mid-range angled sash brush—game changer for cutting in around trim and corners. No more weird streaks or bristle trails, and it actually holds paint better, so you’re not dipping every two seconds. Still, I won’t pay top dollar for rollers though. I stick with the cheap multi-packs and just toss them after each project.
If you’re trying to save, here’s what’s worked for me:
1. Spring for a canvas drop cloth. You can reuse it forever and it never slides around.
2. Decent brush for detail work. Regular cheap ones are fine for priming or big flat areas.
3. Tape—don’t skimp. The blue stuff is worth it for clean lines.
Have you ever tried those painter’s edgers? I’m always tempted but not sure if they’re worth the hype or just another gadget collecting dust in the garage...
Painter’s edgers—funny you mention those. I bought one ages ago thinking it’d save me a ton of time, but honestly? It ended up more hassle than help. The wheels would get gunked up or drag paint where I didn’t want it, and cleaning the thing was a pain. Maybe I just never got the hang of it, but I went back to free-handing with a good angled brush. Anyone actually mastered those things, or is it just me?
Tried those edgers hoping to speed up a few flips—honestly, they didn't cut it for me either. Here’s what I ran into:
- Cleanup is way more annoying than just rinsing a brush.
- Edges never came out as crisp as I wanted, especially on old plaster walls.
- Sometimes the paint would bleed under the guard or spatter if you weren’t super careful.
I stick with a steady hand and quality tape now. Maybe there’s a trick to those gadgets, but I haven’t found it. If you’re doing multiple rooms or prepping for resale, reliability matters more than shaving off a few minutes.
I get where you’re coming from—those edgers can be a pain, especially with cleanup. But I’ve actually had some luck with them on newer drywall. Maybe it’s just the old plaster that makes things tricky? For me, the trick was loading less paint and moving slow near corners. Not perfect, but I did save some time.
Edges never came out as crisp as I wanted, especially on old plaster walls.
Totally agree there. On rougher surfaces, tape and a steady hand still win. But for quick jobs on smoother walls, I’ll still grab the edger sometimes. Just my two cents...
