Do you want to paint the walls and wooden furniture but don’t know what tools you need? The paint job is not limited to brush and solvent! Masking tape, protective sheet, and scraper: with this guide, you won’t risk confusing your brushes! Here is an overview of the painter’s equipment.
The tools needed to paint
Rollers, brushes, and spray guns are the main
tools you can use to paint. Rollers and brushes are chosen on the basis of the support, the type of paint, and the desired finish. The spray gun, very practical, is suitable for numerous types of paint but remains difficult to manage for beginners. Scrapers will come in handy for prep and finishing touches, pans are essential, and telescopic poles will save you from using a ladder! As for the spatulas for the grout, they are essential to prepare the walls well with a few cracks!
Let’s explore now the essential painting equipment in detail and when they are used.
Roller- A roller is useful for painting large surfaces, such as walls, ceilings, etc., uniformly. It consists of a tubular called sleeve or roller spare, the handle, and the handle.
- Sleeve- It is the cylindrical part used to spread the paint and determine the roller’s quality. It can be both in synthetic fiber and in natural or mixed fibers. If you use water-based paint, synthetic fibers are more suitable because the paint adheres better. For oil paint, get a sleeve in natural or mixed fibers. As far as the hair is concerned, long-haired rollers are more suitable for rough substrates, while short-haired rollers are indicated for smooth substrates. You can find special sleeves for every use, such as those suitable for facades, those special for plaster, or those for treating wood… But choose the anti-drip ones for ceilings!
- Handle- The handle is chosen according to the size of the sleeve. A handle without screws (clip) facilitates assembly.
- Handle- The handle can be made of wood or plastic and must be ergonomic. Some rollers cannot be disassembled and are therefore uninteresting because you would have to change everything if the sleeve wears out! They are to be excluded unless you are looking for disposable!
Brush- The brush is suitable for small surfaces such as frames, skirting boards, furniture, etc., and for the edges of large surfaces. There are wide varieties of brushes, and the choice depends on the surface and medium to be painted:
- Rectangular or flat brush- The rectangular or flat brush can hold a large amount of paint for each stroke. For small surfaces, a small one is ideal!
- Round brush- Also called a stroke brush, it can be used to paint specific areas such as corners, windows, moldings, etc.
- Pad brush- A pad brush to create various effects. It is essentially suitable for small surfaces or for stenciling.
- Finishing brush- A finishing brush gives impeccable results thanks to its fine bristles, but they need to be of good quality because there is nothing more unpleasant than seeing the bristles sticking to the freshly painted support.
Paint guns- A spray gun comes into action when you want to buy time (provided you know how to handle it!). The compressed air gun can quickly cover large surfaces but can also be useful for small objects.
Paint tray– A pan or bucket is required for painting. They will allow you to distribute the paint well on the roller and avoid the formation of drops by passing it on the streaked part. Therefore, always take a bowl larger than the roller and calculate its capacity according to the surface to be painted. If you have to use a ladder, choose a tray equipped with feet that make it easier to position it on the ladder’s shelf. A roller grid to match the tray is useful for removing excess paint from the roller sleeve.
Spatula or screen for painting- A paint screen is used as a masking to create a sharp line while protecting the perimeter of the area to be painted – glass, wallpaper, tiles, etc. You buy it according to the surface to be protected: the bigger it is, the bigger the surface will be. The angled paint screens (45° and 90°) easily reach even the most difficult areas.
Winding it up: The advantages of the painting kit
Buying a painting kit is always advantageous because it includes the essential tools for the painter. Offers vary according to need. If you have to buy everything, it is better that you get a kit that already contains the essential tools at the right price: brushes of different sizes, rollers, a spatula, and a paint tray. If you’re looking to complement the tools you already have, some kits only offer a combination of a few tools (typically at least 2). This type of kit is particularly convenient for occasional use, so choosing the tools one by one is better!