How to paint a straight line

How do you paint a straight line is a frequently asked question. The answer is practice, practice and more practice. Before cutting in your room    purchase a quality professional paint brush for the type of paint you’re using. 2 1/2 in. angle sash brush would be a good choice. Providing you have all the needed supplies to paint the room I would take some time and practice the steps listed below until you feel confident enough to tackle your project.

I made a practice board which is made of a piece of scrap dry wall and molding. This will be a great way to build your skill and confidence.  The molding is attached with a spring loaded clamp which can be easily moved to the next clean area to paint. The practice board can be painted over and over without messing up your own walls and depending on how the molding is held you can practice the different positions which are used for the ceiling, door frames and base molding.

Let’s say you’re looking to cut in next to a door frame, position your board vertically on a table and apply the paint as mentioned below. Each time you’re finished with an area move the molding over to start a clean section. When the entire board is used apply a coat of white over the board and start over.

At this point you have your practice board ready and we need to pour about 2 inches of paint into a one gallon cut bucket, this will keep the brush from being over loaded.

Lightly dip the paint brush into the paint and lift the brush out of the paint but still in the cut bucket, press the sides of the brush against the sides of the can, this process loads paint onto the bristles and shapes the bristles into a sharp edge. Wiping the brush against the top of the cut bucket will not help. Applying to much paint to the brush will lead to a big mess. Paint should not come up more than half way of the bristles.

Hold the brush handle resting between your thumb and pointer finger and fingers on the *ferrule with the thumb resting on the other side. The pinky finger will be used as support. Since we are applying paint at the door frame the brush will be in a vertical position. ( ferrule is the metal band along the base of the brush )

 

At this point your brush should have paint in the bristles and a sharp edge. Move the brush onto the wall slightly away from the door frame and slowly move the brush closer till you meet the corner of frame and wall.

  The top side edge of the bristles will now be in this corner, move the brush down the edge applying slight even pressure, when you see skipping of the paint it is time to reload paint onto your brush. After cutting your first path feather the edge out 3 in. and away from the frame. Move the same direction as the door frame.

Work near the bottom section of the board and apply the next coat above it and into it, this will keep a wet edge.

Repeat this until the entire edge is cut in.

 

Remember that the pressure that is applied to the brush will change the line you’re cutting in.

The amount of paint on the brush will also determine the outcome. Here you will get the chance to see what amount paint gives the best results.

Don’t waste your time with cheap tools.

Move the molding over to give way for another
practice cut in. This a great way to build eye and hand coordination and professional looking results. Cutting in a room will be much more satisfying!

Practice, Practice, Practice!