Techniques for Control

A paint pad is designed to evenly load and lay paint to a surface. Don't overwork this tool. Here are some techniques that will give much better control.

 

1. Dip the pad into the paint. Pour only 1/4 inch of paint into the loading tray. This amount won't let you overload the pad bristles, or let the pad sink into the paint, or easily spill the tray.

2. Wiggle the pad to load the paint into its bristles and foam core. This action will pump in, load up, and lock in the paint.

3. Scrape the pad gently across the edge of the tray. Don't press too hard; you want the bristles to be full of paint, but not dripping. The excess paint will flow back into the paint tray. This lets you control the load amount going onto the surface.

Remember that gravity is your friend, so work from bottom to top and from side to side with strokes about 24 to 36 inches long. You'll need only two strokes for a smooth finish.

1. Place the loaded pad firmly on the surface. The first stroke is always in one direction to unload the paint in the pad.

2. The second stroke runs gently back over the area in the opposite direction to set the paint and remove bristle marks. At the end of this stroke, lift the pad while moving to feather back into the wet paint. This will help the paint blend evenly onto the surface.

Apply the paint quickly moving up and along the wall, painting from bottom to top, moving forward between strokes.

Make a micro paint grid. Cut a rectangle of #14 stainless steel screen mesh slightly larger than the inside dimensions of the paint tray. Measure in 1/4 inch from the screen edge and bend the screen down to form the legs of the grid. Place the grid inside the paint tray. It prevents the pad from sinking too deep into the paint and getting paint up into the tracking wheels.