Square Brush Paint Tool Sai How To Drive Them

Use pliers or a multitool to slightly bend open the loop of the opener.

After cleaning, hook the brush over a coat hanger and hang it from a ceiling joist.

Family Handyman Make Paint Stir Sticks Forgot to grab stir sticks at the store when you picked up the paint If you have a band saw and a hunk of 24, you can make your own Take a two-foot-long 24 and draw a perpendicular line in the middle.

Next, rip several 316-in.-thick strips on the bandsaw up to the pencil line.

Then, to release the stir sticks, chop the 24 at the pencil line.

This method keeps your fingers a safe distance from the saw blade.

Les Eastep. 3 30 Bonus: Pro painters let us in on their secrets.

Watch the video to see a few of our favorites: 4 30 Thats a WrapFor Now This handy hint will keep your paint brushes in good shape after each painting project.

After thoroughly washing and air-drying my brushes, I wrap them with a piece of the pre-taped plastic that I use to mask off my baseboards and protect my floors.

When kept folded right off of the roll, the plastic is the perfect length to cover and shape the paintbrush bristles while the tape sticks to the metal ferrule.

Joe Martin. Plus: Everything you need to know about using masking tape.

Family Handyman Shine On Roller Recently I needed to polish brass parts for a project.

I didnt have a buffing disc, so I looked around the shop for an alternative.

Square Brush Paint Tool Sai How To Drive Them

I saw several paint roller covers that I thought might work but how to drive them I found that they fit tightly on a 1-12-in.

I cut a three-inch length of roller cover, inserted the hole saw and chucked it into my drill press.

It worked great, and Ive used this method often to buff and polish jewelry and all sorts of other items.

You can buy buffing compound at a hobby store.

Bill Wells. 6 30 Family Handyman Quick Touch-Up Pads If you have touch-up work thats not worth dirtying a paintbrush, try makeup rounds.

These smooth pieces of cotton are about the size of a silver dollar and they wont shed.

You can find them near the cosmetics at drugstores and discount stores.

Jan Olsen. Plus: Get the skinny on our very best wood finishing tips.

The Family Handyman Instant Roller Savers When the painting job is half done but the day is all done, slide your paint roller off the roller frame and store it in a Lays Stax potato chip container.

Once youve slipped the roller cover inside, pop on the lid and the wet roller is sealed and ready for service in the morning.

Our thanks to reader Kevin Kurucz for this high-rolling discovery.

Plus: More painting tips and tricks.

Paintbrush Turned Push Stick After my paint brushes wear out, I strip off the metal ferrule with a needle-nose pliers and some strength.

I use the wood or composite handle for a table saw push stick.

Since I am frequently losing or misplacing mine, I figured it would be better to have more rather than less of these handy tools.

I use a square to measure and mark and the angle I want to cut into the paintbrush.

Next, I simply make two cuts on my bandsaw to make an angled notch in the bottom of the handle.

Check out more step-by-step photos of this hack here.

Family Handyman Empty Jug Paint Carrier For small paint jobs, I find a four-inch paint roller works great with an old gallon-size iced tea jug serving as a disposable roller tray.

I just cut out part of the plastic to create a place to dip the roller.

When Im done, I just throw the jug away.

Fred Thies. Heres another creative way to reuse a jug in the shop.

Paint Can Opener on Hand Always have a paint can opener on hand when youre ready to start a painting project.