Have you ever painted the walls only to end up smudging the ceiling and then becoming frustrated about removing that excess paint? A paint edging tool is designed to prevent that from happening by acting as a buffer between the paint roller and the ceiling itself.
If you’re ready to renovate your home and want to prevent such nuisances from occurring, here is everything you need to know about paint edging tools.
Top 3 Picks
Best overall: Wagner 0530000B SMART Edge Paint Roller
This edger has a user-friendly design that makes it easy to manipulate, doesn’t require an additional paint tray, and has its own paint reservoir that’s very easy to fill.
Customer’s choice: Shur-Line 2006561 Paint Edger Pro
“I LOVE this thing! I wasted too much time reading reviews and should have just purchased it.” (Customer review)
Best kit: Accubrush MX Paint Edger 11 Piece Jumbo Kit
With 11 pieces designed to help make your painting job easier, the Accubrush MX offers a more complete experience and tools that you’re bound to make use of when redecorating the house.
How to Choose a Paint Edging Tool
There are plenty of reasons why people would want an edging tool when painting the house, including the fact that they leave crisp and clean edges, and can help one save money with hiring professionals to get the painting job done.
There is more than just one type of paint edging tool on the market, which makes it important to know as much about it as you can before buying it. Here are some of the things to keep an eye on during your quest to find a paint edger that’s right for you:
Size
Size is an important consideration when it comes to paint edging tools. These tools can be special pad, paintbrushes, or rollers that have an attached or separate guard that goes attached to one of the regular painting tools. At first, the guard is connected to the paint applying implements and, considering that the guard moves, you are going to have to determine how wide the paint strip should be. For instance, if you’re painting a simple wall with a baseboard trim, you need a wide paint strip. If you’re painting narrower areas, you need small edgers that can fit in the given space.
Materials
The materials of the paint edging tool needs to have an applicator compatible with the type of paint you’re using. For example, oil-based paints need roller-type edgers and brushes with natural bristles. Acrylic and water-based latex paints require a brush or roller cover constructed from synthetic materials.
Type
When you’re trying to figure out what type of edging tool is best for you, you will have to choose between brush and pad. Brush edgers are very similar to paintbrushes. They don’t hold as much paint as pads, meaning it’s going to take you longer to paint the exact same surface. Brush edgers have guards that can’t maintain crisp lines (at least not compared to pads) because the mechanism requires the bristles to move in order to apply the paint. They are, however, a better choice when you have to paint textured surfaces. Paint edgers with pads will smear paint on a given surface. They are constructed using absorbent materials that soak up paint and they are often chosen because they are faster to paint with (considering how they can apply a full coat in a single stroke).
Related: Your Next DIY Job Will Be Easier When You Learn How To Clean Paint Rollers
Application
Another way to divide paint edgers into categories is to consider if you’d like a roll-on or a smear-off tool. Roll-on edgers are designed as small paint rollers with flocked covers and shields that protect the surfaces you want to keep clean. Due to their design, they are used similarly to a paint roller. Smear-on edgers, on the other hand, have absorbent pads and they have to either be dipped into the paint or come with a container that needs to be filled (this container is often found inside the handle).
Reach
If you choose a paint edging tool with an extendable pole, you can basically stay off the ground while painting, eliminating the need for a ladder and preventing any risk of falling off it. These poles are excellent for painting rooms with tall ceilings, and they can actually allow you to reach a greater range with less motion.
How to Properly Use a Paint Edging Tool
If you’ve never used a paint edging tool before, things can be a little tricky. We’re here to help you with a list of tips that will teach your how to properly use one (noting that people that have used a roller or a paintbrush before will have an easier time getting used to an edger):
- Use a clean try to put paint in it. Avoid putting too much paint, as a deep pool might cause sloppy results.
- Grab your paint edger and dip the pad in paint. Make sure you avoid getting paint on the wheels of the edger, as this is one of the most common mistakes that first-time painters make. If there is paint on the edger’s wheel, it will leave smears on the walls.
- Wipe the edger’s pad against the edge of the tray, thus removing any excess paint.
- As you place the edge against the wall, make sure that its front is against the object you don’t want painted.
- Roll the edger slowly down the wall. You might have to do this once or twice more, to make sure you have a full and even coat of paint.
- Repeat the process until the entire surface is painted.
How to Clean a Paint Edger
At the end of the day, cleaning the paint edging tool is very important, especially if you want it to be ready for future projects and don’t want any dry paint residue on your tool:
- The first step is to rinse the pad and the holder using clean water. Squeezing the pad will release paint, so you might have to rinse, squeeze, and rinse again a number of times.
- If you notice that the paint doesn’t come out of the pad, you can apply a few drops of liquid dish soap to work up some suds. Do that for a minute, then rinse the pad again.
- To clean the edger’s holders, you might require a sponge to remove the paint. If the paint is still wet, you can do it using your fingers (just make sure you rinse the holder when you’re done).
- Allow the pad and the holder to air dry completely before storing or using them again.
Best Paint Edging Tools
Wagner 0530000B SMART Edge Paint Roller
Our first suggestion of the day is the Wagner 0530000B edge paint roller. This tool is designed to help you paint crisp lines around edges, making sure that you don’t waste time with paint trays and brushes. It also eliminates the need for any painter’s tape and it basically makes less of a mess compared to what it would take to paint a surface without using it. The thumb trigger allows you to control the paint flow, which is definitely a nice thing to have.
Using this tool is pretty simple. The fill adapter is dipped in paint and, as you pull the handle, it starts drawing paint from the can. The trigger needs pressing to release the paint, thus feeding the roller. All that’s left to do is to start painting! Once you’re done, you can remove the trigger housing and place the leftover paint back in its can, thus eliminating paint waste.
Mr. LongArm 0470 Trim Smart Paint Edger
With a very self-explanatory name, the Mr. LongArm 0470 paint edging tool is designed to reach all the way to the top of high walls and corners. It is compatible with a lot of telescopic poles, and you can use it for horizontal and vertical painting. There are wheels located on the corners to keep the roller away for the ceiling or other surfaces that you don’t want smudged with paint.
When you have no more use for it, it can easily be replaced. There are two plastic screws near the handle; just detach those, remove the pad, place a new one, and tighten the screws. It’s important to note that the pole is not supplied, so that means you’ll have to spend some extra money to get one if need be.
Accubrush MX Paint Edger 11 Piece Jumbo kit
If you love investing in kits that offer pretty much everything you need to get the job done, then you’re going to love this particular option. It comes with basic tools, nylon brushes, and even interchangeable rollers. The roller is mostly suitable for flat surfaces, meaning you’re going to have to invest in another product if you ever want to paint textured walls. With a single load, it can paint about five to eight feet. You can reuse the rollers, but you’re going to have to clean them after each painting session.
The small brush that’s attached to the tool can be used to make cleaner and smoother lines. It can collect excess paint, but some claim that it rather smears it. You should avoid putting too much paint on the roller. Sadly, there is no way to screw a telescoping pole, which might be a bummer when you want to paint in higher places.
Shur-Line 2006561 Paint Edger Pro
This tool right here is designed to make it easier to paint the ceiling, as it comes with the design needed for perfect lines around the edges. The tool comes with its own set of integrated wheels that roll on the painting surface pretty smoothly. You can attach an extension pole and start painting the ceiling in the color of your choice in under one minute.
The head will easily swivel and pivot, putting less effort on the painter. It comes with a pad that can easily be replaced when no longer usable, a pad that’s big enough to allow you to get the job done quickly. While this will provide even paint application, it doesn’t seem to work that well on heavily-textured surfaces.
Emery Edger Paint Brush Edging Tool
If you already have a paintbrush and want an edging tool compatible with it, you have to check out this one by Emery Edger. With a low price and winter of the “Retailer’s Choice Award”, this simple-looking tool is a very effective measure against smudging the ceiling with paint, leaving paint traces on windows, and pretty much helps you avoid making a mess. With its two-shield reservoir design, this tool will allow you to use your traditional paintbrush. It works with any type of trim and eliminates potential paint smudge mistakes.
FAQ
What is the best way to paint edges?
If you don’t have or don’t intend to buy a paint edging tool, there is a way to work around it, only it takes more time and effort. You can paint the edges first so that when you apply paint to the wall, there is no need to start that close to the ceiling. Even with this method, there are still chances of accidentally smudging the ceiling, especially if you don’t have steady hands.
What do professional painters use for edging?
Some professional painters use edging tools, while others stick to the old-fashioned method of applying paper tape at the edges of the ceiling and then removing them once the job is done. There’s a reason why they call it “painter’s tape”.
Do professional painters use edging tools?
Some of them do and some of them don’t. The ones who do use them have embraced this new method of painting walls, so it’s definitely worth giving a try even if you are a DIY painter.
In Conclusion
Choosing a paint-edging tool isn’t all that complicated once you understand the different types that exist on the market and know what to expect from each. Regardless of whether you prefer using a roller or a paintbrush, there are many models available on the market that can prevent paint smudges and messy clean-up processes.
The post Work Smarter with the Best Paint Edging Tool appeared first on Home Decorating Trends - Homedit.
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