Paint Edgers

**pajeff02** · 07-17-2012, 03:46 PM

I am in the process of painting a couple of rooms in the house and am about fed up. I tried two (2) separate edgers and both gave crappy results. I want a razor sharp line at the ceiling/wall joints and it just ain't happening. Both of the ones I tried are bristled pads with two wheels that roll against the ceiling. One was clearly superior in design as it locked the pad at both the top and bottom, whereas the other only had a stop at the top edge of the handle. This allowed the pad to slowly work its way down and further away from the ceiling. Anyone know of a paint edging tool that actually works? Absent that, it appears that I will be using blue painters tape on the ceiling...

**chuckie669** · 07-17-2012, 04:14 PM

I've always rolled up to about an inch from the ceiling and brushed that spot. Tape ain't so bad.

You probably would've had at least one room done while dicking with them fancy gizmos that don't work.

**goof4080** · 07-17-2012, 04:34 PM

A steady hand and a brush is the professional way. It just takes practice.

**pajeff02** · 07-17-2012, 05:44 PM

I have used edgers in the past successfully, however, that has been quite a few years ago and I do not recall what make or model they were. Cutting an edge in by hand is great, until you slip and have to sponge it off and make a mess in the process. Just trying to find a tool that actually works like it is supposed to.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 07-17-2012, 06:28 PM

I haven't found one...

I had the plastic one that had a brush pad that snapped onto it with two rollers on the side for the guard. Worked OK.

I use the tape and a brush now, or just a high-end quality brush.

**1MileCrash** · 07-18-2012, 07:32 AM

the paint edger that i used ended up getting paint on the rollers that spaced it away from the ceiling so i ended up with a line of paint on the ceiling where it shouldn't have been. best edger...masking tape and patience.

**Zinergy** · 07-18-2012, 08:28 AM

Tape is the best for those who do not have a steady hand. Luckly for me my dad takes great joy in painting free hand lines and in hard to reach places like when door frames are an inch away from a wall.

**wileyCoyote** · 07-18-2012, 09:11 PM

Originally Posted by Zinergy

Tape is the best for those who do not have a steady hand. Luckly for me my dad takes great joy in painting free hand lines and in hard to reach places like when door frames are an inch away from a wall.

+1

i too contend that tape and "gizmos" like edgers cause more frustration than they're worth... use a 1-1/2" angled brush to cut in corners, ceiling, etc... that is ALL you really need

slow, but steady, ...and you'll get a little faster as you get the hang of it... the only time you should have to use tape is for protecting valuables that can't be removed from the wall (i.e. marble surround, built-ins, etc..)

**KahanaReef** · 07-18-2012, 10:57 PM

Yeah, cutting in all the edges by hand is the best way. Then just roll out the rest. A good brush helps.

**5.0THIS** · 07-19-2012, 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by pajeff02

I am in the process of painting a couple of rooms in the house and am about fed up. I tried two (2) separate edgers and both gave crappy results. I want a razor sharp line at the ceiling/wall joints and it just ain't happening. Both of the ones I tried are bristled pads with two wheels that roll against the ceiling. One was clearly superior in design as it locked the pad at both the top and bottom, whereas the other only had a stop at the top edge of the handle. This allowed the pad to slowly work its way down and further away from the ceiling. Anyone know of a paint edging tool that actually works? Absent that, it appears that I will be using blue painters tape on the ceiling...

Gotta do it by hand... like a boss. Jeff's hands have been too busy shuffling papers in the courtroom I guess.

**pajeff02** · 07-19-2012, 03:31 PM

Looks like it's unanimous -- I'll be heading to Lowe's to get a better brush if I am going to attempt this. Suppose I could always throw up some crown moulding and not worry about the lines.

**KahanaReef** · 07-19-2012, 03:49 PM

Crown molding is always nice. Then, that will give you an excuse to use tape the next time you paint

I have an advantage as my husband is a painter. So, I have access to nice brushes

**pajeff02** · 07-19-2012, 05:15 PM

Care to loan him out? It would give you an excuse to travel back east.

**35th-ANV-SS** · 07-19-2012, 06:06 PM

I personally hate to paint.

**pajeff02** · 07-19-2012, 06:09 PM

I don't mind it. The amount of prep work is a bit daunting in some rooms, but so far everything is going smoothly. I have two more rooms to paint and a stairwell, four doors to swap out, and the upstairs will be just about all re-done. I may build another set of bookshelves that will install into the knee-wall in at least one of the rooms too.