There are many things on any given day that I see and think Geez, I wonder what that is.
I'll see things in ditches, or in gardens or hurtling towards my windshield and I'll think Geez, I wonder what that is. It's an annoyance not knowing what every SINGLE thing in the world is, but I've come to grips with the fact that I can't possibly know everything.
I know the important things and that's enough. Take for example this thing. I know what it is. Do you?
Simple enough, right? It's a paint stick.
Good! You score one point. Now lets move onto the next thing.
What do you use it the indentation on paint sticks for?
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
Some of them are very pronounced like this one, others are more subtle, but there's almost always a bit of a cutout on paint sticks. Do you know what the indent is for?
That little half-moon cutout in the paint stick? It has a purpose. A role in life. Who knew? Not me. Not until one day when I was watching my sister (the painter) using it to it's full potential. Take a gander at this little piece of engineering genius at work.
That little half-moon is for scraping all the paint in your roller out when you're done your painting job. I had no idea. Which made me feel angry and amazed at that little stick of wood all at the same time.
Things as complicated as a paint sticks need to come with some sort of instruction booklet.
This is just like the time I found out you can both straighten AND curl your hair with a hair straightener. An amazing revelation.
A paint roller holds cups and cups of paint. Most of which you can remove by sliding the paint stick curve down it.
O.K. show me how smart and/or honest you are. Your paint stick; did you know that there's more to getting the most out it?
Cara
Wow. thanks.
Karen
Who knew! :) Other than my sister. ~ karen
LeeAnne Bloye
Karen, I did actually know that about the rounded out part. But only because I last year I needed a new ones to use as bbq grill scrapers. We had triangle shaped cast iron grids that were just impossible for a regular wooden scraper to work on. I had read that paint scrapers work well - and it did!
So last summer, using your Amazon ordering link, I bought a bucket load. This year we decided to just get a new bbq which has normal, round, stainless steel grates. (Happy Dancing!) I'll be going back to a normal wooden scraper like the one you made and there will be less swearing when cleaning the grill.
Now I just have to find a use for those paint sticks...
Mary
No, I didn’t know all the amazing things about paint sticks. Thanks for sharing! There is one thing I know, though, you are crazy! In a good way. Also, love the wig. Is it real hair or that vinyl stuff?
Susan
I did not know - and I got another thing out of that paint stick...gratitude and a smile, thanks to you
Linda J Howes
I did know this but I have another tool for that which is sharper and I think does a better job. It may or may not, I just think it does. It also has teeth like a comb for cleaning brushes.
Grammy
I've painted and used the paint sticks all my life, and never knew that's what the indentation was for. All the plastic wrap I've wasted wrapping it around my hand to scrape the rollers over the years just pisses me off now.
Please thank Pink Tool Belt (I'm assuming that's the sister who knew this) for me but make sure to let her know she could have let us know much, much sooner. I'll bet my own sister knows things like this that she's kept from me all these years, and now I'm thinking unkind thoughts about how she's been holding out on me.
Arthur Soles
Fortunately, I have an allergy to paint, so I have never had to learn all those details. But it is still nice to know. Thank you.
Lisa Wallace
Not a paint stick, but similar reaction when my mother was visiting, used the iron, and when putting it away, wound the cord up a certain way that made it obvious I had been storing my own iron incorrectly for about 10 years!
Jennie Lou
And you didn't tell us said CORRECT way to wind it up? ;-)
Jill
I knew this. But a tool called a 5 in 1 does the job better and has a handle so if you are (unlike me) already coated in paint it doesn't run down your arm. Another paint stick use is to let the paint dry, cut off a section, label with paint color/number, drill a hole and string it on a chain or ring to keep track of the paint you used. Then put it in a good safe place. Like your basement so you will never find it when you need it.
Love your blog. Karen, you keep me laughing!
Colleen
Paint sticks have become so thin recently that they can barely stir paint let alone push paint off the roller. I have a metal paint can opener that has a curve to clean the roller...or I have a rollercleaner with a can open :)