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Masking the Perfect Line

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50:30
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20 Years Worth of Painting Hacks! Every Painting Hack The Idaho Painter knows!

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What happens here

To achieve a perfectly straight paint line when cutting in around a window or trim, use a painter's multi-tool (5-in-1 tool) to score a line. Place the flat edge of the tool against the trim, aligning it with where the paint line should be, and then use the two-edge knife side to score the surface of the wall. This creates a small ridge. Then, apply Frog Tape directly along this scored line, ensuring it adheres well. For extra protection against bleed-through, apply a thin bead of clear caulk along the edge of the tape that will meet the paint, and wipe off any excess. Paint over the tape and immediately pull the tape off while the paint is still wet to reveal a perfectly straight line.

Goal: Achieve perfectly straight paint lines on trim and windows with minimal effort.

Tools and materials

  • Caulking Gun — Applying the clear caulk
  • Clear Caulk — Sealing the edge of the tape to prevent paint bleed-through
  • Frog Tape FrogTape — Masking the area along the scored line
  • Paint Brush — Applying paint to the trim
  • Painter's Multi-tool — Scoring a straight line on the wall next to the trim
  • White Paint — Painting the trim

What they say

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no more squeak in three minutes okay i got a quick and simple hack for you today i've got a window right here scenario i want to get a really perfectly straight line you can just hand cut it in but it might go up too high or might go down too low and not just be perfectly straight across i just use a simple framer square typically carry it around with me me when i'm doing trim i'm gonna just put it on my corner line it up with the window i'm gonna take my five in one tool right here i just use a two edge knife and then i'm gonna score that right there and then that leaves a nice little line that's perfectly straight right across that it's gonna look awesome now you can take and hand cut it in right there because it leaves a little ridge and your brush can follow that ridge but what i actually like to do to even make it more perfect i'm going to take some frog tape got some frog tape right here and i'm going to use clear caulking also i'm going to take frog tape and i had that scored line so i put my frog tape right on that line and then you can just right now paint it and the frog tape will swell and keep it from bleeding through but just one added extra measure all i do is take some clear caulking i'm going to put some clear caulking right on that edge of that tape right there just going to wipe it off because that's going to pre-seal the edge of the tape and then i'm going to paint right over it and pull my tape while it's wet so i've got my paint right here just takes my white paint pull my tape while it's wet now i've got a perfectly straight line so one of the things i

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