There are many things on any given day that I see and think Geez, I wonder what that is. The answer turns out to be a wig, a surprising number of times.
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?
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?
I am 63 years old, been using paint rollers since I was about 15 years old and I have never seen a paint stirrer stick that has this notch in it. Is that a Canadian thing??
Ha! Ha! Ha! I really did LOL when I saw that photo of you in that wig. Thanks! I love to laugh.
I didn't notice the indent much less realize it had a use. I just used my hand to squish off the paint and then washed all that leftover paint down the drain - of course, I used the stick to unplug the drain later, also. Have I told you lately that I love you? Have I said with all my heart and soul how I adore you, well darling, I'm telling you now. Remember that old song? You have a way with words and I appreciate your morning gift of a smile or laugh - perfect with coffee.
Oh my! I was a house painter for a few years and I. Had. No. Clue.
I’m also experiencing conflicting brain farts:
Amazing/Annoying New Fact!
Why didn’t I know that?!
What are you doing channeling 1950’s Betty?!? Don’t you know the Danger?!?!
I knew this. But I prefer using the 5-in-1 tool. And many paintsticks don't come fancy like that anymore. But I have a more vital use for them. Keeping books from toppling off shelves from the sides and cats from jumping on. They work well for at least one of those purposes.
Great idea. Thanks!
OMG! I never even thought about that thing. Luckily, you caught me just BEFORE I’m about to tackle 2 more rooms. I just have to find a time when my husband is in a good mood and then buy lots of Frog Tape (he’s the taper). Thank YOU! Once again.
The paint sticks I have seen don't have a cut out like you show. They usually are two small indentations on each side of the stick. And I did not know their use. I assumed they were a splintery handle, which in the back of my mind I thought was stupid. But it is I that was not smart! All has been revealed! :)
here's another; when you are buying a new can of paint; of course you want a fresh new paint stick, yes please! ..... you slip the nice new stick under the can's handle on your way out the door! No need to let the the metal handle dig into the palm of your hand when you can let the paint stick bear the weight of that heavy new can.
Yes, I knew that. I work at a paint store as well as paint and my mom was a painter, so I think I've always known that. I tell people about it all the time.They don't make paint sticks like they use to, so those 9 in 1 (or 12 or 18 in one) tools work best. Thanks for speaking my language. I'm off to paint a room for the second time as the owner changed their mind about colour. Ugh
All my paint sticks in Kentucky don’t have the cutout. Just straight. But I did know its purpose.
I have to be straight here- honest kinda straight. No. I didn’t know the divot on the paint stirring stick was for scraping paint off of rollers. It’s like a whole new universe has suddenly opened up. A black hole of knowledge that I feel lame for not knowing. I have lots of these sticks that will now only be known as roller scrapers. My next trip to Home Depot will be festooned with my query at the paint counter with “Steve, where do you keep the roller scrapers?” No, his name isn’t Steve but I imagine Kirk might be onto the roller scraper genre of sticks so I’m only asking clueless Steve. A buzzing sound will fill the air as other paint aficionados turn to stare at Steve and then wait to see, where indeed Steve? Where are theses elusive paint roller scrapers… Then I shall suddenly point at the orange bucket, over by T-Mobile Magenta, that's filled with paint roller scrapers…There they are! Like a harpooner yelling “Thar she blows!”
By the way Karen, that brown wig is not fooling me like that roller stick surely did. ❤️
hi karen, indeed a revelation! that canadian paint sticks even have a half moon cut out of them. here in nz they're straight down both sides -- clearly we are a more paint-wasteful and far less sophisticated country -- aahh how the other half fully lives . . .
Indeed, lol. I mean straight paint sticks, that's positively archaic. ;) ~ karen!
Yes, I have used a paint stick to clean a roller, my ex used them to label sections of her garden beds, and they are the perfect thickness to set the chimney height on your pellet smoker. They are also mighty handy for stirring paint or mixing larger batches of epoxy, The wood is also great for craft projects.or leveling table or furniture legs. You are 'almost' unrecognizable in that wig by the way. lol
Wow! I love your content, but the amount of pop up, fill the screen and make it impossible to read advertisements on your mobile site gave me a headache. I was like trying to watch porn as a teenager in the 90s!
Hi Tim S. Am I to understand you like my free site, you just wish it was freer? There's actually only 1 thing that pops up. It is a subscribe button that can be closed by hitting the x. ~ k
My mother showed me that trick when I was a child. She knew how to pinch pennies and paint rolls!
Did you know that you can wash paint rollers in the washing machine? The key is to fill the washer with water, scrape the excess out of the roller with the handy paint stick (no I didn't know that was the purpose of the notch!), and then gently place your roller into the water when the machine starts to agitate. It will come out clean and fluffy, ready to use again - and the washing machine will be just fine.😁
You made me LOL..Garden voles, Elton John…. my husband’s definitely wondering about me
That's O.K. Let him wonder. Keep him on his toes. ~ karen!
Only straight paint sticks at our paint stores, but I bought one of these many years ago and it does the same job, plus has a scraper on the end and a crack cleaner: http://goo.gl/swiSfl Very handy tool. I think mine was made by Stanley, but I've pretty much seen some version of it in just about every paint department I've ever been in.
I was married to a painter and didn't know about that, but I do know they make good paddles.
I had three boys so I needed something handy. :)
That tip has escaped me for years and I am definitely going to share it, I know that if I didn't know this, neither did my friends. Ha!
Happy to have helped Elfrieda. :) ~ karen
I have the weird little habit of reading the instructions manuals of everything since i discovered; 5 years after buying it; that i could indeed take photos of/by myself because my camara came with this little mirrow flap in the side (so you can see if you are, in fact, in the picture) when i openend the flap by mistake while cleaning the lens...
I had seen it before and wondered what the hell was that little mirrow like thing...but never asked... It was explained in the second page of the manual
I've never heard of such a thing! No wonder you were shocked. ~ karen!
OMG who da thunk? I sure didn't..
Raine - I know! ~ karen