During a windy afternoon when I was trying to get some spray painting done, I had one of those “A HA!” moments. When the lightbulb went off, I just knew that I had to share it with you guys.
In an effort to spray paint in the garage (thus avoiding the wind) but not cover the entire floor with paint, I laid down a few drop cloths. My back was kind of aching from painting the kids bathroom, so I set up two sawhorses and put a sheet of plywood on the top of them
Y’all. Y’ALL! Spray painting is SO MUCH easier if you aren’t crouched over on the ground trying to get into the nook and crannies of your piece. When you bring your pieces up to about waist level, it’s just easier to spray them since you have a better vantage point.
Perhaps this is an “Um, Duh!” moment to you instead of an “A HA!” one, but I thought it was worth sharing. For me, it’s the ultimate spray paint tip.
Want to see the final birdhouse project? Click here for the post or check out the video tutorial:
What’s your favorite spray painting tip? Share with me in the comments!
That does help a lot!!! I use an old card table to spray, and you are right, it is so much easier when it is waist high!
Jodi
That’s so funny> I am always on the floor of the garage spray painting something. THanks for the tip
Since I’m a spray paint regular that’s a duh for me. Sorry! 🙂 Here’s my tip: I eat yogurt every day so I save the plastic cups and use them to prop up whatever I’m spray painting. That allows me to spray all around the item top to bottom and it doesn’t stick to the table as it dries.
Hey Felicia, Yes, this is also a great tip I will remember!
I learned the hard way not to wear my favorite tall black boots when spray painting a bookshelf turquoise on a windy day. My boots now look like they have a bit of turquoise sparkle to them. Thankfully, it’s no longer boot season…. 🙂
Nail polish remover should take the overspray right off! I’ve done it on many surfaces.
My hubby turned a old pallet into a spray painting table. The slats work great to always be able to move things around without them sticking, letting some of the over spray pass through (It’s over gravel). Good job saving your back though! I bet it felt like “Aaaah ha ;)”
You get less paint on your feet when you do this too! I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve worn flip-flops to spray paint on and think I’ve done a good job of keeping the spray contained. Then I take off my shoes and there are the strap marks on my feet.
I am all about elevating the “specimen”, it’s so much easier! My husband isn’t all that thrilled about the paint all over his “saw horses”, but they are my favorite elevator. I love the yogurt cup tip too! My best tip is to spray several light coats instead of one heavy one. I’ve definitely learned that one the hard way while sanding down drip marks! 🙂
Two words: spray box! Nothing on your feet, and you can spray on a windy day without trepidation. (I have actually spray painted flip-flops so I could keep wearing them, but dedicated footwear is pretty smart).
But, you’ll want to move your object onto those yogurt cups to dry…I put gravel in the cups and I use skewers to move (and sometimes hold) whatever I’m painting…use old skewers from barbecues.
For little stuff q-tips are great holders, as are old cheap tweezers (like for Christmas ornaments)…can you tell I’ve been doing this for a long time?? My old house basement had to be repainted before we even put it on the market because the dang walls were COVERED with glitter paint…also the lawn one time, husband not over joyed I can tell you!
Spray box is the best. Every once in a while I will accept a Costco box for my groceries at check out and the are great for smaller projects. Slide a smaller box with very low sides or a piece of cardboard under the project and use it like a lazy susan. Good stuff!
this is actually good to know- i just spray painted yesterday and of course did it on the floor of the garage bent over and with the added fumes- i get light headed- I will try waist level! thanks
I always use a cardboard box, preferably one with walls about twice the height of the object being painted, but raising it up is a great idea (duh, never thought of it, and I’m tall! I feel stupid!)
Love this tip, girl! I just HAD to pop over and see what it was, and you were right…..I needed to know this! Thanks for sharing! <3
Totally agree, I had try it before and it works magic. Thanks
That’s exactly how I do it — an old piece of thin plywood on top of my two sawhorses. What I want to know, is how are all you guys spray painting in your garages? Do you not have a ton of stuff in your garage that would get overspray? Am I the only one who can barely fit our smallest car in the two-car garage? haha
I use an cardboard wardrobe box as my spray booth. I set it up on the freezer in the garage and when I am done, it folds up nicely and is tucked behind the freezer. My recycling usually is covered in overspray too.
I like this idea. 🙂
Now why haven’t I thought of that?! Thank you! How ridiculous that I’ve been crouching all these years. It makes me LOL actually. Here’s my fave tip: when spraying something that doesn’t stand up by itself like a doorknob or screws, I put them in floral foam which covers the part I don’t want sprayed (like the threads of the screw) and keeps it steady.
Great idea!! Thanks for sharing I use an old wardrobe box too, as I don’t have sawhorses. .
What an awesome tip! I’ve never though of this and was actually crouched on the floor spray painting earlier this evening!
As a beginner I have put together a bunch of tips. Take a look!
http://thirtyfiveninetyfive.blogspot.com/2013/05/spray-painting-for-beginners.html
Carrie
OK. . . aren’t your garages just full of overspray. I always spray outside and with the item(s) elevated. Few other tips. . . eye glass wearers, use your old glasses. Otherwise the overspray will have you forever walking in a fog! Also, should a bug get in your paint. Leave it. Trying to brush it out of wet paint is a mess. Once the paint and the bug are dry, lightly sand it away and finish with your next light coat of paint. If the weather allows, I leave my newly painted item(s) outside as long as possible to off-gas. Then, I bring it in the garage to continue to off-gas for several days.
I usually sand items I’m spray painting, whether they are metal, wood, or plastic, just to get any surface junk off. I make sure the stuff I just sanded off isn’t sitting on the drop cloth or cardboard, ready to get blown back into the paint. In other words, do your prep work somewhere other than where you’re painting.
I’m a believer in those label warnings about hazards to your health. Ventilation’s so important, especially if you are pregnant. Go outside to spray, or wear a respirator. Those cute little surgical (particulate) masks don’t protect you from air-borne carcinogenic chemicals.
Good post and comments!
Every time I’m hunched over a project on my back patio trying to paint I think that I desparately need to elevate the darn thing. And of course, I never have!
My husband made me a set up like this inside a ventilated painting booth in our basement. It kept “spray paint dust” from getting all over everything. And I agree with Barbara, always always always wear a filtration mask that is designed for painting!
For elevation, great point. I do both, but like to paint outside as my hubby can’t take the paint fumes. When I need something to be elevated above the cardboard, I use thumbtacks/pushpins as feet. I just push them into the bottom of what I am painting (if possible) and paint away. This normally works well as it doesn’t damage the piece anywhere you will see it and it is easy to remove. No more stuck down projects. Love the idea of the yogurt container too.
Why didn’t I think of this? I have spray painted more of my yard in my spray painting adventures than I care to admit. Now I don’t have to feel guilty about all that paint seeping into the ground. Water Damage Murrieta CA
My best spray painting tip…if you don’t have rubber gloves, put a plastic grocery bag around your hand.
This works well because it covers down to your elbow {almost) and it can be reused until the project is finished!
I learned the hard way when I didn’t cover me hands at all…that paint is not easy to get off!
I elevate using saw horses & protect the grass using weed barrier cloth. We have extra from flowerbeds and it keeps the grass free from overspray.
Once I was spraying a carnival game my husband built for our kids school & I overspray end an evergreen tree blue…I just sprayed it with green paint until it was time for a trim. Lol
I totally agree….What would we do without saw horses?….they are not “JUST FOR.OUR HUSBANDS…look out guys..you could lose them to your favorite DIY gal! They save on your back…and also are easy to move to where you need them to be..no more damaging my outdoor patio table! Keeping the paint off my (Knoxville) lawn is a plus too…since, I have painted just about everything in our home. Thanks for transforming furniture ideas too!!! Love it!
I’ve spray painted my things on top of my flat top trash cans for years…never a question who’s who’s when the wind blows them down the street!
So many unusual and creative things you can do with spray paint. It is a truly unique medium to create many variations of art. I love what you have done with yours!
Lookin’ good! I have really enjoyed reading your blog.
This year I discovered a great tool at Lowes. It is an attachment that just clips around very top of any spray can.It has a handle like a sprayer gun. I love it! you can move across any project and get an even spray without your finger getting tired and NO paint all over hands. I have only seen these at Lowes and they are around $7. Highly recommend getting one of these neat little gadgets..made so much difference in time and results. you just move it from can to can to change colors
I use a dollar store lazy Susan inside a box and prop it up with pizza box thingies lol. I don’t know what those white things for keeping the box lid off the pizza are called, but they work nicely for painting. I can spray wherever and not worry about overspray and the lazy Susan helps me rotate my piece. 🙂