Best Tips for “Cutting In” 

A fundamental debate rages in the professional painting community. When painting edges such as corners of ceilings, windows, or door trim, should painter’s tape be used or the steady hand of someone who can “cut in” properly? 

While we can not settle this dispute, we can give those who want to try cutting in a few tips on how to do it without making a mess of trim, baseboards, or ceiling edges. One of the best tools for this process is something you can’t find in any store – a steady hand. Without that, your lines may end up not as crisp as they should be. 

Let’s review some tried and true techniques that can help your cutting in process go smoother. 

Invest in High-Quality Angled Brushes 

Pro painters know that the tools you choose to work with can make or break a project. Using a high-quality angled brush can produce a sharp, crisp line with minimal brush strokes. 

An angled brush is especially important to be able to get into corners and work right up to the edge of a frame or baseboard. Square brushes do not give that flexibility and can often cause streaks or uneven lines. A novice will need any advantage they can get when cutting in, and an angled brush does that. 

Lightly Load the Brush 

One of the keys to successfully cutting on and not smudging the paint or going over the intended line is to only load the brush lightly with paint. Too much paint can cause drips or clumps that may not dry evenly. 

Additionally, when loading the brush wipe off extra paint on your paint bucket. Don’t dip it directly in the can. That can cause dripping and an overloaded brush. 

Don’t Start at the Line 

Let’s say you are painting a ceiling edge. Don’t start right at the line you are attempting to paint but a few inches back and work slowly toward the line. This gives the bulk of the paint to come off and allows you to control how far the paint goes. It also gives your hand a chance to steady as you move toward your goal. 

Use a Light Touch 

It may sound impossible but the more detailed your work, or the closer you are to an edge, the lighter your touch should be on the bristles. Pushing down hard can cause paint to drip. Using a light touch allows you to control the brush better. 

Fan the Brush 

A trick that many professional painters use is to fan out the bristles of the brush as you near the line you are creating. Fanning the bristles will only lightly skim by the line you are creating, allowing you to go back over it and make corrections if needed. 

Keep a Wet Rag Nearby 

No one, even professionals, is immune to mistakes. Always keep a damp or wet rag nearby to wipe up mistakes. If it’s wet, you should be able to wipe it away and start fresh. 

Cutting in takes patience and a steady hand. If you need help with your paint project call our team for a free quote. 

Categorised in: Interior painting, Jerry Enos, Trim and Molding