Best Painting Tools
As a painter for over 35 years, I've done tons of painting: literally. These are tools that save you time and cut through frustration. This page contains every painting tool you need to jump in. I'm with you.
Hi, I am Brad (The Painter!).
I am a professional painter for over 30 years, and I am now passing on tips and trade secrets to you.
Painting Basic Tools
Here are the main top-quality painting tools that we recommend. Our view is that using high-quality tools cuts the labor involved and saves time and money in the end. You can read more details about those tools in our article.
Purdy’s Nylox Series Dale Angular
Any water-based paint – bristles find corners by themselves – try the 2.5″ if you have a little experience.
Bucket System-1
5-Gallon Bucket replaces Pan/Tray
Pros use this rather than trays for rolling with the Screen/Grid you see here; for spraying get several buckets
Bucket System-2
Bucket Screen/Grid for 5-Gallon buckets: Insert into bucket and add paint for your roller.
Bucket System-3
Bucket Dolly makes moving the roller and bucket very easy instead of lifting as you move.
Lifetime tool
9″ Roller Frame
Won’t break or bend out of shape like others; fits both screw-type and quick-lock poles.
Go-To Roller Cover
Blend of Wool and Polyester
Wool holds a lot of paint; Poly gives long life. Read how easy these are to clean in this article.
Very good deal
Roller Cover 3/4-Inch Nap, 3-Pack
My go-to cover: fine for stains, paints, primers – won’t shed like budget covers.
Sherlock Convertible Extension Pole
Telescoping and quick to use; works with both older screw-type and newer quick-lock roller frames.
HANDY for PRO
Purdy Skinny Mini Roller Frame, 22 inch x 3/4 inch
We keep it handy for behind the toilet, behind radiators – even small ceilings
Useful all over the house
3-Step Ladder Platform Lightweight Folding Stool
This goes with us on every job – very stable and light
Basic drop cloth
Canvas 9 x 12 Cotton Drop Cloth
We use various sizes – these can be cut for 2 ‘runners’ for walls
Tray Kit
PURDY Painters Kit, 4-Piece
If you prefer tray to bucket: other brands’ rollers & brushes shed lint & bristles
Painting Prep Tools
Designed to make quick work of your prep job. Read more.
HANDY for PRO
3M Drill Attachment for stripping paint
A good alternative to buying a grinder: all you need is a drill.
HANDY for PRO
Bosch Angle Grinder, 5-inch
Variable speed, with 3M Sandblaster disk shown on this page makes quick work of paint removal.
HANDY for PRO
Fits all 4.5-5 inch angle grinders: may need adapter kit for some grinders.
HANDY for PRO
3M Drill Attachment for stripping paint
A good alternative to buying a grinder: all you need is a drill.
HANDY for PRO
Works with all 5 inch sanders that use ‘hook-n-loop’, aka velcro sandpaper
HANDY for PRO
More for smoothing, feathering than for removal of paint
Essential
Five sheets will be enough for perhaps 10 windows or 10 doors.
HANDY for PRO
Hyde Spackling and Putty Knife
For spackling holes – more flexible than the multi-tool shown on this page. Pros need both.
i
Essential
Every painter’s 3rd hand: fits in side pocket. Pulls nails, acts as hammer, squeeze paint rollers, much more.
Outdoor paint removal
Sun Joe’s most powerful pressure washer
We use this for prepping outdoor wood, especially decks: doubles as a car washer. These never die.
Works with Sun Joe
Sun Joe SPX-TSN-34S Quick-Connect Turbo Head Spray Nozzle
Rotating tip prevents water pressure damage to wood
Very adaptable
Little Giant 17-Foot Velocity Multi-Use Ladder, 300-Pound
Step ladder with many configurations – comes in 4 sizes
HANDY for PRO
Metaltech I- IMCNT Job Site Series 4-3/4 4 x 2 ft. Scaffold
Use daily, so great to move around
Paint Sprayers & Accessories
You can go much faster with your painting job with a good paint sprayer. Here are the main recommendations. You can read more about our top choices paint sprayers here.
Graco Magnum X5 Stand Airless Paint Sprayer
Designed for home-owners – reliable with great resale value
Professional Level
Graco Cart Pro Connect Paint Sprayer, 17C305 Pro210ES
Pricey for professional use – top gun…period.
Works with airless
Graco Pressure Roller Kit, 244512
Works with any Graco airless – cuts rolling time in half (or less)
Wand cuts time
Graco Sprayer Wand Extension w/Tip Guard, choice 3 lengths
Works with either Graco airless shown here – makes spraying much easier, faster.
DIY Power Roller
Wagner Spraytech, Multi-Room Powered Roller Cover
Budget power roller
5-gal bucket strainer
Paint Strainer fits over a 5-gallon bucket and has slot for sprayer siphon. Reusable, for all paints/stains. We filter even new paint as it all has some lumps.
Single use strainers
Cone Paint Strainer Filter Screens, 50 Pack
Essential for spraying and fine trim work; not really re-usable.
DIY Project
Wagner FLEXiO Sprayer, 590
More of a project sprayer – load one quart at a time
Low Budget
REXBETI Ultimate Paint Sprayer 500-watt
Very good reviews and growing.
3M Hand-Masker Pre-assembled Masking Film Kit, M3000
Very helpful with spray or any masking; protect larger areas from stain/paint
Works with hand masker
3M Hand-Masker Masking Film, 72-Inch
For use with 3M hand masker; for protecting large-size surfaces (windows, etc)
Almost all we use
6 Rolls Multi Use Painters Green Masking Tape
Use alone or to refill 3M hand masker. This will not pull paint off the wall even after days, unlike tan ‘old-fashioned’ tape.
Works with hand masker
Trimaco Masking Paper 24-inch x 1000-feet; better than 3M
For use with 3M hand masker; for protecting medium-size surfaces
Short term only
Sherwin Williams Professional Quality Masking Tape, 60 yards
For making straight lines – glue sticks in 3 hours (green tape for longer)
Rolls of plastic
Cardboard holder
Far better than our old metal shields. This is not as essential as the hand masker and drop cloth, but it is really handy to protect from overspray.
Respirators and Safety Accessories
Depending on your painting job, you will need some of those helpers – I use them a lot for sure
Life Saver
3M Respirator – Half Facepiece; choose size on page
Mask without filters – Need filter kit below or buy filters separately
Starter Kit
Paint Respirator Supply Kit
Use with 3M masks – contains chemical and outer filters plus clip
HEPA for dust, mold
3M Mold Remediation Respirator Kit 68097
Protect eyes and lungs- chemical cartridges sold separately
Strap-on Knee pads
NoCry Professional Knee Pads with Heavy Duty Foam
Real freedom comes from cushy knee pads – also for cleaning chores
Top Quality
Timesaving Painting Tools
Here what the pro are using to save time while painting. More details about how we use them in our article.
DIY Project
Sun Joe Pressure Joe 2030 PSI, 1.76 GPM, 14.5-Amp Electric
First phase of any deck work; essential add-on is the rotating tip
DIY Project
Sun Joe SPX-TSN-34S Quick-Connect Turbo Head Spray Nozzle
Rotating tip prevents water pressure damage to wood
Essential
Patton PUF1810C-BM 18-Inch High Velocity Fan
We never do a job without it – dries paint quickly & sucks fumes out window
Time Saving
Frigidaire 70-Pint Dehumidifier
Sucks the moisture out of the air – paint dries much quicker
Supplies for Prep
Here you have everything you need to prep your painting job. How to use them is described in our articles on painting. Doing a good prep job with the right painting tools is key for your next step.
Essential
Hand masker and drop cloths are under Sprayers above!
Essential
Red Devil Quick-dry Lightweight Spackling
Not as dense as the other spackle you see here, but dries very fast: best for very small holes.
Dries very hard
Red Devil Spackling
Dries slower, but harder and sands smoother than lightweight spackle also shown on this page.
Mold Killer
BioBarrier Mold Killer
Non-toxic mold removal – the bleach alternative (no respirator needed).
Great spackling
2
DAP Alex Flex Spackling, White
Interior/Exterior; an excellent all-purpose spackling compound.
Softens caulk
Caulk Remover from Motsenbocker
Lift Off softens the caulk to be removed: sometimes it is the only way to get old caulk out.
Paint remover
Nasty but efficient – removes layers of old paint. When the eco-safe-green products don’t cut the mustard, come home.
Deep cleans
TSP powder for deep cleaning prep
For deep clean of surfaces too dirty/greasy/slick to bond with paint
Cleaning Tools & Supplies
We explained how to use those tools in our posts: how to clean paint rollers and paint brushes. It is quick and easy with the right painting tools. Those inexpensive cleaning tools will keep your quality brushes and rollers for a long time. Don’t buy cheap rollers and brushes and trow away – your walls will be cover with lints and hairs that the low quality roller and brushes have shed – waste of time and frustration are guarantee!
Cleans paint on brush
Roller spinner
Purdy Brush and Roller Spinner Cleaning Tool, 140755200
Cleans roller covers and brushes very easily (see article)
Warner Paint Brush Comb & Roller Cover Cleaner, 279
Not for scraping off paint – used for combing brush bristles to dry straight
For glass etc.
Best thinner
Turpenoid Hypo-Allergenic Turpentine Substitute, 1 qt, Odorless
Safest mineral spirits available – highly recommended
For OIL
Motsenbocker’s Lift Off Oil-based Paint Remover
How to tell if dried paint is latex or oil? Read How to Remove Paint
For LATEX
Motsenbocker’s Lift Off 41345 Latex Paint Remover
Apply, soak, gently scrape.
Hand cleaner
GOJO Natural Citrus-Pumice Hand Cleaner
For cleaning hands of oil-based paint, primer, stain, grease
Goof Off Professional Strength Remover, 1 gal
Really works great, and does not harm the surface underneath.
Hand cleaner
GOJO Natural Citrus-Pumice Hand Cleaner
For cleaning hands of oil-based paint, primer, stain, grease
Odorless thinner
Painting Tools & Supplies
Products here are selected by a pro: reasonably priced, high-quality products. The key to doing quality work quickly is good painting tools.