Hidden Gems
Hidden Gem Tools
With my online platforms, store, and resources, I’m fortunate to have access to new tools out there for painters, contractors, and anyone in the trades - DIYer’s and professionals alike. So, here are some tools, both new and old that I think are some hidden gems that anyone could benefit from with a variety of jobs. All of these tools and products are things that I think are really cool, and may save you time and money if you decide to use them.
Zipwall
Have you heard of Zipwall? This company and their technology has been around since the 1990’s and they are known for their products to help set up dust barriers. As a painter, Zipwall’s tech can be used to create spray booths for working on cabinet and furniture jobs, or to simply wall off any areas where you’re working on projects to stop dust and debris from spreading. Their pole system can help you easily create a structure or frame to your booth and barrier.
Zipwall’s namesake product is a zipper door frame that you can attach to your dust barrier that allows you to completely enclose the area, but also allows you to enter and exit quickly and easily with the zippers. You can also roll up the door material if you need it out of your way.
At a recent hardware show, I got to talk to a representative of Zipwall and hear about their new products! Now available is their ZipDoor® Magnetic door kit, which allows you to come from either side of the door easily with no hands! The door is self-closing, easy to install with double-sided tape (included in the kit), covers a doorway, and gives you hands-free access. With dirty hands or hands full of tools, worry no more - go in and out of your booth or dust barrier with ease.
Tough Gaff
And well, if you keep finding that your hands are always full and you need somewhere to set your tools down, like your masking tape, this tool might be what you need. The Tough Gaff gets rid of the need to hold your tape in your mouth or to try and fit it on your wrist. Another hands-free solution to keeping your tools on your body instead of in your hands - keeping you from working efficiently!
Originally designed to hold “gaff tape”, this is a tool designed to be used by the lighting and electric departments on film sets, but it also serves a purpose for painters or anyone needing to hold tape close to them. Simply slide the tough gaff onto your waistband and slip your rolls of tape on.
Depending on the size of your tape, you can fit one or two rolls onto it. Then, your tape will be held but still on your body! Nearby, but out of the way. Tape goes on easy and comes off easier.
Socket Blockers
Speaking of masking and tape, here’s a solution to start using less masking tape! When it comes to masking light switches and outlets, in the past the easy and only way was to simply slap a few pieces of tape right over the area, and remove them when you’re done painting. But with Socket Blockers, there’s an even easier application and removal process, plus they are reusable!
Simply peel, stick, paint. Made from recycled bottles right here in the USA, this product is more eco-friendly to use than throwing away paint every time you need to mask off an outlet. Use Socket Blockers up to 4 or 5 times - as long as the adhesive lasts.
When using masking tape, you will have to cover with multiple pieces to cover the outlet completely, including the sides. Even if you are really good at cutting-in around outlets, accidents can always happen, and it’s always better to prepare than to fix.
Cabinet Touch Up Brush Set
But, if you need to fix something, why not check out this touch up brush set. When it comes to painting furniture and cabinets, I’ve always got this set of touch up brushes nearby just in case something goes wrong, or there’s a nick, ding, scratch, mar, etc.
Having a set like this ensures that you have a variety of brush sizes at your disposal. When it comes to doing touch ups, you want to use a brush that is as close to the size of the needed touch up. It is key to apply only as much paint as needed, nothing more, nothing less. That’s the key to doing perfect touch ups.
For more tips and tricks for doing touch ups on furniture, and for painting, refinishing, and flipping furniture, check out our Online Furniture Refinishing Course where you can learn everything from A to Z about flipping furniture, and hopefully you’ll make a few extra dollars on the side doing so!
Furniture Sliders
And well, if you’re working on furniture and are having trouble moving heavier pieces around, these furniture sliders are going to be a life saver. Even if you’re moving furniture out of a room to paint it, these are going to be helpful for easily sliding furniture around on carpet, hardwood, or vinyl flooring - any surface that is smooth.
Simply tilt the furniture forward and slide a furniture slider under each corner, and then you’ll be able to move the furniture around easily, and by yourself if you’re doing a solo job. Keeping a few of these around is always going to be beneficial, and you never know when you’re going to need to have one of these handy.
Whizz Flex Roller Frame
Another tool that might come in handy when you least expect is this flexible roller frame. The thin and bendy frame allows you to paint in areas that are hard to reach, like behind a toilet or behind a TV that you don’t want to go through the hassle of taking down. Need to get behind cabinets or radiators? Give this roller frame a try!
Not every tool is going to be one that you need every day, but when you do need it, you’ll be glad you have it. This is a pretty unique tool that fits any 4” or 6” roller on the frame. This can even help out people who are shorter but aren’t looking to purchase an extension pole, as this can extend your reach, plus this frame is super lightweight!
Pick Tool Set
Speaking of small areas that you might need to work in, this pick tool set is perfect for cleaning out the nooks and crannies of HVLP and airless spray guns and tips. If warm water isn’t doing the trick, or if any paint has dried and been left behind, these picks can be used to get any remaining product out that might prevent the gun from operating smoothly.
This 5-piece pick tool set also comes with options like a small mirror, tweezers, and a flat pick, which could potentially be useful for cleaning, but that you might also end up using for other purposes on other jobs. Having little tools like this is always beneficial. It’s a small inexpensive thing to purchase that is going to help you get your HVLP and airless spray guns and tips squeaky clean to help you get a smooth fine finish on your projects.
Muddskip
Now, if you’re working on drywall projects, you might be looking for that same smooth fine finish, and Muddskip is going to help you achieve that - in half the time as usual! Muddskip is a powdered drywall additive that allows you to apply multiple coats in one day without sanding, and without the stress of muds that dry quickly. It gives you more working time; you are able to apply another coat as soon as the previous one firms up.
Normally, if you were to apply another coat before it’s fully dry, it would begin to pull off the previous coat, but not with this product! Within 20 minutes to an hour, you can begin applying your next coat. Plus, this product allows the mud to be more forgiving, allowing you to fix errors in your coat by misting it with water and skimming to try and fix those areas.
You’ll also notice that while you’re applying this product, the mud feels much smoother and creamier, creating a stress-free application process. And while Muddskip doesn’t change the drying time of the drywall mud, it just changes the mud so that you can work with it longer. 1 bag goes into one bucket/bag or mud, and just like that you’ll be cutting your project time in half.
To find out more information about Muddskip or to buy this product, check out their website!
If you would like more information about any of the other products described above, here are some video resources, and you can also visit paintlifesupply.com to buy them, unless otherwise specified. Plus, stay tuned into our social media for our Tool Talk Tuesday or Mystery Bin Monday videos, where we dive into more tools!
Videos:
Tool Talk Tuesday | Tough Gaff, Socket Blockers, Furniture Sliders
Tool Talk Tuesday | Whizz Flex Roller Frame, Pick Tool Set, Touch Up Brush Set