Am I just the world's worst trim painter? Streaks!!

16 years ago

I have some trim (it's down now, as the door was moved and we're just about to put the trim back up) that we're painting that had been stained before. I sanded, filled imperfections and sanded again...then I applied some "prep & prime gripper multipurpose" primer I got at ICI yesterday as I was picking up my EK trim paint. I also have some Zinsser primer at home, but I was trying this one.

Anyway, I just *could not* get the primer to apply without uneven lines from the paintbrush! Used a Purdy 1" -- have a Purdy 2-1/2" and a Corona 2-1/2" as well, but used the smaller one, thinking I'd be able to control it better...I haven't tried a larger one yet--could that be the problem?

So the primer is uneven, thicker in some places than others, and there was also *no way* I could do what I had been told at the BM store (also used Titanium in a different place), to do the whole piece of trim in one swoop and then go back over it lightly the whole way once and leave it. That's 8' of swoop! Can't do it--the paint is gone by about 1/3 of the way. I have no choice but to start again midway through, and usually again toward the end.

What am I doing wrong? When I used a tight foam roller I got little bubbles in the paint sticking up, too. Please help--we have several doors/windows and trim for several rooms to do before we're done...and I'm feeling utterly frustrated. Walls I can do, ceilings, but not trim!

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Comments (5)

Michael
16 years ago
It's the Gripper primer. Sand it smooth. Even if you have to use an agressive grit, it needs to be sanded smooth. Then prime it with a more user friendly primer like SW Classic or Bulls Eye 1 2 3.

The store help didn't mean to apply one brush full the entire 8'. A properly loaded brush will cover about 6-8". Besides, Gripper will not be smooth if you back brush in to it because it sets up very quickly. Be sure to prime from dry to wet edge, the same as painting.

Michael
mahatmacat1
Original Author
16 years ago
Hi Michael,

Thanks for the response. I'll sand it down and use the 123. That's what I had at home, but of course the ICI guy had to sell us on his instead of the Zinnser...can I put a bit of Floetrol in the Gripper to make it friendlier so I can use it rather than scrap it entirely?

And PHEW about the application technique...A question about the wet-to-dry: I use rollers on the walls and have never had problems with lines or anything...could you please explain wet-to-dry, as in let's say you paint 8" of moulding. Then you put more paint on the brush-do you start where the paint ended or do you start, say, 8" *away* from where the paint ended and work back to the end of the last brush? Just so I can be sure. If I start where the first 8" ended, I get a ridge...thanks in advance.

Off to sand.
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mahatmacat1
Original Author
16 years ago
Hmmm, something interesting: either I'm getting my painting groove back and my touch is improving, or the switch to the Corona chinex brush made a HUGE difference. I'm painting something else now (other trim, already primed) and it's coming out *much* smoother. Is it the paint (Devine trim paint, with a little floetrol--could that be helping?)? Or the brush?

I'm really thinking, unless I'm told definitely not to, to try some floetrol in the Gripper before I toss it. If you happen to see this, michael, I'd really like your thoughts on it. I'll never buy it again, but I do have a quart here that I might as well not waste...
Michael
16 years ago
Floetrol will extend the wet edge of the Gripper, but it's made to bond quickly and strongly, making it more difficult to brush a smooth finish on trim.

The Chinex brush does make a dramatic difference! It's all I use now for every paint.

As for brushing dry to wet, begin 6-8" away from the wet edge and brush up to it, lifting the brush away when it blends the two edges together. :)

Michael
mahatmacat1
Original Author
16 years ago
Ah! Dry to wet demystified--thanks!

Interesting about the Gripper...sure wish the ICI guy had told me that.

I think I'm going to treat myself to a second Chinex brush (1.5") for this process.

This is all so helpful--thanks again.

Am I just the world's worst trim painter? Streaks!!

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Am I just the world's worst trim painter? Streaks!!

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