Pro Painting Tools You Need in Your Paint Tool Kit

PAINTERS MULTI-TOOL

This is such a handy painting tool to have in your possession. Every pro painter has one.

This is a tool that should stay in your back pocket the entire time you are painting. It’s an awesome tool for opening cans, scraping rollers, applying spackle in a pinch when you are stuck on a ladder, stripping old paint globs on trim, pulling nails, and even opening beer bottles.

I prefer the Dewalt 9 in-1 multitool. It’s reliable and can do the following: Curved scrapers, straight scrapers, gaugers, screwdrivers, roller cleaners, nail pullers, can openers, bottle openers, and alloy metal hammer ends.

DROP CLOTHS

I suggest investing in high-quality drop cloths with nonslip backing to ensure that not only all paint is blocked from making contact with your floor but also stays in place. Sure, you can use old sheets, but paint tends to go right through them, and they are a slippery nightmare, causing you more harm than good.

Investing in high-quality drop cloths will not only save you the hassle of unnecessary messes, but you will have them to use on your next painting project. Drop cloths are completely washable, too!

Another option is plastic sheeting. While plastic sheeting keeps the paint from going through, it’s slippery, and it won’t absorb any larger drips or spills. If you ask me, cloth drop cloths are the way to go.

SCRAPER

A scraper is always a useful piece of painting equipment to have on hand. It has a flat steel blade that makes it useful in various ways, including removing wallpaper or scraping old paint.

QUICK DRY SPACKLE

Painters Putty works great on minor cracks, dents, and small nail holes on your walls. A lightweight, quick-dry spackle would work just as well.

For deeper cracks, there is the tape and spackle method, or you can use Plaster of Paris, which dries quickly. Don’t use spackle when fixing cracks, dents, and holes in wood, such as window trim. Spackle doesn’t adhere to wood, so your best option would be to use Painters Putty or a product like Minwax High-Performance Filler.

SPACKLE KNIFE / PUTTY JOINT KNIFE

It’s important to have a spackle knife or putty joint knife because they effortlessly apply spackle, putty, plaster, etc. You may be thinking, why can I just use the 9-1 tool? Basically, a spackle knife is more flexible, allowing you to easily apply the product you are using. If you were to use a 9-1 tool or a scraper, you would be struggling because those two are sturdier and not flexible.

SANDPAPER / SANDING BLOCK

Now that you have fixed all the cracks, dents, and holes in your interior walls, you need to sand them down. Good old sandpaper works just as well. Depending on the shape of the walls, sometimes the pros will give the entire wall a good sanding not only to ensure a smooth, workable surface but also for better adhesion.

When sanding molding, it’s better to use a sanding sponge. These sponges are moldable, making it easier to get all the details of the trim. They also last a bit longer than the sandpaper itself. 

I suggest purchasing a variety pack of sandpaper with a few different grits.

DRYWALL POLE SANDER

A drywall pole sander is widely used by professionals. it is generally utilized for large-area sanding and is an ideal tool for sanding drywall and painted walls. It’s also extremely handy for hard-to-reach areas and flat-wall sanding.

A drywall pole sander will smooth out the walls of any tiny bumps in the drywall and patched spots. It’s a great tool, and it’s relatively inexpensive. More DIYers need to know about it.

BUCKET

A bucket or two are super handy paint tools to have on hand. First, you can use them to carry and transport the smaller painting equipment you have. Second, a bucket is used when you are cleaning. For example, prior to painting, it’s a good idea to clean your walls to ensure the paint adheres properly.

SPONGE

I always have a sponge with my painting tools. It’s used to clean the walls. but it can also be used in case you spill something, It’s a great way to clean up whatever it is quickly.

PAINTERS TAPE

Painters tape is a useful tool to have when painting a room. It works wonders for fixtures that cannot be removed, such as ceiling lights. A little tape wrapped around the fixture will protect it from the paint.

As for using tape when cutting in, professionals aren’t fully for or against it. According to the Professionals, some of the cons of using painter’s tape are for starters, it’s time-consuming. But, if you aren’t on a strict timeline to get a room painted, using painter’s tape is an excellent idea to ensure a perfectly straight edge.

Another use for painter’s tape is marking where touchups need to be made. It pinpoints the problems so you don’t have to search for them when you are ready to touch up.

SCREWDRIVER

A screwdriver is a must-have painter’s tool. There will be light switch covers to remove and other random things that you may need a screwdriver for. It’s a tool that everyone should have in their home, regardless of if you are painting or not.

Screwdrivers come in different sizes, so a 5 in 1 multi-bit screwdriver is ideal for homeowners who want to create a paint tool kit without spending a ton of money.

WIRE BRUSH

The wire brush is primarily an abrasive implement, used for cleaning rust and removing paint. It is also used to clean surfaces and to create a better conductive area for attaching electrical connections, such as those between car battery posts and their connectors, should they accumulate a build-up of grime and dirt. When cleaning stainless steel, it is advisable to use a stainless steel bristle wire brush, as a plain carbon steel brush can contaminate the stainless steel and cause rust spots to appear. Brass bristle brushes are used on softer surfaces or when it is necessary to clean a harder surface without marring it. Brass bristle brushes are also used in potentially flammable environments where non-sparking tools are required. Wire brushes are also used to clean the teeth of large animals, such as crocodiles and pigs. They are also used widely in surface engineering to clean the castings prior to painting.

Wikipedia

As you can see, a wire brush is an awesome tool to have in your painting kit. And if you ever need to clean a crocodile’s teeth, you are set.

POUR SPOUT

A paint can pour spout is a game-changer if you are clumsy or messy by nature. It keeps the paint from pouring all over the sides of the paint can, creating more mess to clean. I am a fan of the pour spout. It may not be essential, but it sure is an awesome painting tool to have in your kit.

CAULK GUN / CAULK

A caulk and a caulk gun are essential to have on hand.

A caulk gun is a tool that allows you to properly apply caulk or any type of sealant. Caulk is a product that is used to seal and fill in gaps and cracks. For instance, between a window frame and jamb or baseboards and the wall.

The best time to caulk is after everything is repaired and cleaned. The pros say to prime first, caulk, then paint.

WORK GLOVES

Personally, I hate it when my hands are dirty. I don’t like the feeling. So I always have a pair of work gloves on as well as a backup pair (just in case). Work gloves are also great if you are a messy painter. Instead of paint all over your hands, it will be on the gloves.

PAINTERS PAINTS

A professional painter will always have a pair of painter’s pants. Is this a painting tool must-have? No, but painter’s pants are made specifically for paintings, so they are equipped with special pockets to hold all the best painting tools you need within arm’s reach.

Plus, painter’s pants will make you feel like a true professional painter. They say dress for the job you want, right?

FAN

A fan can be handy. For example, on a humid day, you can crack open the top of a double-hung window and have the fan on the ground angled upwards. This will circulate the air and let out the warm air or humidity.

TACT CLOTH

Tack cloth (tack rag; tac cloth) is a specialized type of wiping cloth that is treated with a tacky material. It is designed to remove loose particles of dust, dirt and lint that would contaminate a surface that is to be painted, coated, laminated, photo-etched, or otherwise finished.

Wikipedia

A tack cloth is a plentiful painting supply to have on hand. If you know you will be doing a lot of sanding or creating a lot of dust, it’s an awesome little cloth to have. Its tacky substance will remove dust and dirt to ensure you get a smooth, flawless finish.

KNIFE / BLADE

A knife or blade is a great little tool to have on hand. It can be used for all sorts of things, from scraping old paint off windows to opening a box.

PAINT BRUSH

A paint brush is an essential tool for a painter, obviously. But not just any old brush; a high-quality brush is a must-buy in my book.

Having a high-quality paintbrush will make a difference in the paint application. It will glide on smoothly, creating a beautiful finish. Not only will a high-quality brush make your paint application easier and better, but it will also last a long time if you take proper care of it.

As for sizes, I suggest a 2 1/2 inch angled brush. and 1 inch brush.

MINI ROLLER

A mini roller, cage, and tray are useful additions to your painting tool kit; however, I wouldn’t say they are essentials. A mini roller isn’t needed for painting walls. But if you plan on painting furniture or cabinets, the mini roller comes in handy. It’s smaller, so it makes it easier to paint smaller things.

ROLLER COVER

ROLLER CAGE

PAINT TRAY & LINERS

Let me just talk about the roller cage, cover, and tray in one breath. This is another fairly obvious one, but these three tools are important to have in your painter’s tool kit. Can you imagine trying to paint a room with just a paint brush? No, I can’t either.

We know we need these, but the key is to have a high-quality roller cage and cover. It’s the same principle as the paint brush , something that is on the higher quality end of things with aid in the ease and application of the paint.

extension pole

An extension pole is an essential tool in certain situations. For example, if you have a high ceiling, the extension pole will allow you to reach the higher spots on the top of the wall. It’s also great to have when you are painting ceilings.

It’s not only good for painting but also useful when you need to dust hard-to-reach places, such as a ceiling fan.

step ladder

A step ladder is a must, there is no debating this one. I will admit I have used other things in place of a ladder to paint in higher spots of the walls, and as they did get the job done, it’s simply unreliable and not safe. Investing in a step ladder will, of course, be useful when you are painting, but there are a ton of other reasons to use a step ladder. Overall, it is a valuable piece of equipment to have in your home.

Extension Ladder

Extension ladders are crucial for professional painters. They tackle all types of painting jobs, both interior and exterior. The extension ladder is most often used for exterior work.

Unless you are painting a room with an extremely high ceiling, I don’t think an extension ladder is a must-have. That being said, if you own a home and like to do projects yourself, an extension ladder is always good to have for things like cleaning gutters or even hanging Christmas lights.

work lights

A dedicated work light is a fantastic piece of equipment to have on hand. It is great when the lighting in the room you are painting is not quite up to par. It also allows you to inspect the walls for imperfections before and after painting.

rags

Rags are a must in your painter’s tool kit. You should always have some sort of rag around when you are doing any type of painting. Sometimes, there will be a drip or spill that needs to be cleaned ASAP, and having a rag on you at all times will save you in these sticky situations.

The best thing about rags is that they can be anything, old t-shirts, old towels, old sheets, or that one shirt your husband wears that is hideous. Basically, anything will work.

HEAT GUN

You may think a heat gun is an unexpected painting tool. However, it is very common in a pro painter tool kit. It’s used to remove old paint and wallpaper.

It’s also typically used for shrinking heat shrink tubes, shrinking wrap, heating PVC and electronics, removing paint or floor tiles, loosening rusted bolts, and other heating or thawing purposes. And believe it or not, heat guns are pretty cheap, so they’re a tool you can own and within reach.

paint sprayer

A paint sprayer is an amazing piece of painting equipment. It makes painting so much faster, especially when painting crown molding and cabinet doors. However, it is not an essential tool. First, high-quality sprayers can be very costly, and second, they aren’t sensible purchases for the average homeowner painting a room.

If you are a more advanced DIYer or you frequently paint furniture, I think a paint sprayer can surely benefit you and your needs.

wide roller cage, Cover & Tray

BUY HERE

These three things, a wider roller cage, cover, and bucket, are all part of the pros’ painting tool kit. A wider roller set is great for a large surface area. For example, if you were to paint the entire interior of a newly built or existing home, the wide width would allow you to cover more surface area at a time, making the job go faster.

Professional painters tend to have a schedule they must stick to, and every minute counts. That’s where a wide roller comes into play. Is it necessary for the average homeowner to have one in their painter’s kit? No, certainly not. A normal 9-inch roller is perfectly suitable instead.

Cut Bucket

I 100% think having a dedicated cut bucket is a necessary part of your painting kit. It honestly just makes sense. It allows you to easily take the paint with you where you need to go, whether it is up the step ladder or on the floor.

I’ll take it a step further and say that a cut bucket with a handle is key. That handle has saved me a few times from dropping the bucket out of my hands. We all have our clumsy moments and if there is any way to avoid them, I’ll gladly take it!

I’ll boldly say my handy pail cut bucket is one of the best paint tools I own,

respirator / mask

A face mask is always a good thing to have on hand. It prevents you from breathing in harmful particles and fumes from painting or sanding.

A respirator is a must for professionals who use or regularly encounter spray paints or industrial paints. It protects against the damaging effects of inhaling the toxic substance present in paints, stains, and other similar substances.

edging tool

Among some professional painters, an edging tool is not their favorite supply. They prefer using a brush to do the job. And that makes sense because they are professionals, and they have the steady hand to make clean, crisp, straight lines.

Now, if you are new to painting and do not trust yourself to make a straight line along moldings, etc., an edging tool may be the perfect little painting gadget for you. The key to an edging tool is to wipe it before each application. This will keep things clean and crisp.

HAND MASKER

A masking tool applies painter’s tape to masking film or paper in one continuous application. This is such a time-saving tool if you need to tape and protect surfaces you don’t want to get paint on. For example, it can be used to protect doorknobs rather than removing them to paint.

This is definitely a timesaving product that professionals utilize.

NAIL SET & HINGE PIN TOOL

This set is a double-ended tool that is used for setting fine finish and larger nails. This little set basically eliminates the need for the hammer in a pinch. You can easily set any nail with the nail set. It can also be used to remove any door by effortlessly popping the door pins without damaging the molding or door trim.

This is a pro-painter tool that is not as commonly known as some of the others. The best thing about this tool is that it’s small enough to keep in your pocket, so you can always have it on hand.

Will the average DIY homeowner need to carry this in their pocket? No, but it is a sound addition to their tool kit and inexpensive, so it won’t break the bank.

Drill

Obviously, when you are painting a room, you remove everything from the walls. And for many people, it’s time to redecorate and rearrange furniture, art, etc. A drill is an excellent tool to have on hand to be able to properly re-hang whatever it is you need to re-hang.

mop

Cleaning up is a part of your paint project, which means you need the tools to get it done. Hopefully, you already own a mop. If not, please tell me your secrets! Seriously, though, if you do any sort of sanding, the dust will settle everywhere, in rooms that you don’t even work in. So, have a mop handy to clean it all up rather than track it around.

Also, a thorough floor cleaning is a good thing to do after the room is painted and all your paint tools, gadgets, and equipment are put away.

shop vac

I think it’s a good idea to own a shop vac, painting kit or not. It’s meant to clean up all the sanding dust debris quickly and easily. If you are anything like me and cherish the very expensive Dyson you treated yourself to, there is no way it’s being used to clean up construction remnants. Do yourself a favor and purchase a wet/dry shop vac.

paint brush and roller spinner

Anything that makes cleaning up easier is a win in my eyes. A paint brush and roller spinner are probably two of the best pro painting tools to have in your kit.

Have you recently washed a brush or roller by hand? It stinks, takes forever, and is a waste of water and time. Enter the spinner. This awesome tool makes the cleaning process a breeze, and you have to make sure you properly clean and care for those high-quality brushes and rollers you bought.

A paint mixer bit for your drill comes in handy when you are using paint that comes in the large 5 gallon buckets. Can you imagine trying to shake a big bucket like that? At the most, it would be comical and you will get a good laugh from it.

But to easily mix paint for both 1 and 5 gallons, simply attach the mixing drill bit to your drill and mix away. This is a very effective tool that gets the job done.