I've always had luck with the metal pieces that look like they came from
venetian blinds. The idea is to not have too much paint on the brush and
keep the metal underside clean.


"andy everett" wrote in message
news:mH5yf.1018$Zo.498@trnddc07...
I'm in the middle of fixing up a home used as a rental unit. As the home
is older and some what abused it will not command a premium and as such
both the owner and myself agree that we are not to spend too much time
and money on it. However a complete paint job on the interior is
warranted. Many windows, each with seven panes of glass (6 over 1),
posed a problem, painting windows is very time consuming. My hand can be
fairly steady but pretty slow. This job must be done fast. I thought the
time spent taping the windows would be regained by being able to paint
faster. I tested this on one window and was disappointed how long it
took to try and tape the window (tape also did not stick well to clean
and dry glass, 3m tape). I have used metal tools that aid in painting
windows but the paint wants to wick around the metal and does not do as
good a job as one might hope.

New trick. Take a piece of high quality 3m masking tape and use it to
cover the end of a high quality and flexible 6 inch and 12 inch spackle
knife. The half of the tape covers the end of the knife length wise and
then it is folded over to cover the other side of the knife. The fold is
kept sharp. This tool is then placed at the juncture between the glass
and the wood frame and you paint like mad. The tool is pulled straight
away and if needed the under side is given a quick swipe on some old
newspaper to clean off any paint the might have come around. With the 6
and 12 inch spackle knives modified this way the window was quickly and
neatly painted with the added bonus that the juncture between the glass
and wood was sealed with paint as we are told to do. The tape for some
reason seems to reduce or eleminate the paint wicking around the knife.
Any explanations out there?

An old dog can learn a new trick.