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Builders’ Tip: Strain Paint for Touch-Ups, Without the Mess
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By the time you’ve opened a gallon of paint or varnish on the job a half-dozen times or more, you can be sure it’s covered with several layers of messy, dried gunk.
But if there’s still enough usable paint or varnish left in the can and you still have some touch-up work to do, you shouldn't throw it out. Instead, it’s time to strain the paint.
Straining the entire contents is definitely a messy and time-consuming job.
As shown in the accompanying drawing, I have figured out a simple way to work with only what I need, save time and bypass the mess. Here’s how:
- Instead of pouring all the paint through a strainer, I put my strainer in the paint.
- I stretch a cheesecloth strainer over the can and secure it with a rubber band.
- The cloth simply hangs in the paint or varnish and the finish that accumulates above the cloth is strained and free of contaminants.
It’s just right for touch-ups, and clean up is a snap.
— Don Mathis, via e-mail
Tips & Techniques provided by Fine Homebuilding.
©2009 The Taunton Press
To contact Fine Homebuilding, e-mail Christina Glennon.
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