Cutting in is a painting technique where you paint the edges and corners of a room before rolling the larger open wall spaces. Cutting in allows you to paint trim and corners neatly without getting paint where you don’t want it. While many professional painters have mastered cutting in by hand using an angled trim brush, there are also useful cutting in tools available to make the process faster and easier.
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What is cutting in when painting?
Cutting in refers to using a brush to paint the edges, corners, and trim of a wall before painting the main open areas. Usually cutting in is done with an angled sash brush which allows you to precisely paint trim and edges. Cutting in by hand takes practice to master but is essential for neatly painting walls and ceilings.
Cutting in involves carefully edging where the wall meets the trim, corners, ceiling, baseboards, doors, windows, and any other area that will not be covered by rolling paint. The main purpose of cutting in is to avoid getting paint where you don’t want it. Cutting in first prevents drips on trim and bleeding under tape when taping off adjacent surfaces.
Why do you need to cut in when painting a room?
There are a few key reasons cutting in is an important part of painting a room:
- Creates sharp paint lines between walls and trim
- Avoids getting paint on surfaces you don’t want painted
- Lets you paint edges and corners a different color than walls
- Prevents paint bleeding under masking tape
- Gives a professional paint finish
Cutting in by hand takes practice to neatly paint trim without going over onto the walls. Using cutting in tools can help create clean results faster and make painting edges effortless.
What tools can you use for cutting in?
There are a variety of handy tools that can help with cutting in to make painting edges and corners neat and easy. Cutting in tool options include:
- Paint edgers – Pad edgers and roller edgers make cutting in quick.
- Paint pads – Pads designed for cutting in help guide steady lines.
- Power paint edgers – Battery powered edgers cut super straight lines fast.
- Paint pens – Thin nozzles allow precise edging around trim.
- Frog tape – Specialty tapes create extra sharp paint lines.
Pad Painter and Roller Edger
Pad painter and roller edger tools allow you to quickly ‘cut in’ along ceilings, baseboards, trim, and corners. These tools have an absorbent pad or roller that evenly distributes paint along edges faster than a regular brush.
Pad edgers and roller edgers come in different sizes and shapes to make cutting in easier in corners, along ceilings, or around trim work. Small roller edgers are great for cutting around windows and doors while an extender handle allows you to easily cut in high walls and ceilings.
Benefits of Using a Pad Edger or Roller Edger
- Cuts precise and straight lines in less time
- Mess-free cutting around trim and corners
- Minimizes brush strokes on flat surfaces
- Faster edging with no taping required
- Angled edgers make corners easy
- Extender handles let you cut in high areas
Power Paint Edgers
Power paint edgers take the cutting in process to the next level. These battery powered tools have a small roller that applies paint evenly along edges, powered by an electric motor. This creates perfect lines with no effort compared to manual edging.
Power edgers allow you to cut in all the edges of a room quickly with no taping needed. They are great for cutting along ceilings, baseboards, crown molding, door and window trim, and wall edges. Models with swivel heads make edging corners seamless.
Advantages of Power Paint Edgers
- Super sharp paint lines with no effort
- Cordless operation for easy maneuverability
- Swivel heads reach corners easily
- Cuts in faster than by hand
- No drips, splatters, or need for taping
- Consistent coverage and even lines
Paint Pads
Using a paint pad can make cutting in along edges faster and give highly controlled results. Paint pads have an absorbent material that holds and distributes paint. Many have a built in hand guard to slide smoothly along trim without marking walls.
Small square paint pads work well for edging between walls and trim. For cutting in ceilings and high walls, rectangular or angled pads on a pole allow you to reach easily. Paint pads take a bit of practice but create very clean edges.
Paint Pad Benefits
- Guides steady straight cutting lines
- Minimizes brush strokes
- Faster edging than traditional brushes
- Pole handles for extended reach
- Pads resist drips and splattering
Paint Pens
Paint pens can be handy for precise cutting in. The fine tapered tip allows you to cleanly edge corners and intricately detailed trim work. Paint pens give you full control for edging and touch ups in tight or hard to reach spots.
Look for paint pens designed for use on a variety of surfaces like wood, drywall, metal and more. Make sure to get pens with quick drying enamel paint that resist drips and bleed through.
Benefits of Paint Pens for Cutting In
- Ultra fine tips for detailed trim edging
- Ideal for touch ups in tight areas
- Help edge corners and angles neatly
- Dispense right amount of paint
- Quick drying enamels prevent bleeding
Frog Tape
While not technically a cutting in tool, using high quality painters tape like Frog Tape can help create super sharp paint edges. The PaintBlock Technology in Frog Tape resists bleed through and delivers ultra crisp paint lines.
Apply Frog Tape along baseboards, ceilings, trim, and anywhere you don’t want paint to overlap. The tape eliminates the need to cut in those edges by hand. Remove the tape immediately after painting before the paint dries.
Frog Tape Painting Benefits
- Resists paint bleed to keep edges crisp and clean
- Creates sharp paint lines in less time
- Easily paint borders or patterns
- No need to cut in edges covered with tape
Tips for Cutting In
Follow these tips to make cutting in quicker, easier and achieve straight edges:
- Use high quality angled sash brushes for best control
- Keep brush strokes smooth and consistent
- Use extendable handles for cutting in ceilings
- Always cut in before painting main walls
- Apply painter’s tape parallel to trim to guide cuts
- Cut in walls working top to bottom
- Use bright lights to see edges clearly
- Take your time and don’t rush tricky corners
Conclusion
Cutting in by hand can be a tedious and time consuming process, but is vital for achieving professional paint results. Using cutting in tools like pad edgers, power paint edgers, specialty paint pads and tapes can help make the process much faster and easier. Cutting in tools allow you to paint edges quickly with clean sharp lines.
Power paint edgers make edging effortless, while pad edgers and paint pads efficiently guide straight smooth lines. Paint pens come in handy for precise trim details and Frog Tape delivers super crisp edges without cutting in by hand. Mastering cutting in techniques and using the right tools leads to perfectly painted rooms.
Summary Table
| Cutting In Tool | Best For | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Pad Painter | Edges, ceilings, trim | Fast, even lines |
| Roller Edger | Trim, windows, doors | Precision edging |
| Power Edger | All edges, corners | Sharp lines with no effort |
| Paint Pad | Walls, ceilings, trim | Smooth controlled lines |
| Paint Pen | Detailed trim, corners | Precise edging |
| Frog Tape | Crisp wall/trim edges | No bleed or cutting in |