How to choose a paint spatula?

It is difficult to imagine any repair without the use of a spatula. If you choose it correctly, you can save a lot of time when applying putty, removing wallpaper or laying cracks. A paint spatula will help to apply the plaster, give it its original shape. Such a tool is inexpensive, but its benefits are enormous.

Content:

• Destination
• Spatula selection
• Types of spatulas
• Storage and Care Tips

Destination

How to distinguish the painting type of spatula from other types? It has a trapezoid shape, a handle made at an angle from wood or plastic. The spatula work plate must be made of stainless steel. The tool can be either small or large and quite flexible.

A spatula is used in such cases:

• small surface treatment;
• closing up different cracks;
• hard putty of difficult surfaces;
• putty surfaces in the room;
• shaping walls and ceilings;
• filling potholes.

This type of tool is often used to remove wallpaper, scraping glue, putties and various types of wall painting.

Spatula selection

There are several rules that you must follow in order to choose a good spatula:

1. The putty knife should be made with stainless steel. In extreme cases, a rubber tool will do.
2. The handle should be comfortable. This can be understood simply by holding the tool in your hand.

3. Before purchasing, you need to evaluate how resilient the work surface is. To assess the elasticity, you need to hold the handle with one hand and pull the blade with the second one. If it just bent, then you should not buy. The same applies to a spatula, the blade of which does not bend at all.
4. Long and narrow instruments will be difficult to work with.
5. It is better to opt for a tool with a rectangular blade, since it will be easier to type putty.
6. The blade should not be sharp, otherwise problems may arise when applying mortar. A tool with a sharp blade is needed to remove painting or wallpaper from the walls.
7. The handle and blade must be connected.
8. The blade should be smooth, without flaws.

Types of spatulas

There are several types of paint spatulas that are used for different purposes.

1. Normal painting. This tool is suitable for all types of painting, but if you want to make a curly finish on the wall, create a wood effect or work in hard-to-reach places, it will not be very simple, so it’s better to buy several types of tools if different types of painting are supposed.

2. Rubber. It is used if you need to apply thick glue, mastic, grout, putty on a non-standard surface. Also, it is useful when sealing joints and seams. A distinctive feature of a rubber tool is that it does not scratch the surface.The spatula is very flexible, so it is well suited for working with curly surfaces. It adapts to the base. Such a tool is made from a single piece of rubber, usually without a handle. There are several types: rectangle, trapezoid, wedge, figure eight. The best rubber spatula is with round edges. It can be made with soft or hard rubber. Tools with hard rubber are barely bent and very durable. They are used for inaccessible places on the walls. To choose a good rubber tool you need to make sure that it is flexible enough. To do this, you need to monitor how quickly it returns to its original form. When bending the rubber should not be cracked.
3. To simulate a pattern of wood. Such a tool has a special applicator, which allows you to create a similar effect. It is necessary to understand some features of the material in order to create the effect of imitation wood. Such paint spatulas do not smooth the paint on the walls, but create bumps. Their surface is ribbed with arcs, which helps to create the desired effect. To work with such a painting tool is as easy as using a regular one. The coating must be carried out from top to bottom to form a wood cut. It remains only to paint the solution in the desired color and get the effect of a tree. The putty knife must be polished steel, the edge sharp and the handle comfortable. The movements when applying the solution to the walls need to be done quickly, and the strokes should overlap each other. The color will be darker where the layers overlap.

4. Figured. This type has a small size, not quite the correct shape and a sharp edge. The handle is at the right angle. With this tool, you can draw whole pictures on plaster. Smears will have a beautiful shape. They put paint on the wall, then rub it or scrape it off. You can work with a curly putty knife in two ways: hold as a scoop or as a bow. This tool will help to give a certain shape to the paint.
5. Toothed. Using this type of spatula, an interesting texture is created on the walls. If the composition of the paint is thick, then the teeth should be rectangular, if the liquid - triangular.

Storage and Care Tips

In order for the tool to last a long time, it is worth following some recommendations:

1. After use, the spatula must be washed well with water and dried.
2. Do not expose the blade to strong mechanical stresses, apply heavy mixtures to them.
3. It is worth minimizing the contact of the blade and abrasive surface.
4. It is better to store a putty knife in an upright state by hanging them on nails. If they are stored in boxes with other tools, there is a risk that the blades will bend and become unsuitable for use.
5. Do not repair the tool if it is damaged. Better buy a new one.

If during repair you need to work with plaster, it is better to get a paint spatula. It is not necessary to purchase all types of painting spatulas, you can buy only one ordinary, but working in this case will be a little more difficult.