What I discoverd about drop cloths for painting...
I knew drop cloths were necessary to control splatter while paining, and of late, I've used them religiously. BUT, today I tipped over a brand new opened 1 qt. can of Benjamin More exterior latex paint on my front porch cement deck. I thought my language might help get up the paint before it cured, since exterior latex "cures" real fast. I cleared the deck and hit it as fast as I could with my garden hose and a hand squirter, but I wasn't able to get 100% of it up. So I'm a little pissed with myself, for not using a drop cloth under the small work table I had perched my can of paint on.
Lesson learned. But dam that was maddening, and expensive, Benjamin More paint is worth every penny, except when you dump it all over the deck. There's not much of it left, I'm going to have to buy another can. Damn.
I hate being stupid.
Don't forget your drop cloths gentlemen.This message has been edited. Last edited by: wrightd,
Lover of the US Constitution Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster
July 20, 2023, 10:14 PM
darthfuster
Haha. My dad bought a shelf that he wanted to stain. He was in his late 70's and while he felt fairly coordinated, he wasn't. He set up on a table in the garage. Wearing literally new blue jeans and a casual button up shirt, he pried the lid of the stain can open around the edge once, twice and on the third pry, the can slipped on the table top spilling much of its contents on him and the concrete he stood on. It's remarkable how much a quart of anything is when it's out of control and running down your front from ribs to knees. And.......no drop cloth of course so now there is a permanent dark walnut reminder on an otherwise pristine garage floor complete with retreating foot prints that fade toward the sink. lol
You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier
July 20, 2023, 10:44 PM
lyman
I still have a very old dropcloth that my dad used when staining some trim work or a door (cannot remember what, ) 60 yrs ago, and he knocked it over,
think heavy blue tarp, some kinda cotton or canvas, with a big brown stain in the middle,
re spillage, when I was in the grocery biz, and we had fuel stations, folks would sometimes spill fuel, (tank overflow or just stupid) and would insist on a refund for gallons of gas, when fact was they barely spilled a cup or at most a quart,
a gallon of fluid, (gas diesel , milk or water) will cover a large area
_________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!"
July 21, 2023, 03:12 AM
Patriot
“It will be fine…I’ll be careful…I don’t need the drop cloth…”
We’ve all been there…
_____________________________ Pledge allegiance or pack your bag! The problem with Socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher Spread my work ethic, not my wealth
July 21, 2023, 05:46 AM
frayedends
Yup and the plastic sheets they sell for drop cloths are like 2 bucks. No reason not to use them.
These go to eleven.
July 21, 2023, 06:24 AM
Georgeair
quote:
Originally posted by frayedends: Yup and the plastic sheets they sell for drop cloths are like 2 bucks. No reason not to use them.
There's probably 50 reasons not to use those cheapy ones, but mainly they are thin enough to easily tear, wispy enough to get puffed up in just the wrong place or time and especially so fucking maddening to get unfolded and laid out where you actually want them that I swear you're burning time off the backend of your life in stress.
Upgrade from the cheapest ones to at least middle ground and be happier. Or get some real ones like painters use and re-use them for 5-10 years.
Sidebar - especially when inside, the dropcloth is a crystal clear delineation of where your shoes do and do NOT go while painting. Our axiom was shoes-on/shoes-off at the edge. For all the same reason you'll need a dropcloth most when you don't use one, you'll also have splatters on it that will be wet transfer to your soles just when you step off for supplies, bathroom, water, whatever.
You only have integrity once. - imprezaguy02
July 21, 2023, 06:46 AM
frayedends
^^ I don't disagree with your assessment. I don't paint enough to store real ones. But I do pick the better ones when available.
These go to eleven.
July 21, 2023, 07:27 AM
sandman76
When I moved 23 years ago I stole two of those blue moving blankets from U-Haul. Not really intentionally, just never got around to returning them. Best drops for the money I've ever used.
_______________________ “There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life.” ― Frank Zappa
July 21, 2023, 08:46 AM
HRK
quote:
BUT, today I tipped over a brand new opened 1 qt. can of Benjamin More exterior latex paint on my front porch cement deck. I thought my language might help get up the paint before it cured, since exterior latex "cures" real fast. I cleared the deck and hit it as fast as I could with my garden hose and a hand squirter, but I wasn't able to get 100% of it up.
You never did say what color you'll be painting the front porch
July 21, 2023, 11:20 AM
jimb888
The commercial dropcloths painters use have a rubberized side and a cloth side. The rubber keeps it from soaking through, but also helps keep it in place. Worth the money over a bed sheet or a blue tarp IMO. Especially when the full can drops on it:-)
July 21, 2023, 02:10 PM
Hamden106
quote:
Originally posted by sjtill: Yeah, I know. It’s the same with blood.
My veterinary dad said a little bit of blood looks like a lot
SIGnature NRA Benefactor CMP Pistol Distinguished
July 21, 2023, 02:13 PM
corsair
Been there, done that.
Just take the time, get the right tools and do the job right the first time around. But, we're human so...
July 21, 2023, 02:36 PM
drill sgt
Once on a commercial job spilt a full quart can of MinWax dark walnut stain on a polished marble floor.. It fell off of a push cart and opened when hitting the floor..... Lucky to have a padded shipping blanket to soak up and wipe floor... Late at night and building unoccupied while I was working on some cabinets. Able to clean up with no evidence remained of spillage. What nobody knew did not come back to hurt me............. drill sgt.
July 21, 2023, 08:53 PM
cas
Late winter/early spring, I wanted to (of course I didn't want to, I needed to) paint my kitchen. I wanted to use the same color and needed a sample. I thought to myself, "I think there's still some in the basement."
I found in fact there were two quart(?) sized cans. One half full, one never opened. The opened one sadly had seperated and partially hardened. Because air got in it. Because the lid rusted out, since the paint was from 1979-1981.
The other can was pristine. I took it to work and gave it to the carpenters to put in their industrial paint shaker. They shook the hell out of it. I took it home and that night I opened it, and amazingly this 40 something year old paint was as good as new. I got my brushes, roller, pan and put a drop cloth down. I started painting and about two minutes into it I kicked the can over and spilled the entire contents onto the drop cloth. "F@@@@@@@@@@@CK!"
That kind of stuff pretty much sums up my life. It lasted 40 year on a shelf, it lasted 3 minutes with me in the kitchen.
I was able to do two wall with it, using the drop cloth as my roller pan. Heck I had to get it off the floor some way.
July 21, 2023, 08:59 PM
Pipe Smoker
quote:
Originally posted by sjtill: Yeah, I know. It’s the same with blood.
That sounds like a story!
Serious about crackers.
July 22, 2023, 08:29 PM
wrightd
quote:
Originally posted by cas: Late winter/early spring, I wanted to (of course I didn't want to, I needed to) paint my kitchen. I wanted to use the same color and needed a sample. I thought to myself, "I think there's still some in the basement."
I found in fact there were two quart(?) sized cans. One half full, one never opened. The opened one sadly had seperated and partially hardened. Because air got in it. Because the lid rusted out, since the paint was from 1979-1981.
The other can was pristine. I took it to work and gave it to the carpenters to put in their industrial paint shaker. They shook the hell out of it. I took it home and that night I opened it, and amazingly this 40 something year old paint was as good as new. I got my brushes, roller, pan and put a drop cloth down. I started painting and about two minutes into it I kicked the can over and spilled the entire contents onto the drop cloth. "F@@@@@@@@@@@CK!"
That kind of stuff pretty much sums up my life. It lasted 40 year on a shelf, it lasted 3 minutes with me in the kitchen.
I was able to do two wall with it, using the drop cloth as my roller pan. Heck I had to get it off the floor some way.
Good lord friend. We must share a common ancestor who did, or didn't, paint a lot. You get credit however for using the pool of paint on your floor as the roller pan. Very creative and a cool head in the midst of a full blown paint spill panic.
Lover of the US Constitution Wile E. Coyote School of DIY Disaster
