Replies

1. 
   seeyou | Jun 06, 2009 10:55pm | #1

   Use some type of straight edge to push the carpet down as you paint. I've got a wallpaper tool of some sort about 3' long I use. Lift it away when you cover the length of it and wipe with a rag before moving it.

   http://www.quittintime.com/      View Image        

2. 
   RW | Jun 06, 2009 10:56pm | #2

   My two cents, I've tried masking and gadgets. In the end I was happier and faster if I just pulled the carpet off the tack, painted, and had an installer kick it back in and restretch when I was done. Much less worry and the ability to spray the trim.

   Real trucks dont have sparkplugs

1. 
   jrnbj | Jun 06, 2009 11:16pm | #4

   I thought about pulling it off the tack.....
   Don't own a kicker, and the carpets so cheap I'm not sure it would stand being kicked twice....

3. 
   BillHartmann | Jun 06, 2009 11:15pm | #3

   I have done what CU does in some cases.

   But it depends on high high the pile is and how tight the BB is to the carpet.

   More often I use wide masking tape. I have to look be I think that it is 1.5" And I start with it so that it would normally lap about 1/4" on the BB. But using the fingers and/putty knife work it under the edge of the BB.

   Then tug on the other edge and lighting pull alway from the BB while pushing it down. That rolls down the edge of the carpet away from the the BB.

   .
   William the Geezer, the sequel to Billy the Kid - Shoe
4. 
   DonCanDo | Jun 06, 2009 11:20pm | #5

   I use one of these:

   http://paint-and-supplies.hardwarestore.com/47-248-paint-shields-and-guides/trim-shield-267732.aspx

   They're cheap, disposable, easily cleaned and readily available at most paint stores.

1. 
   webby | Jun 07, 2009 01:27am | #6

   I have used the slick strips you can buy at Lowes etc, sold in the paint dept. They are about 4 feet long pliable plastic that paint doesnt stick to to well.

   They come about 4 or 6 to a pack. I work them under the base, paint, leave them until the paint is dry then lightly push down to break any paint bond then slide out. They are like 3 dollars for 16 to 24 linear feet. they can be cut if needed and cheap enough to buy for a whole room.

   When the paint builds up on them too much I take a scraper -plastic or an old credit card and scrape them off.

   Of course I can't find a picture now.

   Webby 

    

   Edited 6/6/2009 6:31 pm ET by webby

1. 
   Dave45 | Jun 07, 2009 05:36am | #8

   I've used those too. I got them in the paint department at HD. A painter buddy uses old venetian blinds with blue tape over the holes.Just don't try to pull them before the paint is dry. No, I'm not gonna explain how I know that. (Think white baseboards and Kelly Green carpet, ok? Thank the gods that it was latex paint. - lol)

5. 
   cowtown | Jun 07, 2009 04:49am | #7

   Either at a garage sale or from the local borg, find a cheap venetial blind, cut out the strings, and you've got about 100 or 200 lf of "edging" that you can push under the baseboards, pull out when paint is dry to touch, and re-install elsewhere.

   Cuts with scissors if need be.

   Cheap, effective, unless yer real sloppy.

   BTW, keep yer paint on a piece of cardboard that you can slide along as you go.

    

   Eric in Calgary

    

6. 
   Dinosaur | Jun 07, 2009 06:44am | #9

   Best practise? Pop the baseboards, paint 'em, nail 'em back in place and putty the nail holes.

   Second-best practise is to use 2"-wide masking tape.

   Any other way, you're gonna get some paint on the carpet, try hard as you may to avoid it.

    

   Dinosaur

   How now, Mighty Sauron, that thou art not brought
   low by this? For thine evil pales before that which
   foolish men call Justice....
   

   

7. 
   Pelipeth | Jun 07, 2009 01:43pm | #10

   I use my 14" taping knife.