How to Make a Painter’s Cut Bucket
Learn how to paint like a professional with a bucket and a can opener.
If you have some painting to do, you could pry off the lid and work directly out of the paint can, but there’s a better way.
Professional painters almost never work directly out of the paint can for a couple of reasons. Typically, there is too much paint in the can (you only want about 1-1/2 in.), and the lip of the can also get in the way of properly loading the brush. To work around this, Brian Doherty of Richmond, Va., explains that painters typically make a “cut bucket.” A cut bucket is a clean and empty paint can with the lip removed. Learn how to make a cut bucket in this There’s a Better Way video tip.
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An empty metal coffee can comes with a plastic lid and might be more useful than the paint can with a useless lid after cutting the perimeter edge off. The can is free after enjoying the coffee.
Stock pile metal cans with lids, they come in handy for many recycling uses. Due to the molded shape of the plastic coffee containers they don't work as well as the old style metal even though many paint manufacturers use them, as well, to retail their paints.