Paint can lids

[tnfarmboy]

I hate pouring paint from a round gallon paint can. I can never do it precisely, especially with a new gallon, and when you stop pouring it always makes a mess on the side of the can. My paint store didn’t have any lids with a spout, so I went to Wally-World and they had a steel lid w/spout for $1.50 so I got one and basically had to beat the he double l out of it to get it to stay on the can. Imagine that a Chinese lid for a Chinese can not fitting…what is the world coming to?

Anyway, I would be interested to see what all of you have come up with to take the pain out of pouring…

BTW: a few months ago I was painting my office and ran into the same thing (the steel lid not fitting) and found a plastic lid at either Lowes or Home Depot that worked great, but this time neither place had one…

[Len]

These Flexi Spouts work great. They keep the paint out of the rim, make the paint easy to pour and they clean up easy. They fit pints, quarts and gallons.

Flexi Spout Link

[dadspackard]

I use a spoon you know the kind you use to scoop soup out of the pot. Works pretty well. Just make sure you clean it up well before putting in back in the kitchen drawer.

[JCCLARK]

I run a piece of 1.5" tape along the inner edge of the rim
to pour over. (about 6" long)
That way paint doesn't get in the can groove and
it doesn't run down the side either.
After pouring, I immediately remove it and throw it away.
You just have to have a clean rim for the tape to stick.:cool:

[motomann883]

i use a spout that snaps in the inside of the can and has a v shaped spout no mess cost around a 1.00 at home depot. but i like JC's idea plenty of tape around and 6 in figures about a pennies worth.

[tnfarmboy]

I used the tape method several times yesterday and it worked good. I found some lids on the net that I am going to buy. I had another new steel lid and again it wouldn't fit the can...

[joedirt216]

I stole a measureing cup from my wife to use as a scoop, and I always punch about 8-holes in the groove where the lid sits with a nail, it helps keep the lid a little cleaner. I'm going to try the tape trick next time, godd idea JC. I also like the pour spouts Len showed, and for 5.00 bucks gotta be worth a try.

[JCCLARK]

Thanks, but I got the tip from another painter.:rolleyes:
I also use plastic 1 oz. medicine cups for removing just a little paint
or measureing a little activator-they're cheap, a couple cents apiece.
They sell on Ebay.
I also use small "dixie cups" to scoop paint out, they have a wax coating
but it's never given me a problem for just dipping and transferring
a cup or two of paint.:cool:

[Len]

I find that the tape method can get pretty messy and the dipping method never worked well for me. When you dip something into the paint it tends to drip from the bottom of the container and after you pour out the contents you need to do something with the container or it drips all over the place. Punching holes in the can lip is ok if you don't need to seal the can again but if you want to save any paint you'll need to use another can.

[Mr. D]

The local paint store gave me a mixing lid (not sure of the proper name) I can put my drill on the top to mix it and pull the trigger to pour the primer out.

They sold them for $12 I think.

[Len]

The local paint store gave me a mixing lid (not sure of the proper name) I can put my drill on the top to mix it and pull the trigger to pour the primer out.

They sold them for $12 I think.

Yes, mixing lids are great but they are mostly used on mixing machines. I have a large mixing machine that can stir a hundred cans at a time. It works great for primers and tints (for mixing colors) because you can run out of a color and just move the stirrer lid to the next can without cleaning. If you had to clean the lid and paddle after each can of paint it wouldn't be worth it.

If you have a copy of Spray Painting 101 you'll see the Glasurit mixing machine in the back of me in the last scene.

[player90247]

While working at a paint store, I would have a box with 1'' x 1'' cut pieces of cardboard squares. When the paint would run on the side of the can, I use the edge of the squared cardboard to put the paint back in the can. It also comes in handy because the corners of the cardboard will scoop up the paint in the groove for the lid.