What is the best and easiest way to paint ornate spindles on a staircase banister?
Question:I have a staircase that has over 80 spindles which are quite ornate being in a victorian house. These have being painted white before and they need doing as part of the glossing. What is the best and easiest way of doing it?
I am not looking forward to it at all and any suggestions would be very appreciated
Answers:
If you've never used a paint sprayer, don't try it now. At least not for this project. And the glove or paint mitt ideas sound like a recipe for disaster to me. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to paint spindles. Get a couple of rolls of blue painters tape and carefully tape off the banister and around the base of each spindle. If you're not an experienced painter, yo may also want to put paper or plastic over the steps and the wall below the staircase. Use a small angle brush and a small amount of paint. Be sure to get the excess paint off the brush by dragging it across the edges of the container. Work slowly on the spindles. Start at the top and work your way down. Keep checking for drips and runs. Take care of them as soon as you see them.
It may take several hours to get the job done this way, but I'd rather spend the time painting, than cleaning up over spray or drips and runs. Wet paint is always easier to clean up than dried paint.
I was remodeling a three story apartment, each with four staircases that had enamel painted spindles.
I used my air spray gun, it still took time and care. Two coats were needed.
You should be able to rent one somewhere around your area.
You don't need an air spray gun. You can use one, but the mess is worse than the time savings.
First, you will need to protect the area under the spindles from paint drips. Too much protection is better than having to clean up dripped paint. Now, get a pair of rubber gloves. You can use latex gloves if your paint is latex, but a pair of heavy rubber cleaning gloves is better. You only need one glove, it will go on the hand you use to paint with. Next, look in your dollar store and get a pair of knitted mittens, gloves, or heavy socks. The idea is to use the rubber glove to protect your hand, use the knitted glove, mitten, or sock over the rubber glove, dip your hand into the paint (your whole hand), and use the paint soaked hand to paint the spindles. You can quickly cover the straight parts, and use your fingers to get into the little ornate places. If you can't paint them all in one session, you will need extra rubber and woolen gloves. You will probably need 2 coats, so get a double set of each. If you can get a heavy pair of mittens at the second hand store, so much the better.
Hope this helps,
Lorax
Try using a paint mitt. Pour the paint in a paint pan and lay you hand covered mitt in the paint to pick up a load of paint. Wipe the excess paint off the mitt by dragging your palm on the edge of the pan. Put your mitt-hand around each spindle and twist and slide your hand down the spindle. Then have someone with a brush the right size to spread out the excess paint and to cover anything missed. If the spindles have small filigree use a smaller brush to get into tight spaces. Use as large of brush as possible for speed's sake. Good luck!
I saw some people paint a metal fence last week and they used paint gloves...gloved hand dipped into paint then they just rubbed it on...looked efficient and easier than brushing...check with local paint store.
I am a painting contractor and in an exsisting home follow the advice that bugs280 gave you ,it is the best way to do it .
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