Chalk paint: help keeping the paint straight

Tina Brooks
by Tina Brooks
I cannot get a straight line on the beading between the panels...I have tried straight things but it doesn't look right...I want to put barbed wire over the beading but it has to be neat.
See hiw sloppy the lines are?
Hours of work..still need to touch up the panels
The top I have sanded down yo the grain and stained. Want to put photo transfer in the middle and the brass paint around matches the brass heads on the couch and chairs
If I clear wax abd then dark wax will it tone it down to match a very traditional western home. .I wanted color but I need to tone it down..HELP!!
  16 answers
  • Michelle James Michelle James on May 23, 2016
    Hi, did you use any sort of masking tape? Did it run under the tape or is this just a free hand or holding something up to get a straight line? Just wondering what you used.
    • See 2 previous
    • Tina Brooks Tina Brooks on May 24, 2016
      Where the beading is between the planks I plan to nail down barbed wire....think it will work?
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 23, 2016
    In order for you to get straight lines when painting it is recommended to use the blue painters tape.
  • Molly Jo Molly Jo on May 23, 2016
    painters tape is only way to go on a project like this
  • Lane Jumper Lane Jumper on May 24, 2016
    Painters tape became my new best friend 2 yrs ago good luck!
  • Lth1964084 Lth1964084 on May 24, 2016
    First paint the beading and the panel to the right side (the same color) after it dries, mask off the panel on the left side and paint it the other color. you will get a really crisp line.
  • Shari Shari on May 24, 2016
    It's often a test of extreme patience to get clean stripes on a completely smooth surface so even with painter's tape, I believe it will be next to impossible to get crisp lines due to the texture and irregularity of the panels. (Are you sure you just couldn't settle for using one color?) If you are determined to proceed with multiple colors, this stripe painting technique might help. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/painting-perfect-stripes-1628408 If that doesn't work, you might think about hot gluing a small diameter of rope or jute down between each stripe. It would cover the irregular paint lines but compliment the western theme you want (and be far safer than barbed wire!).
  • Shari Shari on May 24, 2016
    One other thought... due to the texture of the panels, you may have difficulty getting the edges of the painter's tape to seal tightly and therefore, you could still have some bleeding under the edges of the tape. If you paint in the direction indicated in the photo below, you may have fewer issues with bleeding.
  • Veronica Ronnie Taylor Veronica Ronnie Taylor on May 24, 2016
    Put your tape on preferable the yellow frog tape...this tape has low residual stick...add a strip of silicone caulk run your finger over the end table then paint immediately after...then pull the tape off slowly...it will be a little messy just be careful not to get it on anything...this usually most of the time...
  • Marilee H Marilee H on May 24, 2016
    Painter's tape!
  • Pauliegirl1 Pauliegirl1 on May 24, 2016
    Try using a painters flat edge....may not be the proper name?? but it is thin enough to fit in the grooves of the paneling, you would have to hold it, paint the edge and so on. Just dont 'glob' on your paint, my even have to do two coats, but let dry between coats, and have a rag to wipe off the flat edge!! Hope that will help!!
  • Shojdik Shojdik on May 24, 2016
    If there is a tiny gap between the pieces, why not slide pieces of wax paper between the colors?
  • R Walter R Walter on May 24, 2016
    you could also try applying the painter's tape then painting with the color adjacent to seal the edge, and then apply then next color and pull the tape off. I've heard that is the way they do it on a wall where multiple colors are used. That way if any bleed under, it is the color of the adjacent section and not the new color.
  • Jacqui Griggs Jacqui Griggs on May 24, 2016
    Use masking tape...paint...let paint dry thoroughly.. Place more tape at the side just painted. Remove first tape paint... Allow to dry thoroughly remove second tape very carefully... Hopefully you will get straight lines
  • Wjo5975375 Wjo5975375 on May 24, 2016
    Hold or tack a boardthe same length of your project and follow the straight line of the board as you follow the edge with a narrow paint brush. (You might want to wipe the board clean before starting the next color). Move the board to the next line and paint away.
  • Lynn Palmatier Lynn Palmatier on May 25, 2016
    If you have a good art supply store or even online, check out paint pens. I would suggest using a paint pen to frame each color. Another option is to antique the piece. You can get antiquing medium in a good craft store and you would apply with a brush and remove according to the instructions with a soft cloth. It covers a multitude of sins.... you should seal the piece with a clearcoat afterwards.