To be a painter these days, one has to be able to create many types of finishes in a variety of situations. Knowing which products and tools to use is a big part of that. Producing a trim or cabinet grade finish that looks sprayed without needing to set up a sprayer (and clean it […]

Oil-Based Primer: Still Necessary Sometimes Over the past decade, we have shifted heavily from oil based paints and primers to latex technologies. We’ve tested and used many of the current generation of latex primers, always looking for one that can meet our interior and exterior priming needs. However, there are still times when oil is […]

What grit do you sand at most in the type of work you do? Regardless of where your project sanding “wheelhouse” is, you likely start with low grit sanding and work up. Whatever “low” is for you, lower grits can often go pretty fast because it’s the rough work and gets smoothed out at the […]

Providing a clean workspace is a matter of procedure at Topcoat Finishes, and as a homeowner, husband and father, I try hard to hold myself to the same habits and standards at home when we are in project mode, which has been often over the years. So, I have come to think of protecting noses, […]

2017: Year of the Comeback for Handheld Sprayers? There is a new line of Graco Ultra handheld airless sprayers for 2017. If you have used handheld sprayers in the past, keep reading because the technology has changed considerably. The new offerings from Graco are no longer called “ProShots”. And they have very little in common […]

[Publisher Update: Graco Ultra Handheld Full Review now available] Graco’s 2017 lineup includes a total remodel of the handheld sprayer, now to be referred to as Graco Ultra (or Ultimate) Handheld Sprayers. We all recall the ProShots and TrueCoats from over the years. They’ve had their ups and downs. We’ve been working with handhelds for […]

Pivit Tool Could be the Best Under $100 Investment You Make If your work involves much use of extension ladders, then you’ve likely encountered awkward set up locations. The Pivit tool from ProVision is a safe, convenient and cost effective solution. A stout, wedge-shaped implement made of durable polypropylene, the Pivit weighs in at 14 […]

There are so many choices in products and tools for fine finishing, and of course, the products and tools define the process to a large extent. We are frequently asked which tools continue to rise to the top in our shop and in the field. Here is a compilation pulled from a recent cherry table […]