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As a serial DIYer, I’ve executed a whole lot of portray through the years. And to me, the worst half about it’s all the paint prep work that it’s a must to do earlier than you even pull out a brush. By the point I lay out the drop cloths and masking movie and tape off all my surfaces, it looks like half the day is gone. Portray nearly turns into a aid as soon as I can really begin. So after I noticed a weird-looking tape dispenser in my Instagram feed, I used to be immediately inquisitive about the way it might minimize down on prep time (if it even labored in any respect).
The 3M Hand-Masker Painter’s Tape and Masking Movie Dispenser promised to be 4 occasions sooner than prepping with the identical supplies by hand, which is a big distinction if true. As an alternative of laying out your masking movie and attempting to tape it in place after, you are able to do each on the identical time by pulling your dispenser straight throughout the floor you’re attempting to tape off. Movies that includes the device present individuals laying down whole rooms in a couple of minutes. It appeared too good to be true, so I needed to put it to the take a look at.
My husband and I lately put in new flooring and baseboards as a part of a house renovation, and opted to color the baseboards ourselves to economize. However the daunting activity of defending the brand-new flooring pushed this venture off for months. I used to be excited to get my fingers on the device to see if it might assist with that psychological hurdle and restrict my prep time so I might really get to the portray a part of this venture.
There are numerous bundles with completely different attachments supplied, however I discovered that evaluations most frequently really helpful the set with the straight-edge blade. I’ll notice that the directions that got here with the device have been severely missing. Even 3M movies didn’t get into the small print of easy methods to use it. For instance, I couldn’t determine why the blade wasn’t working as proven within the movies till I by chance tore off the guard whereas analyzing it. Right here’s what I discovered about easy methods to greatest use the product in my testing.
Find out how to Use the 3M Painter’s Tape and Masking Movie Dispenser
When you take away the packaging, rigorously thread the tape below the black tab that retains the plastic masking movie in place and beneath the yellow tab proper on the base of the deal with. The directions didn’t point out going below the yellow tab, however many reviewers talked about that this was important for retaining the tape on monitor, which I discovered to be true as properly.
You may alter the masker to carry masking rolls of various sizes (24″, 48″, 72″, and 99″) and painter’s tape of various widths (18mm, 24mm, 36mm, and 48mm). Loading the masking roll and tape was comparatively straightforward, however aligning the tape with the masking roll was a bit finicky.
Pull some masking movie and tape a bit previous your blade to get began. You’re going to need to stick down that preliminary bit on the floor you’re attempting to tape off. Many Reels depict easily working the device parallel to the floor and making use of the tape multi function go. I tried to use it the identical manner and located the method immensely irritating, because the tape wasn’t exactly utilized to the sting of my wall.
After additional analysis and watching extra movies, I seen that 3M really demonstrates utilizing the device extra like a painter’s tape extension. It was a lot simpler to use the tape with this device after I began fascinated by the all-in-one as an additional hand solely there to unwind the tape. As an alternative of attempting to put down lengthy stretches of tape and masking movie, run the dispenser in small sections with one hand whereas firmly urgent the tape down and making certain it’s near the floor with the opposite hand.
When you get to the tip of your line, pull the tape and masking movie taut and tilt the blade at a forty five diploma angle in the direction of you to make a ending minimize. I might by no means fairly get the identical all-in-one clear minimize that I noticed on Instagram, however in equity, I battle with comparable mechanics in utilizing a cooking cling wrap roll. It might undoubtedly be worthwhile to observe a few cuts earlier than beginning. I didn’t, and ended up slicing our ground with the blade on my first try.
After the tape is firmly utilized to your floor, merely pull out the pre-folded masking movie to guard a bigger floor space. That is the place I actually noticed the advantage of the device. Earlier than this, I used to be questioning why anybody would add additional steps to primarily put tape down. However having the ability to pull the sheet out and have the flooring utterly protected for 72 inches again, understanding it was firmly and securely in place proper as much as my baseboards, felt actually good. The plastic itself feels very sturdy and 3M claims that it’s flake-proof for a number of coats.
Whereas initially getting the dangle of the device, I felt like I used to be losing a whole lot of tape and masking movie to get into the stream. However after utilizing it in a single room, I might see myself reaching for it once more. I’m unsure that it was 4 occasions sooner than making use of by hand, however it minimize prep time down by at the very least half.
So, is it value it? This bundle is often round $85 however can vary between $65 and $90 (sure, for the very same bundle — activate these sale alerts!). The associated fee for the specialty 8.25 ft. x 90 ft. masking movie refills is $20 to $24. (The painter’s tape is identical as what you’d apply anyway, so I’m not together with that in my value comparability calculations.)
Alternatively, it might take about eight primary 8.25 ft. x 90 ft. sheets to cowl the identical space, making the most cost effective no-tool various roughly $35. I used to be shocked to search out that the specialty rolls have been really cheaper than shopping for the common rolls, though you clearly must issue within the preliminary value of the applicator.
To me, the $85 upfront value of the device feels too steep in the event you solely plan to make use of it as soon as. However in the event you’re an enormous run of paint tasks — say, in the event you’re renovating and repainting a complete home — then this could completely be value that preliminary funding whenever you weigh that in opposition to what you’d pay for simply the movie (in addition to the time you’d save). It’s not stunning to me that I see loads of portray professionals utilizing this for his or her work.
Remaining verdict: When you’ve got just one paint venture on the docket, skip this purchase. However in case you have plans to make use of it a number of occasions throughout the first yr of buy, it’s undoubtedly value it. Simply be sure to observe utilizing it earlier than you dive in!
