Make a Tape Spout to Pour Paint Without Drips Down the Can
Technique: Mess-Free Paint Pouring
The Problem
Pouring from a gallon can into a roller tray or a smaller cup almost always leaves paint running down the side of the can. Beyond the mess, the drip covers the shade sticker — so a year later when you want to touch up, you can't read which color it was. And paint pooled in the rim keeps the lid from seating cleanly.
The Technique
All you need is a roll of wide painter's tape.
- Shake the can to mix the paint, then open it.
- Build a pour spout: press two strips of wide painter's tape onto the rim so they form a V-shaped channel running over the edge of the can, with the point of the V hanging slightly past the lip.
- Pour down the V. The tape carries the paint off the rim in a clean stream instead of letting it run down the side.
- Peel the tape off.
- Reseat the lid — the rim stays clean, so it seals properly.
Pro tip: Set the point of the V a little past the can's lip so the paint clears the rim entirely before it drops.
Pro tip: A clean rim keeps the color/shade sticker readable. That label is what you'll need to match the paint for touch-ups later, so it's worth protecting.