makezine.com: Nail Polish Meets House Paint

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Nail Polish Meets House Paint

Type(s): Organizing Tool
Tags: housepaint storage

qwikie.com
$5 (US, estimated)

Tool photo.

Sometimes a tool comes along that’s so ridiculously simple, but makes such a huge impact on how you go about your business. Qwikie Paint Pots are such a wonder-widget. Basically, they're like large nail polish jars that you use to store house paint in for hassle-free touch-ups. When you're finished painting a room, you put some of the leftover paint in one of the Qwikie pots. They have a brush built into their screw-on tops. When a scuff or a chip on a wall calls for a touch-up, it takes seconds to grab the jar and fix the boo-boo. This is a huge improvement over having to head to the basement, find the right can, pry it open, peel off the “skin,” mix, find a brush, use it, clean it, put the lid back on the can, etc. You can store all of the colors to your entire house in a shoebox in the hall closet! Maybe a little pricey at $5 each, but still worth it.

Discussion

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Cheaper and better solution for leftover paint
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The Qwikie didn't impress me. It only holds 13oz. and its built-in brush gets messy, since it soaks in the paint until you need it. No fine control.

My solution was to get Ziploc "Twist 'n Store", 32oz containers. Two in a pack costs around $4. With the money saved, I bought a couple of better brushes than the ones in the Qwikies.

I peeled the label from the Home Depot paint cans and stuck them on the Ziploc containers for reference. On the other side I added my own label, mentioning where to use this specific paint.

Here's more info on the Ziploc containers:
http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b7

And here's what I made with them:
Three ziploc paint containers
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/psgomes/P1100775.jpg

Container top
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/psgomes/P1100772.jpg

Home Depot label
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/psgomes/P1100776.jpg

Custom label
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p194/psgomes/P1100777.jpg
Posted by patgomes on December 13, 2006 at 00:04:29 Pacific Time

Cheaper and better solution for leftover paint
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You point out a less expensive route but I don't see how it is better... all you have is a container for paint but you still have a brush to wash. The qwikie is more convenient... quick shake, paint, and then just put the brush lid back on. Nothing to clean up. This is also the short coming of the paint buddy and some of the other touch up products on the market, they all have a roller or a sponge to clean when you are done touching up. Also 13oz is plenty of paint to make small touch ups. I have had a qwikie with paint for over 2 years and I don't think I have used much more than 2 or 3 ounces. I also have never needed "fine control" for doing touch ups. The marks are usually right in the middle of the wall, a quick brush and done. I think it is a great product.
Posted by message_1 on December 27, 2006 at 22:38:47 Pacific Time