The author of a book on trim voiced his observation about how each generation of carpentry books seem to assume that carpenters know less and less. He cited the way new books having to describe in excruciating detail procedures which used to receive only rudimentary treatment, attributing this to the decline of the apprentice system in the United States. He's probably right.



The pyramids, Solomon's Temple, and the soaring cathedrals of Europe would not have been possible without the skilled craftsmen who learned their craft from skilled craftsmen before them. Italian luthier Antonio Stradivari is said to have learned violin-making in the shop of violin maker extraordinaire Nicolo Amati, but his genius couldn't be restrained, and proceeded to outshine his master . Today, Stradivarius violins, or simply Strad, are the last word in violins.

The shift toward Do-It-Yourself partly explains this phenomenon. Increasingly people would rather do things themselves rather than call in skilled help, no doubt encouraged by the abundant availability of how-to-do-it-yourself books. Often the purchase of a discount wall art or an iron wall art will require the jazzing up of the focal wall, necessitating work that the homeowner feels he can do himself. For that kind of homeowner, here's what he needs to know about tools and supplies.

PAINTBRUSHES AND APPLICATORS

You don't use just about any kind of paintbrush for a particular type of painting work. Synthetic-bristle paintbrushes are used with water-based latex and acrylic paints, while those with natural bristles are used with oil-based paints. Using natural-bristle paintbrushes with water-based paints will result in the brushes bunching together destroying the finish, although there are situations which call for the use of natural-bristle paintbrushes with water-based paints, as when streaking water-based color-washed finish, or dry-brushing water-based paints to tone down faux wood and strie finishes.

To clean paintbrushes you need brush combs to remove residual paint from brushes and align the bristles to allow for proper drying. Brush combs have a curved side opposite the teeth. This is for cleaning paint rollers.

Decorative painters also use stencil brushes, which have small and large versions. Small stencil brushes are used for fine detail work, and large stencil brushes for designs with large openings. Both synthetic- or natural-bristle stencil brushes may be used with acrylics.

Decorative painters also use artist's brushes: fan, liner, and flat. Remember always to gently stroke the bristles with your fingers after cleaning them in a stream of water using mild soap, and storing them upright on their handles afterward.

There are also sponge applicators for application on smooth, flat surfaces.

Painting walls next to moldings, ceilings, and corners can be tricky, and that's why you have paint edgers with guide wheels.

PAINT ROLLERS

If you have a wall or ceiling to paint, you use paint rollers. Paint rollers have three parts. The extension pole has a threaded female that accommodates the handle of the roller frame. Choose roller frames with nylon bearings and a threaded end. Roller pads are available in different nap thicknesses. Use synthetic or lamb's wool roller pads with water-based paints. For painting on smooth surfaces like wood, wallboard, or smooth plaster, use short-nap roller pads (1/4" to 3/8"). Use medium-nap and long-nap roller pads for everything else.

You need tapes to cover any surrounding areas. One type is painter's masking tape. Another is painter's tape, a strip of wide brown paper with only one edge having adhesive. Stencil tape looks like masking tape, but differs from masking tape in its ability to stick to Mylar stencils without damaging them.