Line Marking for the First Time? Make Sure You Practice
Posted on: 9 January 2018
Using a line marker is important for road safety, car park organisation, and a wide range of other applications. It helps you get neat, straight lines for a professional finish that doesn't confuse drivers or pedestrians.
As much as good-quality line marking equipment helps you get the job done to a high standard, however, it doesn't quite do it all for you. If you've never used it before, it can be quite daunting, as it's difficult to correct if you make a mistake.
For people who need to use a line marker for the first time, a bit of practice can be extremely helpful. Here are a few ways you can get used to the equipment and test your skills before beginning the real job.
Use temporary paint
This is the simplest way to get some practice in, and it's also the most effective. Using a temporary paint means you can work on the exact surface you'll be painting for real, and try out the designs you need to eventually lay down.
Make sure you get temporary paint that's designed for use with a line marker, as other types might not work. This paint usually wears away naturally after a couple of months, but it can also be washed off by hand.
Find some disused ground
See if you can find a bit of ground in your workplace that's either out of the way and never used, or set for renovation. If the ground is going to be resurfaced, it shouldn't matter that you're painting lines on it beforehand, and if it's out of use completely, there won't be any problems. However, make sure you have permission first.
It's best if you practise on the same type of surface as the area you plan to paint, but use any ground you can find.
Lay down some paper
Large rolls of paper or old sheets of cardboard are useful for working on your line-marking technique. The bigger the area you can cover, the better.
When you've laid the paper down, fix it in place using a strong tape so it doesn't slip when you get started.
If all else fails, use stencils
If you can't find anywhere to practice, you can still create neat, tidy lines when you're unsure of your technique.
Using stencils, it won't matter if you can't paint as neatly as you'd like. As long as you tape the stencils in place and you're careful not to go over the edges, this can be a good way to get a professional result without any prior experience.
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