It took me a while to get my head around this one, but it looks like this tool—to help paint stripes and linear patterns on walls, furniture, floors, and so on—might just be crazy enough to work. When painters lay out a surface for stripes, they have to shoot plumb or level lines with a laser or scribe with a level. They then have to measure from line to line in several places to keep them uniform. This is persnickety work to be sure. When there are repeating patterns like this on a carpentry or woodworking project the better the craftsman the LESS he uses his tape. Instead, he or she relies on a marking gauge. It doesn’t change and you can’t read a 9 instead of a 6. That’s essentially the idea behind U-Stripe it. The sliding X-frame looks like a tool a ship captain would use for plotting course on a paper chart (before GPS). Extend the tool to the stripe width you want and use it as a guide for applying the tape (we’ve had great luck with Frog Tape). It can hang on the wall for hands free work or you can move it along a little quicker by working with a helper. The website — www.UStripeIt.com — has some pretty fantastic looking rooms. And, it appears as though it has been Grundy-ized by being voted “Top 20 Cool Tools” of 2010.
Related Posts
Read the painting tips from the segment here.
Solar-powered radio show, celebrities, hundreds of volunteers, home projects = Amazing weekend in Columbus. Check out quick video of our adventures with HGTV’s Carter Oosterhouse…
I’m a carpenter, so I can use all the painting tips I can get. One I’ve found that makes all my painting jobs easier is…
MyFixitUpLife is heading to the Remodeling Show and Deck Expo in Chicago on October 17th.
Mark and Theresa are hosting two MyFixitUpLife talk shows from inside the national remodeling and deck building event.
And with HGTV host Chris Grundy, they are hosting a NADRA vs. NARI game show, and announcing the winner of Tradesperson of the Year.
From Cool Tools to cooler tools, Mark and Theresa are talking with Grundy from DIY Network about what products he’s crazy about at the…
If you are into the Modern Farmhouse look that we named Formal Farmhouse back in 2004, then installing beadboard might be a fun update for…
Live MyFixitUpLife radio show w/ Mark & Theresa talk about new DIY Network and A&E shows, new Dremel 8200 give-away, hanging with DIY Network stars…
Sometimes I get inspired. And then my husband Mark has to take a breath and make a decision between trying to talk me out of…
Before installing new baseboard, mark the stud locations on the floor about 1-inch out from the wall. Use a pencil and make sure the mark…
MyFixitUpLife talk show hosts are talking healthy homes with HGTV and DIY Network stars at the National Healthy Homes Conference in Nashville. Step into the…
Tool Up for the Holidays If you aren’t quite ready for the holidays, we’ve got the show for you. Mark and Theresa check down some…
MyFixitUpLife’s Mark & Theresa Live! at the 67th International Builders’ Show in Orlando. January 14 @ 1pm: Mark and Theresa are sharing what’s new from…
Tool-up for this episode of MyFixitUpLife talk show. MyFixitUpLife at the National Hardware Show in Las Vegas talking tools and sustainable homes with Food Network’s…
Painting is a project that anyone can do, but not always well. These DIY paint tips will help make sure your first attempt is a successful home improvement.
Chris Grundy and Matt Muenster team up and talk about Blog Cabin, Bath Crashers, Rebuilding Together and more in the hysterical interview with MyFixitUpLife’s Mark…
[…] set. Versatility. It has impact. If you look over there to the Portofino, you can see the bold patterns. We wanted, really, to be a notch above anything else people have expected in their price […]