Painting - Problems Cutting In

I just put a coat of primer on my kitchen walls and ceiling and will be applying a top coat tomorrow morning. I am having problems cutting in. I have been cutting in with a brush, and the areas that have been brushed are a different shade than the areas that are rolled. Apparently not as much paint is adhering to the wall when using the brush. Am I doing something wrong?

Probably not. Not all primers hide well. Often it's easier to apply more paint with the roller. Assuming you are using a good brush and quality paint, you shouldn't have any problems with the top coat. Was the primer tinted close to the finish paint color?

Don't worry at all about the primer covering funny. I'm convinced that the pigments in many primers are just there so you can tell where you have already coated.

When it comes time to paint, try not to overbrush. Remember you are applying paint, not "pushing" it into the surface.

SirWired

Primer is pure white, paint is off-white, but I don't think that's the problem. I think I was pressing too hard on the brush. Instead of using a brush for the top coat, I used a small roller instead. Another question regarding painters tape. I have struggled with this for quite some time. When protecting base trim and trim around doors and windows, the paint always bleeds through the edge of the tape leaving a sloppy line. How can I get straight lines!? I have tried pressing the tape as hard as I can, and the paint still gets underneath. Very frustrating.

No painting Pro...my wife does that..lol.

Have you tried the "frog tape"? Buy a roll of that and let us know how it works...too expensive for me to experiment with.

When I do paint, I just use an angled sash brush and sometimes a 8" mud knife (?) as a paint guard. Have to wipe it almost everytime, but it works for me.

Tape tends to be problematic so us pros don't use it much. I'd suggest taping but then trying to hone your cut in skills by keeping the paint off of the tape. Removing the tape while the paint is still wet, prevents any paint bond on the tape and may make it easier to remove any paint that seeped under the tape. It's also a good idea to take your thumb nail or putty knife and press down on the edge of the tape for a better seal. Dry brushing at the tape also helps - except with coverage;)

Thanks for the tips. I always thought it was best to let the paint dry before removing the tape, but apparently the opposite is true. I like the idea of using a spackling blade. I seem to remember trying that before.

When brushing and rolling, it's always best to remove the tape ASAP but when spraying, it's often better to let the paint dry first.

Ok. Thanks. I tried using a 4" roller as opposed to a brush when cutting in and got a little better result. However, it looks like I'm going to need to put on another coat because the primer is showing through. I hate painting!