Cut pot! - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

AAPaint · 12-10-2006, 03:49 PM

I thought this would make an interesting discussion. Where did the term cut pot come from? Is it because the pot is used to carry around paint for cutting in? Or, is it because many painters cut the lip off the pot to use it? Or, then again, is there something I'm missing?

**ProWallGuy** · 12-10-2006, 03:58 PM

B. It is a pot that paint is put in to cut-in out of.

Woz the Painter · 12-10-2006, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProWallGuy

B. It is a pot that paint is put in to cut-in out of.

Ditto...

Richard · 12-10-2006, 06:14 PM

although there are many other uses for one--storing swithplate covers, wizz roll w/ grid, mixing mud, etc....but yeah ditto to the cutting in

BMAN · 12-10-2006, 07:59 PM

Actually around here we say cut bucket so I am wondering what you guys are smokin?

trumps101 · 12-10-2006, 08:38 PM

We also call it cut bucket
Is it a southern thing

Joewho · 12-11-2006, 12:50 AM

I can't remember exactly how it started, but it's an old painters phrase. I think it might have started in the south. A pot is a pot, on the stove in the outhouse or what holds paint.

Before marijuana was popular people used to say it all the time. Now, some people won't say it cuz their scared someone might think they smoke pot. Another american phrase gone to ****.

When I hear someone say "cut pot", i automatically pay attention because they are probably old timers who can teach me something.

metomeya · 12-11-2006, 11:54 AM

Is this what you guys are talking about?

http://www.taunton.com/finehomebuild...ges/hvt038.asp

Do you guys always cut off the rim like he does?

MarvinWilleyJr · 12-11-2006, 04:48 PM

I worked with a guy before that use to paint when he was in the Navy. I asked him one day where he put my brush, and he said over there in that burn pot! I said WTF? You mean cut pot? He said yeah Burn pot!

Evidently they use to call the burn pots too cause when they got too dirty with paint, rather than cleaning them when they were done, they just burned the paint out.

My fav cut pots are the colorant buckets we get from ICI, they are a little smaller than the gallon cans and plastic. Work great.

metomeya · 12-11-2006, 06:01 PM

you can buy gallons of colorant from ici?

Dave Mac · 12-11-2006, 06:16 PM

I always liked the fat work pots aluminum for my brush work. I thought i could dip in and out faster, especially with a four inch. But i have cut the lip out of plenty gallon buckets as well, never understood why some guys leave the lip on their. but some guys wipe the edge of the brush, me i slap the brushside to side, to me wiping the edge defeats the purpose of getting paint on the brush. but i have seen some fast good painters wipe the edge

dave mac

wmass · 12-11-2006, 06:29 PM

Boy Marvin that brings me back.I remember my Dad and Gramp burning paint pots, the metal buckets lead paste came in .

I think they were about 2 gal size (held 50lbs of lead paste) There was always a 35 gal drum in the shop they mixed up 100 lb kegs of lead with oil and turp.

Not to PC today:

I like 2 gal pots for 4" brushes and cut pots for smaller stuff

steve-in-kville · 12-11-2006, 11:01 PM

Semi-off topic: an old timer taught me the trick of drilling 3/16" holes in the lip of a 1-gallon can so the paint will drain out. I keep a few nice plastic buckets handy for cutting pots. (have a few plastic Behr cans from way back in the day... before I was edumacated... the hard way).

Just don't try to burn the paint out of them.... doesn't work as well as a metal can...

steve

**Teetorbilt** · 12-11-2006, 11:09 PM

steve, same idea but we just punched them with nails.

AAPaint · 12-12-2006, 12:31 AM

OK, I voted along with everyone else, because this is just what I have always thought. However, talking to some painters has made me wonder which came first. Chicken or the egg.

Think about this. Long, long, ago, in a galaxy far, far away....no wait, that's another story.

Seriously, long ago when rollers were not in use, the cut pot wasn't neccasarily (I can't spell that word) just for cut in work because all painting was done by brush and cutting in was often referred to as trimming. So.....did painters orignally start using the term because they cut the lip off their cans or because they used it to hold paint for cutting in walls when in fact, most of their work with the pot wouldn't consist of cutting it because it includes the whole surface?

Does anyone have any insight into the historical usage of this term in painting?

The responses so far have been quite interesting, and I have always had an interest in things with more than one meaning. Take for instance this statement:

"Don't look at me STUPID!" or "Don't look at ME, stupid!" Means two totally different things, lol. Ok enough from me.....

Richard · 12-12-2006, 06:37 AM

Don't look at me STUPID!

MarvinWilleyJr · 12-12-2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by metomeya

you can buy gallons of colorant from ici?

No, they save the empties for us when they are done. We just gotta wash them out.

profinish · 12-21-2006, 04:41 PM

Have heard that term before we always call it a work pot but same diffrence.