Hello, I’m Paul. I’ve been a property manager in a university town for many years; responsible for acquiring tenants, property maintenance and general upkeep.

Renting exclusively to students who stay for just 1-2 years, there is frequent turnover so I’m regularly patching and painting over small holes and scratches after tenants move out. The constant opening and closing of paint cans to pour out small amounts of paint was such a messy process and would quickly ruin the seal between the can and the lid. I tried pour spouts but they were not effective and still caused a mess. I really wanted to find a cleaner way to paint that would save cleanup time and keep my leftover paint in a can that stayed in good condition.

A syringe design seemed like an ideal way to suck paint cleanly out of a can. I started with a mockup that I cobbled together from various things. The result was promising so I had some CAD geometry developed and printed a 3D model. After successfully focus group testing the concept with the model, I decided to move on to manufacturing.

Working with paint, which is thicker than other fluids usually associated with syringes, presented some real challenges. Finding the optimal sizes for the barrel body and nozzle, so that a consumer could get decent volume from one pull of the plunger without having to use excessive force, took some time to figure out.

The features presented themselves naturally as I thought about the pain points that people might experience while painting. For example, small syringes on the market had awkward handles and no lid to prevent accidentally pulling out the plunger. I knew I wanted to add or improve those features, only in an economical way.

There really is nothing on the market to help consumers dispense large volumes of paint from a can…and do it easily without even lifting, tilting, or touching the can at all! Pour spouts claim to help but, even if they don’t fall right off, when you’re done pouring, they still allow paint to drip back down the can or into the rim. So they don’t solve the problems I was experiencing.

Sure. The ergonomic handle has a patent pending design that is both lightweight and strong, with flat top and bottom surfaces for comfortable pushing and pulling. The Lid has a familiar twist open/close method, like a kitchen jar, with a subtle snap when fully rotated and locked. When locked in place, you can pull the plunger back and not worry about pulling it out of the open back end of the barrel. The barrel itself has graduation marks in cubic centimeters and also some friendly graphics to show where to stop in order to fill or half-fill a standard 18-ounce plastic cup, which is a favorite container of many casual painters. The barrel also has flat sections on the flange to keep the syringe from rolling away from you if it gets placed on a flat surface.

The nozzle end of the barrel may look unusually wide…that’s to allow for easier removal of thick paints while at the same time not allowing paint to leak back out of the nozzle. That’s a delicate balance. We still recommend carrying the loaded syringe with the nozzle pointing straight up to avoid any drip-out. Perhaps the best feature is the patent pending, life-extending storage method. By inserting the barrel nozzle into the keyhole on the plunger shaft, you create a T shape which can then sit on a shelf with the soft gasket (the black piece) suspended in air…so nothing is touching and compressing any part of the gasket bead. This will allow it to perform like new over and over.

Well, for example, when you don’t have to pour paint out of a can you never have the dreaded paint dripping down the outside of the can, sometimes to the point of leaving a pool of paint at the base. That’s a mess that you have to clean up and also a waste of good paint. Plus, you’re more likely to get that drippage on you and anything else it touches until it eventually dries. This is why painting is such a hassle…you have to prep with a ground cloth, gloves…it just gets everywhere. With The Paint Syringe I can just put the paint can on a paper bag, lay the syringe across the top of the can in between uses, and save a lot of prep time and cleanup.

Anyone who would normally pour paint into a handheld cup or a roller tray.
Anyone who wants to maintain the sealing integrity between the paint lid and the can (which keeps your paint fresh) …that’s important if you’re planning to use one can for multiple painting sessions.
Anyone who has ever overpoured and wants more control. You can’t, or shouldn’t, put used paint back in the can… you just have to throw it out.
Anyone who has just felt awkward lifting a full can of paint and then tried to pour some amount into a small container.
Obviously, The Paint Syringe is not for people that paint directly out of the can…that’s a bad painting practice and not recommended even for the smallest jobs because it means instant contamination of the pure paint that’s in the can.

When 'cutting in' paint at edges, corners etc. you are moving fast with a brush, so holding a small cup of paint that can be quickly refilled with The Paint Syringe is ideal.

Also, when brush painting moldings, especially up high on a ladder, The Paint Syringe is the perfect tool to refill a handheld cup or container with small amounts of paint.

It's great for spot painting too. When I have a lot of little touch-ups around a house in the same color, I’ll just put the paint can in a sink, use The Paint Syringe to transfer paint into a small cup, leave the syringe also in the sink and then just walk from room to room, spot painting as I go. If I need just a little more paint, no problem. Back to the syringe and draw out a very small quantity easily. It’s so convenient, and when I’m done, the lid presses and seals right onto the can like new.

And let's not forget roller painting! The large capacity of The Paint Syringe means you can fill a paint tray with the exact amount you require with just a couple full draws of paint from the can.

There are a few not-so-secret tips (some can be seen in the full video on the homepage) that I strongly advise people to use.

When inserting the plunger into the barrel, roll the leading edge of the gasket in your paint source (wetting the gasket) to help the plunger slide more smoothly into the barrel.

Before laying the syringe on top of the paint can when you’re ready to go paint, pull the plunger back just a bit to discourage small drops of paint from dripping
out of the nozzle.

When cleaning the barrel after use, rinse the inside of the barrel by covering the nozzle opening with a finger and filling the barrel with water. Next remove your finger and let the barrel drain, while swinging the barrel in a small circular motion to create a swirling action inside. To wipe away any resistant patches of paint inside, push a paper towel into the barrel with a long spoon and work the towel around the walls, using the tip of the spoon to reach the furthest corner. If any paint remains inside the nozzle tip, just fill and drain the barrel again until the nozzle looks clean.

And of course, ALWAYS store the syringe in the T position with the barrel standing upright and the plunger sitting horizontally across the top. NEVER store the syringe with the plunger inside the barrel or the gasket may dry and seize up inside the barrel, making removal difficult and possibly damaging the syringe.

Yes, there will be another painting tool coming… related to the storage of paint cans at home.

Just knowing that people are having an easier time with their painting projects, wasting less time prepping and cleaning up, wasting less paint and keeping cans in good condition so that the paint inside stays fresh longer and is less likely to get ruined and thrown out…so there’s an environmental benefit as well.

If you feel strongly about a concept, build a prototype. Then stop and get outside opinions. We tend to fall in love with our own ideas and rush headlong, but for example, focus groups can give a lot of helpful feedback and save a lot of expense in the long run. I recommend having Non-Disclosure Agreement forms ready and always use them before sharing your concepts with anyone.

I would say, if you have a painting project coming up… just try using The Paint Syringe. You’ll be surprised by how much of the hassle and cleanup time it takes out of your project. And it’s actually fun to use! Remember to store it in that T position, and this product will last you a long time.

Just visit thepaintsyringe.com.