Metal Leaves Marks on Wallpaper

Digital Image

There are some wallpapers that can be marred by metal… In the photo, I have purposely run a metal trim guide over the surface, so you can see how it looks.

The bad news is, we paperhangers use a lot of metal items – scissors, trim guide, smoother, and even things like a ring or bracelet could leave a mark, and even my expensive magnesium straightedge, which I bought because magnesium supposedly will not leave marks on paper, will, in fact, leave grey marks where it moves against the paper.

The good news is that most of the time, these marks will wipe off the surface with gentle rubbing with a damp cloth. Of course, you don’t want to overdo that.

The other good news is that, with some extra attention, it is possible to avoid most of these blemishes. Leave your jewelry at home. Blue painter’s tape will seal off the ends of the straightedge, and plastic trim guides can be substituted for metal for some tasks. And care should be taken when using scissors and other equipment to not slide it across the surface of the paper.

Metal Mars Wallpaper

See the black smudges and scratches on this wallpaper? They were caused by metal coming into contact with the paper. I’m not talking about rough-handling the paper – I’m talking about my straightedge, or my scissors, or even a razor blade, brushing across the surface of the wallpaper. It’s not uncommon for certain papers to be marred with a black mark when this happens. And it can happen down the road, too, if someone happens to brush against the paper with something metal – purse strap, zipper, or a piece of jewelry.

Luckily, usually, these marks can be removed by rubbing lightly with a damp rag. I have invested in a (expensive!) straightedge made of magnesium, and that metal will not leave marks on wallpaper. I also take extra care when working with material like this.

My Newest Toy – 6′ Magnesium Straight Edge

This just arrived in the mail today. It’s used when table-trimming the selvedge edge off of un-trimmed wallpaper, which are almost always the higher-end brands. The straight edge will also come in handy when trimming grasscloth, removing banged edges, or cutting a piece to fit into a corner.

The thick sides help keep your razor blade straight, which ensures a straight cut, and the magnesium won’t mar the paper, as aluminum or steel can.

The tricky part is cutting strips that are longer than 6,’ the length of the straight edge, because once you move the tool to cut the next 6,’ you have to be VERY careful to keep everything lined up and absolutely straight.

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