Metered twist paint stick

Apparatus for painting a surface, comprising:

• (a) an absorbent paint applicator containing paint and adapted to contact the surface;
• (b) a tube fillable with paint, the tube connected to the applicator;
• and
• (c) a metering device for incrementally metering paint onto the applicator from the tube;
• (d) wherein the metering device further comprises a plunger reciprocating within the tube, the plunger having a handle, the plunger being incrementally advanced within the tube by rotating the handle, thereby dispensing paint onto the applicator;
• (e) further comprising at least one helical groove along the plunger;
• (f) wherein the metering device further comprises an outer collar and an inner collar rotating therein, and a raised portion on the inner collar contacting the helical groove;
• (g) further comprising a lock engaging the inner collar;
• and
• (h) wherein The lock can be moved between a first unlocked position in which the inner collar is free to rotate within the outer collar, thereby allowing the user to move The plunger within the tube, and a second position in which the inner collar is locked against rotation within the outer collar, thereby causing rotation of the plunger to be translated into the linear motion of the plunger within the tube.