It works, but there are drawbacks. It's going to follow the line of whatever it is you are rolling against. If you are rolling against a wobbly ceiling line, then your cut line will also be wobbly. Older homes have more wobbly lines than newer homes. The beauty of being able to freehand is that you can make your own line instead of following a crooked one. Also, this tool will not get tight to anything because that wheel/guide on the edge of the tool will keep it away.

Older homes have more wobbly lines than newer homes.

I guess that depends on where you live and who did the building.Here in MD, almost all older homes ( 1920's) are MUCH better quality than what is built today. I hang wall paper and have seen for a fact that the old guys actually used a level when building the old homes, as opposed to the multi million $ homes being thrown up in a couple weeks, where it looks like they do not even own a level, let alone use one. Just my 2 cents,sorry it has nothing to add to the actual question about which I have no experience, but as paintguy says, that tool will only follow what is there.

Thanks for you responses. We will be painting the interior of a 1958 house with original slightly textured plaster walls, with coved ceilings, and priming and painting panelling in rec room. I think the lines are fairly straight, but I will check with a level.

Also, someone recommended getting a sprayer and spray painting. Is this easy to learn and truly a time saver for novice spray painter? We will be painting about 2000 square feet of home interior, including ceilings. We have always used rollers and brushes in the past, but looking for time savings as we would like to paint before we move in and have limited time frame. Thanks.

Thanks for the info. I guess we'll just go with rollers and brush and patience, and yes sore necks and shoulders and maybe a massage if we're lucky. :-)

Even if it only follows what is there, doesn't still get you closer than cutting in a bigger swatch?

If you've never used a sprayer, yeah hold off, you certainly don't want your first time to be on your 1958 home...lol Definitely take time to learn it first. It isn't as easy as looks.

A tip though; if you have wallpaper to peel off, a lot of times in the 50's, (not sure why) they'd put the wallpaper directly on the drywall, with some strong ass adhesive. Don't go gouging away with your metal spatula, all you'll do is ruin the drywall and have to do major patch jobs. Take liquid fabric softener and water in a spray bottle 1:1 ratio (I use hot water) (ex.. 8 oz to 8 oz is 1:1 ratio) saturate wall paper (in small sections) wait one minute, then peel off. If you have a lot of wallpaper you may want help, with a few spray bottles.