Abstract: A pad painter system includes a pad painter having a base portion and a handle portion extending from the base portion, an applicator pad detachably secured to the base portion, and a lock mechanism having a lock tab of the base portion and an tab opening of the applicator pad. The lock tab extends into the tab opening to retain the applicator pad to the pad painter. The lock tab is formed at an edge of a wall and an opening is formed in the wall adjacent to the lock tab so that the lock tab can be resiliently deflected out of the tab opening to release the applicator pad. The base portion can include a tab flange extending out from the wall that extends inwardly from the edge at opposed sides of the lock tab and around the lock tab to stiffen the wall area by the lock tab.