Rollers

Rollers are made of three parts: the roller cover, the roller frame and the handle.

Roller Cover

The roller cover is made up of a synthetic nap fabric wrapped around a hollow cylinder. This synthetic nap is suitable for solvent- and water-based coatings. The type of nap, its length and the type of cylinder play an important role in the choice of a roller cover.

The nap covering the cylinder can be woven (white) or knitted (beige, peach or green). As opposed to knitted naps, woven naps do not release lint and give a smoother finish. Knitted naps give a more textured finish, have a better absorption capacity and are easier to clean, but are not necessarily lint-free.

Short, medium and long naps are available. Choosing the right nap length depends on the texture of the surface to be painted. The rule is simple: use a short nap for smooth surfaces and a long nap for rough surfaces.

Moreover, you can choose a roller cover with a cylinder made of cardboard or plastic, or a phenol-coated cylinder. Low-end roller covers are made of cardboard cylinders, which should not be used with a water-based coating as they break easily. Plastic cylinders are the most popular and withstand cleaning better. Phenol-coated cardboard or plastic cylinders withstand strong solvents similar to those found in fiberglass and in two-component epoxy. In this case, a stronger adhesive can be used to glue the nap around the cylinder, which makes it highly resistant to frequent cleanings. Some manufacturers use five-coat phenolic cylinders for their high-quality roller covers.

The types of naps and fiber lengths recommended for different uses are listed on the chart that follows:

1. The orange peel effect may reduce the hiding power of the coating as the previous color of the surface can be seen in the hollow spaces of the texture. This is more noticeable when applying a darker color.
2. The level of quality (economical, general use, professional use, high-end) has a direct influence on this. A higher-quality nap is thicker and, therefore, holds and releases paint more efficiently than does a lower-quality nap.
3. Woven naps tend to unravel after they have been washed a few times, except for high-quality roller covers.
4. Use a roller cover of at least 10 mm for water-based coating applications on walls and at least 13 mm on ceilings.
5. Do not use a roller cover over 10 mm for solvent-based coating applications on walls and doors (to avoid running).

Roller Frame

There are two types of frames: the 4- or 5-prong frame and the single shaft frame with plastic tips or nuts. The 4- or 5-prong frame is mostly recommended because the prongs firmly hold the cover on the whole frame length. It is also more practical since you simply need to slip the roller covers on or off the frame. Then again, sophisticated single shaft frames are available on the market.

Handle

Handles come in wood or plastic and most are threaded to accommodate extensions. A plastic handle is a better choice because the threads of wooden handles swell and get damaged when rollers are cleaned with water.

Roller Types

The most commonly used rollers are 190 and 240 mm wide (7 1/2" and 9 1/2"). They are great for large flat surfaces. The 240-mm rollers get the work done faster, but they are heavier.

Special rollers are also available for particular uses. Some rollers are designed to paint in corners. The 3" rollers are used to paint narrow surfaces such as woodwork and doors. Pipe rollers adapt to the shape of heating pipes.