I don't get why they're so popular. The paint goes on the surface in one direction and then as soon as you reverse directions, the roller pulls the paint back off.
With a spray gun, the paint goes on and stays there.
Foam Paint Rollers
- Thread starter Merkava_4
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Foam isnt the way to go. Try weinee rollers soft woven from Purdy.
I have a lot of house here in Bisbee to paint and as a result I own 2 Graco sprayers. Merkava_4 is spot on here.
First thing you do is buy a roller cleaner. If you somehow live in a bucket-free zone, buy a bucket at the paint store while you're there getting the roller cleaner. Or ask at your nearest restaurant, where they buy vegetable oil and margarine by the 20L pail and go through it on a weekly basis, if not more often. Clean them well, remember they held vegetable oil at one point.
Next thing you do is buy good quality rollers, and clean them. They last a long time if you do.
Foam has it's place, but that place is not putting paint on a wall in your home. They work great for laying down epoxy on a composite panel, for example, and for applying stain on furniture-grade woods. There are other areas where they do quite nice jobs, so it's not like they have No Earthly Use. The right tool for the right job, is all.
Having said the above, it sounds like you are not loading up the roller with enough paint. You may also be using a roller with too thin a layer of foam. Don't be afraid to put some paint on the thing, enough to get a nice wet V or W pattern on the wall. Rollers are *supposed* to pick up paint (from your W pattern) and spread it on the wall in an even fashion. You apply paint, then dip into that paint to roll out the area. Apply more paint, repeat.
Spraying has it's place as well, but preparation time is much, much higher than with brush and roller jobs. You need to decide which method offers the most efficient use of your time.
Next thing you do is buy good quality rollers, and clean them. They last a long time if you do.
Foam has it's place, but that place is not putting paint on a wall in your home. They work great for laying down epoxy on a composite panel, for example, and for applying stain on furniture-grade woods. There are other areas where they do quite nice jobs, so it's not like they have No Earthly Use. The right tool for the right job, is all.
Having said the above, it sounds like you are not loading up the roller with enough paint. You may also be using a roller with too thin a layer of foam. Don't be afraid to put some paint on the thing, enough to get a nice wet V or W pattern on the wall. Rollers are *supposed* to pick up paint (from your W pattern) and spread it on the wall in an even fashion. You apply paint, then dip into that paint to roll out the area. Apply more paint, repeat.
Spraying has it's place as well, but preparation time is much, much higher than with brush and roller jobs. You need to decide which method offers the most efficient use of your time.
I could count on one hand how many times I used a foam roller in the past 5 years. They suck. About the only thing I found them useful for was applying varnish and polyurethane, and even then I like to back brush it to eliminate the orange peel left behind by the roller.
foam rollers are junk.
I do agree,Purdy makes a great roller so does wooster........I own a painting company and they are all we use are those two brands
I do agree,Purdy makes a great roller so does wooster........I own a painting company and they are all we use are those two brands
Foam rollers are great for contact cement.
Hey guys! I figured out my problem.
I was taking the 4 inch mini roller off the roller frame and soaking it in paint thinner overnight. I figured that was the best way to keep it from drying out. The next day, I would pull the roller out of the jar and squeeze out the excess into a funnel and let run back into the jar. I would then squeeze the roller out in a paper towel to get the remaining thinner out of the foam. I figured I was getting all the thinner out of the roller that way -- Wrong! Some thinner would still get trapped inside the plastic roller barrel where the roller frame inserts into. So while I was painting, the thinner would run out of the axle hole, onto the roller frame, and then eventually work its way onto the foam -- thinning out my freshly painted surface. I did some more thinking and my brain recommended that I replace the jar of thinner with a ziplock storage bag.
I was taking the 4 inch mini roller off the roller frame and soaking it in paint thinner overnight. I figured that was the best way to keep it from drying out. The next day, I would pull the roller out of the jar and squeeze out the excess into a funnel and let run back into the jar. I would then squeeze the roller out in a paper towel to get the remaining thinner out of the foam. I figured I was getting all the thinner out of the roller that way -- Wrong! Some thinner would still get trapped inside the plastic roller barrel where the roller frame inserts into. So while I was painting, the thinner would run out of the axle hole, onto the roller frame, and then eventually work its way onto the foam -- thinning out my freshly painted surface. I did some more thinking and my brain recommended that I replace the jar of thinner with a ziplock storage bag.
Marco620
double vanos
Johnny2Bad
demarpaint
Excel
cptbarkey
tom slick
Thank you all for your comments and your help. Much appreciated.
double vanos
Johnny2Bad
demarpaint
Excel
cptbarkey
tom slick
Thank you all for your comments and your help. Much appreciated.
Nick1994
$100 site donor 2024
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Hey guys! I figured out my problem.
I was taking the 4 inch mini roller off the roller frame and soaking it in paint thinner overnight. I figured that was the best way to keep it from drying out. The next day, I would pull the roller out of the jar and squeeze out the excess into a funnel and let run back into the jar. I would then squeeze the roller out in a paper towel to get the remaining thinner out of the foam. I figured I was getting all the thinner out of the roller that way -- Wrong! Some thinner would still get trapped inside the plastic roller barrel where the roller frame inserts into. So while I was painting, the thinner would run out of the axle hole, onto the roller frame, and then eventually work its way onto the foam -- thinning out my freshly painted surface. I did some more thinking and my brain recommended that I replace the jar of thinner with a ziplock storage bag.
Put the roller in a bag and put it in your freezer. Then the next day or month you just take it out and let it defrost for a little bit and it works good.
Hey guys! I figured out my problem.
I was taking the 4 inch mini roller off the roller frame and soaking it in paint thinner overnight. I figured that was the best way to keep it from drying out. The next day, I would pull the roller out of the jar and squeeze out the excess into a funnel and let run back into the jar. I would then squeeze the roller out in a paper towel to get the remaining thinner out of the foam. I figured I was getting all the thinner out of the roller that way -- Wrong! Some thinner would still get trapped inside the plastic roller barrel where the roller frame inserts into. So while I was painting, the thinner would run out of the axle hole, onto the roller frame, and then eventually work its way onto the foam -- thinning out my freshly painted surface. I did some more thinking and my brain recommended that I replace the jar of thinner with a ziplock storage bag.
Put the roller in a bag and put it in your freezer. Then the next day or month you just take it out and let it defrost for a little bit and it works good.
Purdy 100%
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