PAINTING AND
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According to my research Norman Breakey and Richard Adams created the handy little paint roller back in 1940.
The interesting twist is, Breakey (Canada) and Adams (U.S.A) supposedly created the device in two different Countries without ever having met each other.
No matter who is responsible for the roller, both Breakey and Adams have helped speed up the job of millions of professional painters and home owners.
Invention of the roller has also added to the bottom line of those who create painting related products all around the world.
Which nap or thickness of fibre you choose depends on the job at hand.
Below you will find information regarding the paint roller (cage) and roller cover (sleeve).
COVERS OR SLEEVES
The rougher the surface coated with your decorating tools the dencer the roller cover nap should be. A quality sleeve (cover) is lint free and has its fabric infused to a plastic tube.
Inferior type roller sleeves with cardboard cores absorb paint and break down quickly. Solvent or water moistens the inner cylinder causing the sleeve to lose its shape and firmness.
The best roller covers apply the paint with speed and smoothness ranging in sizes from 1'' to 18'' or more wide. I myself hate washing out roller covers but a used sleeve seems to do a better job than a new one.
SLEEVE THICKNESS
1 1/4" Nap:
Use for extremely rough stucco, brick and masonry.
1.0" Nap:
Medium rough stucco, brick and masonry.
3/4" Nap:
Knock down or medium smooth walls.
3/8" Nap:
Also good for medium smooth walls.
1/2" Nap:
Regular walls such as drywall or a plastered surfaces.
3/16" Nap:
For walls and doors if you need a little less texture.
1/4'' NAP:
Used for a very smooth surfaces such as fine grained wood work, floors cabinets and HDF board.
ROLLER SLEEVE TYPE
Lambs Wool:
Works best when applying flat or mat alkyds (oil base ) varnishes, stains and other similar type products .
Mohair:
Mohair is especially made for semi gloss enamels and should be rolled onto a smooth or un-scuffed surface.
Orlon:
Orlon is the best fibre to use if your applying gloss or semi-gloss acrylics to an unmarred surface.
Polyester:
Polyester is effective on rough areas but isn't the best of decorating tools for polyurethanes or speciality coatings like epoxies.
Blended:
Blended sleeves are the best, do to their dual purpose of working well for latex or alkyd paints. Try not to use a sleeve for latex that has been at one time in an oil base product and visa versa.
Foam:
Foam should only be used when painting cupboards with melamine. Foam sleeves are made for other jobs like ceilings or varnishing and go on whizz cages but I find in all cases they leave a poor quality finish.
Textured:
Speciality roller covers are used for applying textured products. A looped sleeve can work well for coating ceilings or to hide imperfections on a surface.
Others:
Some sleeves have etched patterns that create a texturing or uniformed lifting of the the paint. Edgers can also be purchased if you need decorating tools for hard to get at areas.
Wallpaper Roller:
Various widths of rollers can also be purchased to level out seems and flatten wallpaper as it's being hung.
CAGES OR ROLLERS
The best cage is one that's been constructed using thick gauged wire along with end bearings and has a threaded handle. As the frame compresses it should let a sleeve slide on and off easily yet hold it firmly when rolling a wall.
If you spend a little extra on a good roller you'll be happy adding it to your list of decorating tools.
Of all of the other rollers on the market a whizz or speed roller is one of my favorite decorating tools. It's small enough for painting shelves or behind the toilet.
I have also on occasion used a whizz to quickly coat a surface while standing on a tall ladder. To get those hard to reach areas use a can hook and grid, along with your whizz roller.
I hook the can onto the ladder and use the can grid for removing excess paint from the roller sleeve. Speed rollers tend to be faster than a brush on those hard to get at occasions.
No matter what the roller is called, weather it's a pipe, corner, paint in stick, paint in sleeve, tray or edge roller most are usually a waste of money.
Consumer Report states the only roller they've found that works quickly and with the least amount of mess is the old fashioned type.
As long as the proper sized roller and nap is used for the job at hand, I enthusiastically agree with Consumer Reports statement.
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