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foam rollers, smooth finish???

16 years ago

I just tried these small foam rollers using Amer Trad semigloss paint on a door that I had previously primed and sanded, finally with 150 grit sandpaper so it certainly seemed smooth enough. I had been told the foam rollers would give a very smooth coat but it went on remarkably dimpled. I tried a couple of different techniques, brushing on first and then rolling, but nothing looked better than using a brush. What am I doing wrong? Does the foam need to be totally saturated with paint? Add more Floterol (sp) to the paint?

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Comments (12)

spy10021
16 years ago
I've used foam rollers many times for smaller project (doors, etc.) and always get a nice smooth surface.

My only guess is that you may have had TOO much paint on the roller. You'll find you'll get a smoother surface using less paint and a gentle touch.

Good luck - hope this was helpful
Michael
16 years ago
Some foam rollers will leave dimples or a sand effect. It depends on the quality of the roller cover and the paint being applied.

Heavy bodied waterborne will not finish well with a foam roller. The best method that I've used it roll it with a Wooster Jumbo Koter, then back brush it. You'll have to be a fast painter if backbrushing a heavy bodied waterborne like Pro Classic. It starts to set within 45 seconds.

Michael
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Please help me understand why these are not ok to use on already painted walls. I used one to test colors and the finish seems to look nice. I know they are intended for flat surfaces like doors. The one I used is 6" in length.
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DON"T GET SILICONE ANYWHERE NEAR YOU PAINTING !!! The quality of the paint and your technique has more to do with the finish than the roller. It's just a vehicle to get paint from one place to another. As long a you apply it evenly , good paint will flow out to a smooth finish. Satin Imp. is a good choice. If your roller drags, you have a crappy/worn out frame or have loaded too much paint onto the roller it self. Take off the doors and drawer fronts and paint them flat. Another technique is to back brush after you've rolled out the coat. BTW - you do realize that oak is not going to provide the smoothest surface for paint in the first place?
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I was using a "regular" 3/8 (I think) inch nap with pearl finish. I know matte doesn't reflect and really like it. Did my kitchen/dining and living room with matte because it was much easier to get an even looking finish. The problem I have is one wall that gets light most of the day and was painted with pearl finish before I went to matte (really stubborn here); had done bathroom and bedroom also with pearl and if you happen to see any walls in the light you'll see why I went matte. Since the wall board is wavy, and the matte paint showed this as well before drying, I'm pretty sure the problem is with the walls and not me. I figured a foam roller would conform to the wavy surface better than a regular one. After three tries I said that's it, I just will look away until night. Not the best solution, I know. It's just that I'm hesitant to do yet another coat if the results aren't any better.
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jaansu
Original Author
16 years ago
This paint does appear viscous, which I assume is what is meant by heavy bodied. I was wondering if I was placing too little paint on the door. I'm almost certainly not loading up the foam with too much. Would too little also lead to brush marks or be more prone to brush marks than too much? Perhaps I need to practise on a waste board first to see what works best.
Michael
16 years ago
What paint product are you using?

Michael
jaansu
Original Author
16 years ago
Lowe's American Tradition semigloss enamel. It is toward the bottom of the can and may be older than I like.
PRO
Christopher Nelson Wallcovering and Painting
16 years ago
Lowe's American Tradition semigloss enamel. It is toward the bottom of the can and may be older than I like.

More than likely the cause of your problem.
Michael
16 years ago
I've attempted to apply Duration Exterior with a foam roller and it turns out pitted. It required a sanding and recoat with a fabric roller and back brushing.

My experience with Duration is that the heavy paint doesn't release from the foam roller quick enough to lay down an even coat.

Michael
brickeyee
16 years ago
You can always thin the paint with Floetrol.
Michael
16 years ago
Floetrol doesn't thin paint.

Michael
brickeyee
16 years ago
Floetrol sure does thin paint.
It has no pigment, and is just solvents.
It does not thin the paint the same as water, but it does thin it out and extend wet time.
paintguy22
16 years ago
Flood claims that Floetrol does not thin the paint but it does. They also claim that Floetrol does not affect coverage, but it does. I think this is why many painters will opt for a real extender like XIM over Floetrol.
Michael
16 years ago
So do not use Floetrol

Michael

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