Hot or Not? Paint Roller Cleaners
By Chuck Cage
TM reader Nathan writes: “I’m interesting in what Toolmongers think af paint roller cleaners. I work in a theater scene shop and we paint all the time. The worst job is cleaning out the rollers. I’ve seen advertisements for gizmos that you attach to the faucet to wash all the paint out, but I really have no idea how well they work. So are they Hot or Not?”
Let us know in comments.
Paint Roller Cleaners [Google Products]
July 9th, 2007 at 1:51 pm
I’ve not used that type before. However the “spinner” type works well. This is the type where you put the paint roller on a rotating head that spins very quickly when you pump the handle.
You can use this type to dunk the roller in water then spin the water and paint out of it using centrifugal force. (best to do in a bucket to keep things clean.) Repeat a couple times and the rollers come out clean.
Best part is, that these spinner deals are pretty cheap and most paint supply stores carry them. The faucet attachment pictured here seems like overkill.
July 9th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
I have the Rejuv-a-Roller Automatic Paint Roller Cleaner. It works well, a tiny bit of work to hook it up to the faucet but after that it works great. Cleans the rollers much faster and much better than doing it by hand. I can use the rollers for a lot more uses before I decide to throw them away.
July 9th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I the pump style roller spinner TMIB mentioned. Looks like this http://images.orgill.com/200×200/4702916.JPG Also works great with brushes, they slip between the jaw on the bottom and you can spin them dry in no time. I usually clean my brushes under water with a wire brush, use the spinner to dry it out, then the wire brush once over it to get the brissels straight. Keeps the brushes like new.
July 10th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Chris S.
Instead of using the wire brush to get the bristles straight, try picking up a brush comb.. Amazon has one for about $6 and change that I have.. It works really well . .
http://www.amazon.com/Purdy-Corp-Brush-Comb/dp/B000LNUJRU
July 10th, 2007 at 9:03 am
I used to work for a painting contractor in west Michigan, and we always used a ring that attached to a utility sink like this http://www.sealhardware.com/detail.asp?sku=6262489 and then used a spinner to dry the roller. This system worked very well, but that was many years ago now, and there very well may be something better out there.
July 10th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
I just use my hose with the spray nozzle set to jet. I skim over the top of the roller and centrifugal force does the rest. Perhaps if the wife bought decent rollers I’d be more inclined to clean them in a more professional manner.
July 10th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
Looks like a cool product. Unfortunately, you google search link returns no products. Dropped the word faucet from the search & got some results, but not like the picture.
How ’bout a brand name?
July 13th, 2007 at 12:05 am
I’ve found that rollers tend to wear out after several hours of painting anyway and that a hose or soaking works well enough for most cleanings.
July 15th, 2007 at 8:38 am
[...] Hot or Not? Paint Roller Cleaners Toolmongers say they these paint cleaners work pretty well, but in comments they offer lots of other ways to get the paint off easily. If you paint more often than once every now and then, you’ll want to check out this post. [...]
July 16th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Haven’t done this much but a stream of compressed air at the right location and angle while the roller is still mounted up will spin it VERY fast and dry it at the same time. Takes a few wet-dry cycles to get it decently clean. Do it outside!
July 16th, 2007 at 9:06 am
The hose (air or water) + letting it spin method works but makes a mess. Even outside. Painters will say “just hose it down” but their idea of clean never meshes with my idea of clean. Painters seem to revel in messes.
August 7th, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I never clean paint rollers. If I intend to use it again, I wrap it tightly in plastic, and it will stay wet for maybe a week or so. If not I use the same plastic bag to pull it off cleanly and throw it away. I buy them in packs of 12 and consider them disposable. The maybe $3 tops they cost is not worth compromising the NEXT paint job.
I clean the brushes with a wire brush and water, and spin them by hand.
August 25th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
I have one that is called the roller wizard. I stumbled upon the “wizard” on the web and thought I would give it a try. I can honestly say it is one of the best $20 I have ever spent. Works great, easy and fast. You can completely clean and partially dry a roller in about 2 minutes. The roller is slightly damp when you are done, but pretty much dry enough to use immediately if you want. I would usually just grab a blower from my compressor and blow it dry by spinning it really fast for 30 seconds. Again, this is not necessary, but gets it completely dry. I can’t recommend it enough. (no i am not affiliated)
Brew
August 25th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Follow up, their site has it for $40, I bought mine off Ebay for around $20 shipped about 2 years ago.
web site,
http://www.rollerwizard.com
How it works
http://www.rollerwizard.com/movies/m128.wmv