Dumb painting question

[Locke N Load]

They say there are no dumb questions so here goes. I will be rolling primer and paint in three separate areas; bottom, sides, everywhere else. 3-4 coats each of primer and paint means a total of 20 applications. Some big flat surfaces and some small nooks and crannies so I figure 9" and 3" roller covers. Paint for the bottom is Interlux VC Performanc Epoxy and the sides and rest of the top will be Alexseal.

Do I need to buy 20 covers of each size or can they be cleaned between coats and reused? One for each primer and one for each color/type of paint so 3 and 3? I am guessing they cannot be cleaned and I need to buy 40 covers, but figured I could ask before buying all that if it would be a waste.

[Capt Terry]

Lock n Load-
I'll be the first to admit I am not an expert painter. But here are my two choices.
1- Learned from a pro painter he would load up a brush with paint and wrap it tightly in a zip lock bag or aluminum foil. if the second coat was done in a short time period the brush was good to reuse. I have done that with rollers as well. This applies to only the one part paint.

2- The second option is to discard the roller, sit back in your chair and admire your work with a cool beverage of choice and think of all the paint thinner you are saving.

[Kithogue]

Don't have advice for painting but I'm thinking of using alexseal as well. When do you think you will start the painting process? Looking forward to see the results.

We're finally working on the boat again with the warm weather. I'm hoping to be ready for paint later this summer.

Ryan

[Locke N Load]

Originally Posted by Capt Terry

Lock n Load-
I'll be the first to admit I am not an expert painter. But here are my two choices.
1- Learned from a pro painter he would load up a brush with paint and wrap it tightly in a zip lock bag or aluminum foil. if the second coat was done in a short time period the brush was good to reuse. I have done that with rollers as well. This applies to only the one part paint.

2- The second option is to discard the roller, sit back in your chair and admire your work with a cool beverage of choice and think of all the paint thinner you are saving.

Good point. The extra effort may not save any money and the last thing I want to do is screw it up. If cleaning roller covers is not the norm then I will bite the bullet and purchase all needed.

Originally Posted by Kithogue

Don't have advice for painting but I'm thinking of using alexseal as well. When do you think you will start the painting process? Looking forward to see the results.

We're finally working on the boat again with the warm weather. I'm hoping to be ready for paint later this summer.

Ryan

I have ordered all the paint supplies. I have a little more structural work to do then time for fairing. I am hoping to be painting in warm early June weather. Lots of stages so I am not sure how long it is going to take.

[rcnight]

I just got thru painting the topside of my 23WA with Alexseal. Great paint. Don't forget to get the rolling additive for the top coat - works great. I started out with these covers from Amazon: Redtree Industries 36031 Mohair Mini Paint Roller Cover - 4", 10 Pack. Didn't try the 9" covers, I think you'll find you have more control with the smaller ones - Although I didn't have large areas to cover as you will. Never cleaned my covers as I switched to spraying. Good luck!

[gofastsandman]

Originally Posted by rcnight

I just got thru painting the topside of my 23WA with Alexseal. Great paint. Don't forget to get the rolling additive for the top coat - works great. I started out with these covers from Amazon: Redtree Industries 36031 Mohair Mini Paint Roller Cover - 4", 10 Pack. Didn't try the 9" covers, I think you'll find you have more control with the smaller ones - Although I didn't have large areas to cover as you will. Never cleaned my covers as I switched to spraying. Good luck!

I've seen some pice of the rolling additive and they are impressive indeed.

[Xcomunic8d]

If you have a phenolic core roller. You can typically clean them. I’d go with mineral spirits first then lacquer thinner if that didn’t work. I use lacquer thinner exclusively on my spray guns. wrapping rollers in foil works if it’s cool enough and soon enough but honestly hasn’t worked well for me. If you’re working with activated (2 part paint) clean before it kicks or throw it away.

Clean your rollers before use. At least use masking tape to remove lint. And buy lots and I mean LOTS of tack rags. A flaw on your roller will cover a huge area and be miserable to get out. Strain your paint to and don’t reuse trays and clean those. Nonskid is your only exception b/c you want texture there.

Better to have too many than too few covers but 20 seems like a lot unless you don’t try to reuse them.

Redtree is my preferred roller brand. There’s a place for large diameter and small diameter rollers. I think you can cover more ground with large rollers but a better finish is more easily achieved (at least for me with a small diameter roller). My sweet spot was small diameter but long roller. Practice with a roller and a decent amount before you start it’s worth it in long run. Additive and tipping is a big deal. Keep a brush in pocket even if not tipping trust me it’s saved me more time than I can count.

But once you start spraying you’ll never go back.
Here’s my current favorite gun with my small compressor. Until I get my big compressor…$2k and then $1k guns. Can’t justify it at moment. But I’m spraying boats and cars and all kinds of stuff.

https://www.eastwood.com/concours-lt...gun-1-3mm.html

[Capt Chuck]

FWIW:
1.Line your roller pans with heavy tin foil. That way you dont have to clean them after each step.
2.Make sure you clean the roller with duct tape or a tack rag first.Lots of hidden stuff on them from the factory.
3.Have extra rollers & brushes than you think you will use. Ready to go. Drop one on the ground a ¼ way thru your job you'll be glad you did.
4. When rolling verical , roll from the bottom up not the top down. This will prevent runs.
Good luck

[Locke N Load]

Thanks for all the tips.

Yes, roll additive is included in the order. I will use the regular edging tape to pull any fuzzies from the covers. Spiral wrap then unwrap a couple of times. I like the idea of tin foil. I was just going to buy a bunch of the plastic liners. A brush for quick fixes makes total sense too.

Should I use the same mohair covers for primer and paint or does the primer need different? What size nap for each? 3/16, 1/4"

[Capt Terry]

There have been some good tips in here. Like Capt Chuck mentioned I have used aluminum foil to line the pan. Other times I have used the thin, discardable, plastic paint pan liners.

After my transom redo, I had small areas I just wanted to paint w/o spraying. I used some leftover Interlux Brightside White. But for the first time tried foam brushes and found they gave a bit smoother finish than my usual china bristle brush. In the past I bought good quality brushes and by cleaning the dickens out of them, was able to use them multiple times. But more recently prefer to discard.