andyorr
Member
Will a small decorating roller in foam, from B&Q etc, be OK for applying West epoxy or is there a specialist type which is better?
Best rollers for epoxy application
- Thread starter andyorr
- Start date
Strathglass
New member
There are special rollers sold for epoxy. I can't remember whether they come from West or SP. They are short pile and do nor fall apart.
I have found that the B&Q etc ones will quickly delaminate and leave lumps of foam on the surface.
This is even more do when using 2 part polyurethene varnish or paints.
Iain
I have found that the B&Q etc ones will quickly delaminate and leave lumps of foam on the surface.
This is even more do when using 2 part polyurethene varnish or paints.
Iain
wagenaar
New member
I use short haired mohair rollers. Once used a long-haired one and it turned out that it lost a lot of the hairs during the rolling.
rob2
Active member
Why not contact the people who do Coppercoat? They supply rollers they've tested for applying heavily loaded epoxy.
I wouldn't risk using foam rollers from B&Q, although their mohair ones might be OK.
I wouldn't risk using foam rollers from B&Q, although their mohair ones might be OK.
danera
New member
I've found the b&q rollers to be fine for applying west system & sp epoxy, both for coating and glueing. Lifetime is around 10 minutes, the solid foam end normally has to be torn off after about 2! Doesn't work out much cheaper than using the west brand ones unless you buy loads (I think i've got boxes of 12 hamilton? brand). For solvent based material you need to use yellow foam ones, eg West, white foam start ballooning & detach from spindle after a minute.
Coppercoat supply & recommend mohair rollers, but that has a completely different consistency & is water based I believe. I also got these & yellow 9" foam rollers from my local SDM decorators merchant (London only?)
Coppercoat supply & recommend mohair rollers, but that has a completely different consistency & is water based I believe. I also got these & yellow 9" foam rollers from my local SDM decorators merchant (London only?)
colinmi
New member
Buy them on line at UK epoxy. They can be cleaned with actone or the cleaning product UK sell and used time and time again.
Colin
Colin
oldsaltoz
New member
G'day Andy,
Epoxy application is used for high strength or better water resistance in most cases, using rollers prone to falling apart can destroy the strength and the resistance to water ingress. A single bristle or hair can allow water or chemical penetration as can a small lump of foam.
If you purchase the correct roller you will be able to clean it and re use it many many times, in fact an older roller works better than a new one in many cases.
You can remove most of the uncured epoxy resin from a roller or brush with bog standard white vinegar, then finish with acetone, this means you use less acetone and if you stand used acetone in a clean jar, the sediment will settle out and you can re use the clean top layer over and over again.
Why someone would risk contaminating an expensive epoxy resin is beyond belief.
Tip:
Epoxy and cloth (Not chopped strand mat) should be applied at a 1 to 1 ratio of resin and cloth by weight.
Standard resins need a 3 to 1 ratio by weight, 3 resin to one CSM.
Avagoodweekend......
Epoxy application is used for high strength or better water resistance in most cases, using rollers prone to falling apart can destroy the strength and the resistance to water ingress. A single bristle or hair can allow water or chemical penetration as can a small lump of foam.
If you purchase the correct roller you will be able to clean it and re use it many many times, in fact an older roller works better than a new one in many cases.
You can remove most of the uncured epoxy resin from a roller or brush with bog standard white vinegar, then finish with acetone, this means you use less acetone and if you stand used acetone in a clean jar, the sediment will settle out and you can re use the clean top layer over and over again.
Why someone would risk contaminating an expensive epoxy resin is beyond belief.
Tip:
Epoxy and cloth (Not chopped strand mat) should be applied at a 1 to 1 ratio of resin and cloth by weight.
Standard resins need a 3 to 1 ratio by weight, 3 resin to one CSM.
Avagoodweekend......
snowleopard
Active member
An expert of my acquaintance doesn't use rollers, he pours the stuff on then works it in with a bit of flexible plastic sheet. It seems to do the job as my mast hasn't fallen down yet.
Cloven
Active member
I used Screwfix short hair rollers advertised fro emulsion paint - £3.25 for 10. Use once & chuck away at that price.
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=17048&ts=68734
Do NOT use the foam ones - they melt.
http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=17048&ts=68734
Do NOT use the foam ones - they melt.
oldsaltoz
New member
Yes using a squeegee or plastic sheet like credit card material is fine on the flat or an item you can rotate, also leaves a smother surface finish, also good with standard resins, if you can time it just right you get a super smooth finish on flat surfaces.
We use them when waterproofing floors that will have vinyl over the top, as it must be very smooth and flat. The can be used on rounded surfaces provided the curve is in one direction only.
Avagoodweekend......
We use them when waterproofing floors that will have vinyl over the top, as it must be very smooth and flat. The can be used on rounded surfaces provided the curve is in one direction only.
Avagoodweekend......
