Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
Looking to antifoul next week having prepared keel and hull. What rollers do you guys use? Thinking of using mini rollers but not sure what quality/make to use for best/easiest results
rollers for antifouling
- Thread starter Paddydog`1
- Start date
Aeolus
Well-Known Member
I use the cheapest, full size B&Q rollers I can find. Single use, then chuck them.
theoldsalt
Well-Known Member
Use the nice fluffy ones not the foam; they are for gloss paint. I find 4 inch rollers better than the larger ones.
Talulah
Well-Known Member
l'escargot
Well-Known Member
I use the small fluffy ones and stick a couple of foot of broom handle in the roller handle - keeps the splatter further away 
neilf39
Well-Known Member
I use the cheap small foam ones from B&Q on a long handled holder, but then I have 24ft boat. Seems to work fine and not used the fluffy ones. Get through 2 or 3 doing 2 coats. I put the roller in cling film between coats.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Another vote for the 4 inch fluffy imitation lambswool rollers.
The foam ones are attacked by the solvent in the antifouling although they will just about do a small boat.
even some of the "fluffy" ones don't seem to fare too well, so have a refill or two handy ( they come in packs of three or more anyway)
I find it useful to also have a brush handy.
The foam ones are attacked by the solvent in the antifouling although they will just about do a small boat.
even some of the "fluffy" ones don't seem to fare too well, so have a refill or two handy ( they come in packs of three or more anyway)
I find it useful to also have a brush handy.
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
Lambswool give a better finish and are more durable, the foam ones disintegrate due to the paint solvent before you've finished. I use 8" or 10" - much quicker than the small ones - and a smallish brush for angles between the keels (twin keeler) and around through hull fittings. I keep going til it's all finished then put roller and tray in a carrier bag and bin them.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
4" Fluffies on a long handle.
billmacfarlane
Well-Known Member
I usually use the cheapest I can get but this year I bought Harrison 9" rollers that are advertised as being able to carry more paint. I bought them from Homebase, used them today and they made a huge difference. I use them on telescopic handles. I finished in a much quicker time, used less antifoul and very little went over me. V impressed.
jimi
Well-Known Member
is using less antifoul a good thing? I thought the idea was to bung as much on as possible as it slowly erodes away in use?
Bav32
Well-Known Member
Note the OP asked for best / easiest results.
IMHO Best results are not easy.
Really good preparation and thin primer as required.
I use 4 inch short hair rollers, and definately not the cheapest
to really good smooth finish.
Only downside of the short hair rollers is that they don't hold lots of paint.
But then again you don't get thick layers building up.
I also use a radiator roller - long enough to keep you away from any spray.
IMHO Best results are not easy.
Really good preparation and thin primer as required.
I use 4 inch short hair rollers, and definately not the cheapest
to really good smooth finish.
Only downside of the short hair rollers is that they don't hold lots of paint.
But then again you don't get thick layers building up.
I also use a radiator roller - long enough to keep you away from any spray.
VicS
Well-Known Member
I found that when I did friend's 31 footer with a 9" roller a few years ago my arms ached from the weight of a big roller well loaded with antifouling.
Also the springiness of the frame made it even harder work than it might have been. It may have been a cheap frame... it was the one I was given to use!
wiggy
Well-Known Member
I use these http://www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk/37889/Anza-Felt-Midi-Roller.html definitely not cheap, but last amazingly, never fall apart and an excellent finish.
LittleSister
Well-Known Member
Seems a funny time to be anti-fouling to me. If you're not going back in the water, don't most (eroding?) antifoulings need to be put on within a month of launching?
And if you are going back in the water there will probably be very little fouling now until spring, I would have thought.
Tomahawk
Well-Known Member
To get a smooth finish i use the very fine pile mohair type ones.
The sluffy ones cover well but produce a finish like the surface of the moon... Which means you have to then sand off half of your very expensive paint to get a smooth finish
They are difficult to get hold of.. B&Q, Wickes don't stock them
The sluffy ones cover well but produce a finish like the surface of the moon... Which means you have to then sand off half of your very expensive paint to get a smooth finish
They are difficult to get hold of.. B&Q, Wickes don't stock them
PlankWalker
Well-Known Member
After paying a fortune on antifouling, I dont skimp on the roller.
I use short pile mohair 7inch 1and3/4 inch diam made by Albany for gloss paint.
On an Albany caged frame with an 18 inch extension.
Then chuck the roller and wipe over the frame.
Plank
I use short pile mohair 7inch 1and3/4 inch diam made by Albany for gloss paint.
On an Albany caged frame with an 18 inch extension.
Then chuck the roller and wipe over the frame.
Plank
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jwilson
Well-Known Member
If you bung as much on as the paint manufacturers tell you you will after a few years have a thick crust of antifouling on the bottom: on lower speed boats it least it does not really seem to erode that much. The paint manufacturers have a vested interest in you using lots.
I use one thin coat of good quality AF each year for March-end October afloat in quite a high fouling area. Boat came out a few days ago with just a little slime, no barnacles. The unantifouled mooring buoy however has a foot of weed growth, and the mooring chain is a nice little early stage mussel farm.
Each year a wet and dry rub-down with a sander head on a pole and a hose, then one thin coat everywhere, a second thin coat 6" around the waterline. I use Seajet 033, thinned about 5% to go on smoothly with a short-hair roller, but others in same area using Micron usually have similar results. Result, smooth hull.
Halo
Well-Known Member
I found that I can get more pressure with the small ones and this helps the antifoul go a lot further.
Each year the layer of antifoul gets thicker so I dont really want to slop it on in a thick layer or spend money on more than 1 tin of antifoul
To be honest once the edges are masked the actual anti fouling is a breeze
The other tip is to use a really old pair of specs (if you wear them) so you dont end up with paint spots from the roller on a decent pair; and I wear the same old baseball cap - otherwise I get paint in what is left of my hair !
Each year the layer of antifoul gets thicker so I dont really want to slop it on in a thick layer or spend money on more than 1 tin of antifoul
To be honest once the edges are masked the actual anti fouling is a breeze
The other tip is to use a really old pair of specs (if you wear them) so you dont end up with paint spots from the roller on a decent pair; and I wear the same old baseball cap - otherwise I get paint in what is left of my hair !
Paddydog`1
Well-Known Member
thanks all
