Conference 7.286::home_work

This note re-opened by request of the author.

The old note was about power painters, this is about power rollers.  Almost the
same, but worth a new note.

Paul
[Moderator]

    Charlie,
    	I have the battery powered power roller. I had a house built last
    august and signed up to do the painting to save money. My dad, who is
    63 yrs old painted four rooms in the time it took my brother-in-law
    (30yrs old) to paint one. The batteries last a long time. If my memory
    serves me right, the manual says the batteries last about 25 gallons.
    I'm not sure but I do know that I'm on my second set of batteries and
    the roller has painted the above mentioned four rooms (~12x12/w
    cathedrial ceilings), a friend's ~1200 sq ft ranch, and my finished lower
    level (~500 sq ft). I personally like the freedom from power cords so I
    can move around easily and go up and down ladders. My suggestion is go
    for the battery powered unit. I don't recall the AC powered unit,
    perhaps it has additional attachments to allow for spraying? This could
    be a factor. If you need more info, give me a call DTN 237-3557
    
    Roger
    

I've got a wagner power roller I'll sell you.  I used it once and decided I
spent more time cleaning it than it saved me since every room I paint is a 
different color.  

Bob 264-1651

    .3 brings up a good point.  I have the AC version and there is
    definitely a breakpoint for when you want to fire it up.  I've found
    that to paint 2 rooms or less, it is not worth using the power roller
    because of the fixed setup and cleanup time.  
    
    Painting ceilings are another story.  If you have textured ceilings
    that really soak up a lot of paint, the power roller really shines. One
    good sized ceiling is enough for me to use it.
    
    BTW-I have no complaints with the product.  The power cord isn't too
    intrusive, so if you can get a good deal on one, go for it.  If you're
    buying new, the battery powered model sounds like the way to go.
    
    Bob
    

    I was wondering if anyone has used a Wagner Power Roller?  Any positive
    or negative results would be appreciated.  I thinking about purchasing
    one real soon.  Thanks in advance.
    
    Gale Wirtanen @MSO
    

    See topics 2277 and 4204
    
    JP

    Then make me an offer for a used 2-3 times Wagner. I'm open for bids!

    Consumer Reports, May 93, says the set-up and washing down are so
    time-consuming that the overall savings of time is nil.
    

I was suprised at the CR report until I read the details...

I used a Wagner Power Roller, not the battery kind they reviewed, but the plug in
variety, when I painted my living/dining room and stairwell.  I did the ceiling 
in 1 pass, then the walls to within an inch of the woodwork in a second pass.

It was SUPER!  The ceiling area took about 1.5 gal, and was done in about one 
hour.  I only bent down to change the cans, otherwise it was non-stop painting.  
The change in cans coincided with the only time I had to move the unit, too.

The walls took a bit longer, but not much, and about the same amount of paint.

The mess was negligible, only about 2-3 big drips on the floor.  The cleanup 
time was included in the total time.  The big difference is that I have never 
gotten a paint roller as clean as this one, because it has a flushing system that
hooks to your tap and runs water around the outside as well as pumping it thru
from inside.  So I guess clean up took longer than usual, cuz I would have tossed
a regular roller, knowing that I never would get it clean enough to use again 
after it dried.

Now if only the trim was that easy.

Well worth the investment to me.

The CR item (not a full review, but a "Once Over"), said they tried three
varieties of power rollers.  The rechargeable one was worst.  They found that
using the power rollers saved negligible time for the actual painting, and
that that savings was negated by the extra time needed to clean the device.

			Steve

    I painted the interior of my house a couple years ago.
    I used something my wife found at Sears.  I forget the 
    name of it, but it was something like the "paint stick".
    
    It was basically a 3 ft long tube into which you sucked paint 
    from the can.  There is a plunger at the end which you move to 
    get paint into the roller.  This worked very well for me.
    
    Scott

RE:                    <<< Note 4918.6 by STAR::APGAR >>>
   
>>    I painted the interior of my house a couple years ago.
>>    I used something my wife found at Sears.  I forget the 
>>    name of it, but it was something like the "paint stick".
  
     I have the Wagner version of this.  It works well for me, too. 

                                    Greg

I forgot to include in my last note about their evaluation criteria:

CU basically used the things to paint a rectangle on the order of 4x8.  And by 
those standards, I wouldn't expect to see a lot of time savings.  The only real 
savings you get come from never having to dip the roller (with my power roller, 
at least).  Depending on the type (ceilings, walls) and size of the job, this 
can amount to a significant time savings, even if you don't take into 
consideration the fact that you eliminate the potential for dripping paint in
between the pan and the wall, and while refilling the pan from the can.

>CU basically used the things to paint a rectangle on the order of 4x8.

      Not  exactly a meaningful test.  On something that small a roller,
      power or otherwise, is barely justified, if at all, over a  brush.
      (Possible  exception  -- roller might be desired from a standpoint
      of getting a better or more uniform texture.)
      
      The  last  time  I use my power roller it was on a 10' high by 24'
      long wall interrupted by only one door. I'd bet it cut the time in
      half.   Part  of this is the fact that the power roller has a long
      enough handle that I didn't need a ladder.
      
      If  the  tool  shortens the job to the point where it is, or seems
      like, mostly setup and cleanup, well, that sounds  to  me  like  a
      good tool!  

   I've got a "popcorn" or "cottage cheese" ceiling that needs painting. It's
one of those ceilings where if you use a broom on it that little pieces of the 
ceiling fall off. 

   I've used an airless sprayer in some parts of the house with good results,
but one room in particular has a very high ceiling.  Would the "power roller"
be a reasonable option to the sprayer?  Has anyone done this already? If so
what was your experience? 


AL

    
    -1
    
    I think that's one instance where the sprayer might be better than
    power or manual rollers and brushes. The Wagner 80 with the flexible
    nozzle attachment & long feed tubes (feeds direct from the can) works
    well for such ceilings.  Because of the fine even coat you can usually
    recoat in a matter of an hour or so.  If you try and re-roller a popcorn
    ceiling before it's good'n dry the roller will simply pull off the
    bottom coat.  (I don't believe in one-coat paints!)
    
    If it's a high ceiling, it may be worth hiring a couple of A-ladders
    and a platform so's you don't have to spend too much time hauling the
    stepladder around.          
    
    Incidentally, I've found that the textured ceiling paint that's on sale at
    HD is great - it sets up rock hard and will not come off.  Skins your
    knuckles as you paint the wall edges.  It is pretty "gray" in tone
    however, and needs a coat of flat white.
    
    Regards,
    
    Colin
    

Hi Al!

My ceilings are all textured with medium curd cottage cheese.  I painted them 
with the power roller.  It did pick up a lot of curd in the nap.  To minimize
this, I tied down the trigger to alow the maximum paint flow, and avoided rolling
over wet areas.  I found that the stuff would stay put while dry, but once a 
coat softened it, it would stick to the roller.  All in all, it came out pretty
good.

			-JP

    Thanks to all that have replied.  I decided I will soon purchase the 
    electric
    model 925, it has an attachment that you can put into a 5 gal pail of
    paint (no need to keep filling).  Costs ~$127 in Nashua.  So I'll get
    all the prep work done and paint for a day.  
                                  

    
    Well, I tried my Power Roller last night on my living room. Prepped all
    the walls first, did the edging first, and then power rolled.
    
    I found the unit, which is battery operated, to be cumbersome.  The
    hose keep curling up and at first all these little dots came out on the
    wall.
    
    By my last wall, I was going okay.  The cleaner up was pretty easy.
    
    Maybe once I get use to the thing, but it didn't seem easier.
    
    Mary
    

    Wait until your second room.  It will seem easier!  I found it to be 
    very easy, but thought the cleanup was worse than manual rollers.  The
    actual painting went a lot faster for me, but the cleanup seemed to
    take forever.  --S