EPOXY PAINT - APPLICATION NOTES - ROLLERS
Epoxy Application by Roller - Brush - issues
Notes on applying epoxy by short nap paint roller on smooth surfaces
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Paul Oman, MS, MBA - Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc.
Member: NACE (National Assoc. of Corrosion Engineers), SSPC (Soc. of Protective Coatings)
"Professionals helping Professionals" Since 1994
PROGRESSIVE EPOXY POLYMERS, INC.
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Roller Nap
Roller basics: ‘regular' paint rollers have a 3/8 inch nap. Epoxy and adhesive rollers generally use a 3/16 inch
nap. The nap is better attached and sheds little or no lint into the coating while the 3/8 nap rollers generally
release a lot of lint into the sticky epoxy during the first few minutes of use. "Phenalic" paint rollers
are basically rollers with absolutely no nap. You can make your own phenolic roller using 1.75 inch PVC pipe. We
sell 3/8 or 1/4 inch low lint epoxy rollers ( standard 9 inch and short 3 inch) in addition to our many different
epoxies.
Roller Performance
When being applied to rough or semi-rough surfaces (wood, pitted metal, concrete) the roller transfers the epoxy
to the surface nicely. However, when applying sticky coatings, like epoxy, to a smooth surface (fiberglass hulls,
smooth metal, etc.) the roller nap tends not to want to give-up, or transfer the epoxy from the fuzzy nap to the
smoother surface. The result is a very thin coating of epoxy applied to the surface (perhaps 6 - 8 mils resulting
in a coverage rate of about 200 square feet instead of 100 square feet on a rough surface or with a brush). Most
of the epoxy remains in/on the roller.
Surprisingly the shorter the roller nap the more epoxy gets transferred from the roller to the smoother surface.
Usually the most epoxy gets transferred by using the phenolic (napless) roller. Unfortunately there is a downside
to applying a greater volume of epoxy with a roller. The backside of the roller tends to lift the epoxy into little
spikes as it rotates. That's how/why those little dimples appear when you roll on interior house paint. Well, with
the thicker epoxy those ‘dimples' become ridges and the shorter the nap (which means more epoxy on the surface)
the larger and more pronounced the ridges. Fortunately, to a more or lesser degree, all or most of those product
ridges will flow out and smooth away. A paint brush used ‘behind' the roller can also add additional epoxy to the
surface and/or smooth out any ‘ridges'.
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This current page is all about:
Epoxy Application by Roller - Brush - issues
Notes on applying epoxy by short nap paint roller on smooth surfaces
Epoxy "Stab Brush" -- "Regular Brush" |
Use with products on this page |
buy separately or include with your order |
|
STAB BRUSH - 3 inch wide with 3/4 inch bristles. Most epoxies are too thick for a regular brush. Stab brushes allow you to push and move the epoxy around and 'stab' or poke it into cracks, voids, and corners |
REGULAR BRUSH - 2 inch wide and extra thick with synthetic bristles. Use with varnish, paints and thin epoxies. Priced for disposable use. |
Find Stab Brushes and Regular Brushes in our MARINE CATALOG or in our HOME/COMMERCIAL CATALOG |
Goto our 3rd party storefront and purchase in the MISC SECTION |
Brush Application on Smooth Surfaces
There is no ‘lift' on the back side of an epoxy loaded paintbrush, hence no ‘lift' ridges. THEREFORE MAXIMUM AMOUNT
OF COATING CAN BE APPLIED BY BRUSH. Generally the upper limit of coating thickness applied by brush (or roller
on a rough surface) is about 25 mils (yielding a spread rate of about 65 square feet per gallon). Any thicker than
that and the coating is usually applied by trowel or plastic spreader.
Progressive Epoxy Polymers offers several solvent-free, medium viscosity epoxy coatings used as barrier coats in
the marine industry and as general purpose containment and wall coatings in non-marine commercial projects. These
epoxies are from different formulators but address the same niche. Never-the-less there are very slight differences
between them, differences that might affect which one you select.
UPDATE 9/15/02
WE RECENTLY TESTED THOSE 'PAINT PADS' AVAILABLE AT ALL PAINT STORES. THEY ARE OFTEN USED TO PAINT AROUND EDGES ETC. BUT CAN ALSO BE USED ON LARGE SURFACES VERY SUCCESSFULLY. THE PADS HAVE A SHORT LINTLESS NAP AND SINCE THE GLIDE ALONG THE SURFACE INSTEAD OF ROLL, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY 'REAR-END ROLLER PICKUP' AND THEY HOLD A LOT MORE PRODUCT THAN A BRUSH.
IN OUR TESTS WE FOUND WE COULD EASILY PUT DOWN A SINGLE THICK COAT OF EPOXY RATHER THAN THE THIN, BUMPY LAYER MOST ROLLERS PUT DOWN. WHEN IT COMES TO EPOXIES THESE PADS SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST OF BRUSHING (I.E. THICK COAT) PLUS LOTS OF THE ADVANTAGES OF A ROLLER.
IT IS TOO EARLY TO MAKE A POSITIVE RECOMMENDATION, BUT WE URGE YOU TO TRY THESE PADS AND REPORT BACK TO US. THEY WOULD/SHOULD/COULD BE IDEAL FOR THE APPLICATION OF A MARINE BARRIER COAT ON A BOAT HULL, FOR EXAMPLE.
UPDATE 12/1/09
THESE DAYS WHEN PAINTING WITH LATEX OR EPOXY, I HAVE A BRUSH IN ONE HAND AND A ROLLER IN THE OTHER. I APPLY THE PAINT WITH THE BRUSH, THEN EVEN IT OUT WITH THE ROLLER. THIS MAKES FOR LESS DRIPS AND RUNS. SERIOUS PAINTS USE A 'ROLL AND TIP' METHOD. AFTER THE ROLLER THEY USE A CLEAN BRUSH TO REMOVE THE ROLLER MARKS..
Water Gard 300 / NSP 120: pretty good - perhaps a just a wee bit of 'ridging' that doesn't flow out (thinner in warmer weather).
Corro Coat FC 2100: With internal kevlar (tm) and ceramic this no/low sag epoxies sometimes leaves behind bumps and
ridges after it cures. (thinner in warmer weather).
Epoxy "Stab Brush" -- "Regular Brush" Use with
products on this page buy separately or
include with your order
STAB BRUSH
- 3 inch wide with 3/4 inch bristles. Most epoxies are too thick for
a regular brush. Stab brushes allow you to push and move the epoxy
around and 'stab' or poke it into cracks, voids, and corners Find Stab Brushes
and Regular Brushes in our
MARINE CATALOG
or in our
HOME/COMMERCIAL CATALOG Goto our 3rd party storefront
and purchase in the
MISC
SECTION
REGULAR BRUSH - 2
inch wide and extra thick with synthetic bristles. Use with varnish,
paints and thin epoxies. Priced for disposable use.
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Epoxy Application by Roller - Brush - issues
Notes on applying epoxy by short nap paint roller on smooth surfaces