How to Build a Spinning Paint Roller

Making your own paint roller is a simple project.

Paint rollers are widely used to paint walls or other large, flat surfaces and are ideal for evenly spreading a single color of paint. A paint roller is essentially nothing more than a tube of porous material fit onto a wire, allowing it to freely spin. With this working knowledge of paint roller anatomy, you can build your own from scratch.

Things You'll Need

• Metal pipe
• Metal cutter
• Wire
• Towel
• Scissors
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Cut a length of half-inch metal pipe to a length equal to the desired width of your paint roller. Insert a length of wire through the pipe and bend the two ends together. Tape them parallel to each other to form a handle.

2. Cut a towel of the desired weight and texture for your roller to the roller's width. Wrap it around the metal pipe. Use a needle and thread to sew the free end of the towel securely to the portion of the towel already wrapped around the pipe.

3. Spin the towel-wrapped pipe to ensure the roller functions properly. Dip it in paint and use to apply broad swaths of color to your desired surface.

References

• Family Handyman: Paint Roller Techniques and Tips
• Abuchon Hardware: Selecting the Right Paint Roller