Full Product Manual
Fabric Facts: Knit vs. Woven
WOVEN
Woven fabrics have a backing with a tighter cross section. The pile yarns are made with
a twist that helps lock the fibers into the backing, and they are secured using two
pass-throughs. This “double lock” process results in a shed-resistant fabric that provides
the smoothest, virtually lint-free finish. Woven rollers can be used with confidence in
enamels, primers, and all paints: flat, eggshell, satin, semigloss, and gloss.
Q. How do I choose the right cover for the job?
A.
For brushes, it’s the type of paint that matters (latex or oil). For rollers, it’s the sheen (flat
to gloss), because the higher the sheen in the paint, the more the surface will show lint from
the roller. For semigloss or gloss paint, choose a shed-resistant woven cover. To apply flat,
eggshell, or satin paint, a high-capacity knitted cover can be used. For a super-fine finish, it’s
perfectly okay to use a shed-resistant roller with a flat or satin paint, too!
KNIT
Both the backing and the pile fibers are different in knit and woven fabrics. In simple
terms, knitted fabrics have a looped backing, and the pile fibers are secured to the
backing with a single pass-through. The resulting fabric is more “open” than a woven, so
it can pick up and release more paint for the fastest coverage. Knit rollers are
recommended for flat, eggshell, or satin paints and stains.
The vast majority of paint rollers are made one of two ways—knitting or weaving—as described
below. New to the industry are “shed-resistant knit” fabrics, which combine the strengths of
both. Made with the traditional knitting process and unique fiber technology, they provide high
production rates with less shed. However, a true woven fabric will still provide a finer finish than
a shed-resistant knit.
Rollers
11
Backing
Pile Fiber
Backing
Pile Fiber
Match the Roller to the Surface
The nap or pile height of a roller cover is the length of the fibers that extend from the backing
and carry the paint. Basically, for smooth surfaces you use a shorter pile for even application;
rough surfaces need a higher pile, so the long fibers can reach into the valleys of the texture.
Some painters prefer to “bump up” to a thicker nap for higher production (e.g. 1/2” instead of
3/8”); select the pile height that still provides the desired finish.
1. Many painters “break in” a roller cover by priming it
with water or thinner. In our lab we never prewet a
cover before painting. If you choose to, you must spin it
out with five or six strong pumps so it is only lightly
damp. Then take even more moisture out by blotting the
cover with a paper towel. Wooster recommends
conditioning only for water-based paints, using water.
2. Use a liner in the paint tray to save time during cleanup. Thoroughly mix the paint, then pour
some in the well of the tray. Don’t overfill—the well should be half empty. You need room to roll
excess paint onto the tray’s roll-off area.
3. With the roller cover on the frame, drag some paint with the edge of the cover from the tray
well back onto the roll-off area. Do not submerge the cover. Roll it on the grid toward the well
using several quick forward strokes, then drag more paint back with the cover. Continue until it
is completely saturated but not dripping.
4. Patience is very important when loading a cover. It takes time to work paint through the fabric
down to the core, especially with woven fabrics. Allow several minutes for the initial loading.
5. Do not “starve the cover” by attempting to paint too far without refilling—that can compress
the fibers and make it more difficult to reload, forcing you to spend more time in the tray.
How to Load a Roller Cover
Heavily textured plaster or stucco,
rough wood, brick, corrugated metal
Textured plaster or stucco, paneling,
decks, concrete block
3/16” or 1/4”
Most walls & ceilings, lightly textured
drywall or wood, acoustical tile
Untextured plaster, smooth wood,
wallboard, drywall, metal
3/8” or 1/2”
1
1
/
4
” or 1
1
/
2
”
3/4” or 1”
ROLLER
NAP SIZE
SURFACE
Painter’s Tip from Virginia
Pre-wetting is a simple way to make any brush or roller perform better and clean more easily.
Wet it in whatever you plan to use to clean it.
Rollers
12