What kind of roller to paint cabinets

Once you have rolled on the first coat of paint, you will probably notice some areas that look like they could use a touch up. When the paint starts to dry, it becomes tacky and if you touch it or roll it, you will actually add to the texture rather than making it smoother. When the paint has completely dried, you can add a second coat.

Once it dries, the second coat should look smoother and more even than the first. If you are going for a super smooth, practically flawless finish, there are a few more tricks that can help. Use Penetrol instead if you are using an oil-based paint. This will help thin the paint so that it levels more easily, eliminating brush strokes and roller marks. This article is helpful if you want more info on Floetrol and how to use it. Before your final coat of paint, sand your cabinets or furniture lightly with grit sandpaper.

This super fine sandpaper will give you a really smooth surface to work with. If you are noticing a small amount of stippling orange peel texture from your roller that remains after the paint dries, you can use a super smooth paint brush to smooth out the texture on the final coat of paint.

Dampen your paint brush with a little water. Immediately after rolling on your paint, lightly run the paint brush over the painted surface using long, even strokes. Once it dries, you should have a silky smooth texture. This is the method I used to get a really smooth finish when painting my kitchen cabinets and it worked beautifully.

Want more tips for painting furniture like a pro? A mini roller equipped with a round-edged high-density foam applies a thin coat of paint very quickly. If you're using an acrylic latex cabinet paint, you can apply a second coat within two hours of applying the first.

Mike Matthews is editor of Green Building Product News, a national publication that covers sustainable innovations in building and remodeling, and he has spoken at national conferences on green building.

He has also served as founding editor of "Paint Dealer" magazine. Finding the right tool to paint cabinets is no easy task, but this list of paint rollers will help narrow down the wide range of options available. Foam rollers are great for smooth surfaces and this set of foam rollers from FoamPRO is doubly impressive thanks to their compact size.

At just three inches across, they can glide across narrow panels and trim and squeeze into smaller indents and grooves. The roller and tray can even be preserved for a day or two in a bag in the fridge, according to buyers who have lengthened the life of them. Sometimes paint rollers can only do so much when it comes to painting cabinets. This foam roller also comes with a paintbrush and a round sponge applicator to get maximum coverage.

There is also a reusable paint tray included, too. This set is a helpful addition to have when it comes to chalk paint, wax, and lacquers of similar consistencies.

A round brush is often the preferred method of application, especially for the final sealing coat on a cabinet or object with chalk-finish paint. This kit is prepped and ready to go with a suitable brush and a roller for other paint needs.

These six-inch foam rollers can slide over cabinet doors, leaving them with a smooth finish and no lint left behind. A slender roller frame is required for these, but it pays off to purchase a few sizes down from the typical cage frame. Painting cabinet doors, ledges, trim, and interiors are all made possible with each fine finisher mini roller and their corresponding holder.

Packed away neatly in a paint tray, the 11 accessories are fit for covering cabinets anywhere in the home, supplying DIYers with synthetic fabric roller covers, a foam brush, and a roller frame.

This one from NANJA possesses nine four-inch foam rollers that are perfect for painting cabinets, a rolling frame, and a paint tray.

I use latex paint when painting cabinets. Fabric roller covers must be used with oil-based paints. They will leave an imperfect finish on the cabinets.

Rollers with a thick nap are best for rough surfaces, and rollers with a thin nap are best for smooth surfaces. If your cabinets are completely flat fronted, with no molding or detail at all, you can use up to size 7 inches wide.

The brand name of your paint rollers does not matter. These mini foam rollers are not compatible with cages. Here is an example of a roller without a cage. Here is an example of a roller with a cage. You want a roller with a high density foam cover — like this one.

If it will be more than about 30 minutes, I seal in a ziplock bag and stick in the refrigerator to keep soft and wet. Your cabinet has a protective coating on it. This will keep the paint from sticking properly. You HAVE to sand it off.