# Make a PAINT ROLL out of Paper towel? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 11, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379 "2014-11-11T22:06:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Henryunderborn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58f4c7/32.png) [@Henryunderborn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henryunderborn)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/1 "2014-11-11T22:06:32Z")
Is there enough combination of layering Tape and paper towel “links”, to make for an adequate, paint roller? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2014, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/2 "2014-11-11T22:41:56Z")
Paper towels will not produce a good paint surface, and they’ll fall apart leaving all sorts of residue on your walls. So, no. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/3 "2014-11-12T01:38:41Z")
They’re not toilet paper, so they shouldn’t fall apart **that** much, but can we ask why? I [doubt](http://www.homedepot.com/p/Linzer-9-in-x-3-8-in-All-Paints-Roller-Covers-4-Pack-HD-RS-93384/203578166) you’ll be saving [much money](http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sparkle-Pick-A-Size-Giant-Rolls-Paper-Towels-Thirst-Pockets-107-sheets-8-rolls/23663059), especially when you consider the time spent. (~$2 each vs. \>$1). Even if you consider that the towel rolls are bigger, and thus you can use half of it for other purposes first. Paper towels might also provide an uneven texture, unless that’s what you’re going for. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/4 "2014-11-12T01:52:41Z")
I am intrigued by your thought process and would like to subscribe to your newsletter… ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/5 "2014-11-12T02:21:23Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > They’re not toilet paper, so they shouldn’t fall apart **that** much, but can we ask why? Painting is tough work, paper towels will fall apart. That’s pretty much a disaster when painting walls. Go ahead and try it if you want. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/6 "2014-11-12T03:05:15Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Painting is tough work, paper towels will fall apart. That’s pretty much a disaster when painting walls. Go ahead and try it if you want. Sorry, doesn’t look like that scanned right. I meant: why does the OP want to do this? ---
**Author:** ![Henryunderborn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/58f4c7/32.png) [@Henryunderborn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Henryunderborn)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/7 "2014-11-12T11:48:36Z")
Because paint rolls are at Home Depot paper towels are in my garage ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/8 "2014-11-12T12:14:35Z")
> [@Henryunderborn](#): > > Because paint rolls are at Home Depot paper towels are in my garage Home Depot is where the paint is, as well. If you want to use crappy painting tools you’ll get a crappy paint job. Paper towels are perhaps one of the worst tools you could use for painting. If you want to try it, go ahead and report back the results. But you’ll have a worse paint job than if you used the lousiest rollers or brushes. > [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > Sorry, doesn’t look like that scanned right. I meant: why does the OP want to do this? Sorry, I misread the post and thought it had come from the OP. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/9 "2014-11-12T12:18:35Z")
These days I treat rollers and brushes as disposable. The old way of buying good quality brushes and then turpentine to clean and store them are gone, except maybe for professionals. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/10 "2014-11-12T20:13:52Z")
> [@Henryunderborn](#): > > Because paint rolls are at Home Depot paper towels are in my garage They are also at the Walmart. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/11 "2014-11-12T20:27:29Z")
> [@Henryunderborn](#): > > Because paint rolls are at Home Depot paper towels are in my garage You DO realize that you could have made it to Home Depot by now, right? Wait until you’re sober and re-evaluate if DIY painting your car with exterior latex is still a good idea… ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2014, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/12 "2014-11-12T20:30:33Z")
In high school I Krylon’d my two front fenders. Threw on some clear coat. Came out great. It sort of matched the rest of the car. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/13 "2014-11-13T00:15:52Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > These days I treat rollers and brushes as disposable. The old way of buying good quality brushes and then turpentine to clean and store them are gone, except maybe for professionals. Sorry bob- While I agree on the rollers being disposable, good brushes are worth the money and worth the time to take care of them. I used to believe in the throw away brush until I fell in love with a gal named Purdy. (Now I am sure someone will come along to tell me Purdy is crap- but compared to the $4 HD brush?) ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/14 "2014-11-13T13:32:49Z")
I have to agree with **OldOlds** on this one…I just cut in an entire house with a 2 1/2" angled Purdy brush without taping. Never would have believed it possible, and it wouldn’t be with a cheap brush. Good paint makes a hell of a difference, too. ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/15 "2014-11-13T14:09:33Z")
We once painted a school bus white with a five-gallon can of house paint and two brooms. Yes. We knew it was low-end but the application wasn’t critical. It looked like it was painted with a broom when it dried. Laughing point for years to come. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2014, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/make-a-paint-roll-out-of-paper-towel/704379/16 "2014-11-13T15:44:56Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I have to agree with **OldOlds** on this one…I just cut in an entire house with a 2 1/2" angled Purdy brush without taping. Never would have believed it possible, and it wouldn’t be with a cheap brush. > > Good paint makes a hell of a difference, too. I have a Purdy that I bought when I painted my house the FIRST time in 2003. I use it for trim work, and it’s now made it through a second house painting plus the occasional trim replace & repair work in between. I agree that the control and precision that you get with a good brush is amazing Now, I have a tendency to ruin them when I do work with oil based, since I never seem to get them clean enough. That’s heartbreaking.