Off-site painting portability

(Sorry, this is the only Painting sub-forum I could find)

I'm asking on behalf of a friend, call him Joe, does not care to be identified for obvious reasons.

In Joe's neighborhood is a bridge over a railroad, along both sides it has vertical walls/"blinders" of aluminum plate. This is apparently an "attractive nuisance" for graffiti artists apparently belonging to one or more gangs to "mark their turf"; results are an eyesore and Joe does not like it one bit. He painted over it, but the graffiti keeps coming back (re-applied), and Joe is out there pretty often.

It's not too far a walk but right now means walking some distance pushing a wheelbarrow with cans of paint (Rustoleum "aluminum"), pouring spout, paint tray and liner, roller frame & cover and a long handle. Rather a pain to handle especially when crossing the street to get both sides, the nearest driveway cut in the curb about 100 yeards away from the bridge.

Is there a clever way to streamline this? I thought of one of those fill-the-handle pain roller frames but I think it would not mean carrying less and the wheelbarrow would still be required (and a beast to clean after all these applications, I'd suspect). Maybe a simple carrying the paint pail and use a brush.. ugh. Am I missing a solution? I doubt spray cans would cover well, but...

Joe says TIA.

 

I think a little wagon. After a summer weekend I'm sure a lot of paint is needed which means more than one person could easily carry over.

If this is a very regular thing I would come up with a way to keep everything ready to go and minimize the time spent being neat or cleaning up. No prep, just keep everything in the wagon so Joe just has to pull it over and start painting. Maybe a bucket or tub with a good sealing lid with 4-6" of paint thinner in the bottom. When done painting just put the roller in the solvent bucket with the handle up and out of the solvent and close the lid. Or, just put the wet roller in a old plastic grocery bag to keep it from drying out.

Instead of using a roller pan, liner and pouring out paint each time just keep a gallon or so of paint in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and use a roller screen. Just dip the roller in the paint. Take a few passes on the screen and paint. When done just put the lid back on the bucket. If the paint starts to thicken up a bit just dabble in a little thinner.

 

I agree a wagon should be easier than a wheelbarrow but the main thing is to cut down the amount of supplies needed. PD is right on suggesting a 5 gal bucket with screen. Keep the paint in the 5 gallon bucket, when done, pour a small amount of paint thinner in - just enough to barely cover the paint and close the lid tightly. That will keep the paint from skimming over and what doesn't evaporate can be mixed in with the paint the next time you use it. The easiest way to store the roller is to set it in a bucket of water. As long as the water covers the roller cover, the paint will not dry. Before the roller is put back in the paint, spin the roller well - that will remove 99% of the water. A big piece of cardboard works well for a place to spin the roller dry.

If he 'cleans' the roller at home, all he'll need to transport is the 5 gal bucket of paint [with the screen in it] and the roller pole, maybe a drop cloth if needed. A plastic bag can be used to protect the roller cover so it won't leave paint where it isn't wanted.

 

I've never tried putting a brush or roller under water with oil base paint. Does that really work? It would be great if it does. A few quick flips and the water will come right off, unlike solvent which really thins the paint on the roller for the first few passes.

 

35 or so yrs ago I worked for an outfit that rolled oil base enamel on luan and smooth masonite doors. We always set the roller in a bucket of water, sometimes just overnight but other times for a week or so. The water prevents the air from drying the paint out. I'd be leery of immersing a brush in water..... but then I always use a natural bristle brush for oil base coatings. Also it takes less thinner and time to clean a brush than it does a roller.

Prior to working for that outfit, I had never heard of storing an oil base paint roller in water. I was very skeptical at first - but it works.

 

Thanks, I'll pass all of this along; if it were me, I'd go for that 5-gallon bucket solution; with a gallon of paint in the bottom, not to hard to carry and the roller/handle combo in the other hand.