02 / COVERS · FRAMES · TRAYS · SETS
Specify cover material, pile height, core, frame and packaging as one coordinated system for the surface your customers paint.
Pamin supplies paint roller ranges to importers, distributors, private-label brands and professional tool programs. A roller is specified as a system: cover fabric and pile height, core diameter and end cap, frame geometry, tray format and retail packaging are approved together, so refills stay compatible with the intended frame.
Buyers usually start from an existing range that needs a second source, or a new program built around a target market and price position. Both need a clear specification, sample approval, packaging and artwork confirmation before a production order is released.
ROLLER SYSTEMS
Roller covers can be supplied as refills or combined with compatible frames, trays and accessories in coordinated retail programs.
Durable roller-cover constructions for general-purpose and professional coating programs.
Fine-fiber roller formats for controlled loading, release and smooth decorative finishes.
Cost-effective roller-cover formats for decorative, maintenance and general painting ranges.
Smooth foam formats for suitable finishes, doors, cabinets, trim and compact surfaces.
Compact roller covers, frames and sets for trim, furniture and restricted working areas.
Matched frames, trays, covers and accessories for coordinated retail and professional programs.
SPECIFICATION OPTIONS
The approved sample records fabric, pile, dimensions, core, bonding, end caps and frame fit as one complete build.
Send a specificationWoven fabric, microfiber, polyester, polyamide and foam
Short, medium and long nap matched to the target surface
Mini, standard and market-specific inch or metric formats
Core diameter, end-cap color and frame compatibility
Wire gauge, cage system, handle design and grip options
Sleeve, bag, label, refill pack, set, display box and carton
These are published industry examples, not a Pamin stock list or a universal standard. Specify actual dimensions and tolerances for your frame system; a nominal inch label alone does not establish interchangeability.
| Item | Reference formats | Buyer checks |
|---|---|---|
| Cover width | 4, 7, 9 and 18 in | Compare working width, overall length and working space; not every frame accepts every width. |
| Cover inner diameter | 1.5 in (38.1 mm); 1.75 in (44.45 mm) | Published core examples, not the only systems. Confirm actual bore and cage fit; mini systems require separate checks. |
| Core material | Treated cardboard or plastic | Confirm the specific core, bonding and coating compatibility; plastic alone is not a solvent-resistance guarantee. |
| End cap | Open or capped configuration | Record both ends, retention and fit on the intended frame. |
| Frame and pole connection | Buyer-defined fitting | The shank is the metal arm, not a thread specification. Check the handle-to-pole interface separately. |
Format references: Pro-Charger cover guide; construction: Diamond Vogel. Inch-to-mm values are arithmetic conversions, not measured product dimensions.
Nap is the exposed pile above the backing. A longer pile can reach deeper texture, while a shorter one is a starting point for smooth work. Paint formulation, fabric and technique also affect the result, so test the proposed cover on the actual surface.
| Nominal nap | Converted mm (rounded) | Surface starting point | Selection consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3/16 in | 4.8 mm | Smooth wood, metal or untextured plaster | Check film build and loading on a sample area. |
| 1/4 in | 6.4 mm | Smooth doors, cabinets and trim | A short-pile option for a low-texture finish. |
| 3/8 in | 9.5 mm | Smooth to lightly textured interior walls | Compare finish against the chosen paint. |
| 1/2 in | 12.7 mm | Light texture and painted brick | Check that the cover reaches surface recesses. |
| 3/4 in | 19.1 mm | Rough masonry and textured walls | More surface reach can leave more texture. |
| 1 in | 25.4 mm | Pronounced surface profiles | Evaluate loading, coverage and final texture. |
| 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 in | 31.8 to 38.1 mm | Heavy texture, rough block or stucco | Confirm the coating maker's applicator guidance. |
Retail labelling usually groups these dimensions as short nap (3/16 to 1/4 in), medium nap (3/8 to 1/2 in) and long nap (3/4 in and above). These are selection categories rather than universal dimensions, which is why the quotation should state the measured pile height rather than the category word alone.
Selection references: ROLLINGDOG, Triboro nap lengths and Diamond Vogel. Metric product labels may differ from converted inch values; record the actual agreed pile height.
Woven and knit describe fabric construction; microfiber describes fine fibres, not a competing construction method. Specify both the fibre material and backing construction, then assess shedding, loading and release with the proposed coating.
| Type | Selection direction | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Knit | Looped fibres on a single pass-through backing make a more open fabric, so knit is often selected for faster loading and coverage. | Check loose fibres and finish quality; shedding is the usual knit trade-off. |
| Woven | Fibres are locked into the backing by a tight double-lock process, so woven is often selected when a cleaner finish matters, including higher-sheen coatings. | Shed-resistant is not a guarantee of zero lint. |
| Microfiber | Fine synthetic fibre, usually a knit construction, evaluated for smooth decorative work. | Confirm fibre composition, backing construction and release; the label alone is insufficient. |
| Wool / lambskin | Natural fibre, and the material used on the original roller covers. Published comparisons put it at roughly 40,000-60,000 fibres per square inch against 3,000-6,000 for synthetic. | Recorded as holding more paint, releasing better and cleaning up faster than synthetic, at a higher cost. Confirm the particular pile and backing; the density figure is a published comparison, not a Pamin specification. |
| Mohair | Natural goat hair combined with synthetic materials, published as a very low nap of 3/16 to 1/4 in. | Published as suited to glass-like finishes on smooth surfaces, enamels on doors and millwork, and clear coatings. Confirm the actual blend and pile; mohair and wool are different materials and their published figures do not interchange. |
| Foam | An option for appropriate smooth-surface applications. | Confirm foam grade and compatibility with paint and cleaning agents. |
A woven cover can also be considered with flat or satin paint when finish quality takes priority. Compare samples under the same conditions rather than choosing on fibre colour, a material name or speed claims alone.
Technical background: Wooster roller selection and Diamond Vogel cover anatomy. Compare more applications in the roller fabric and nap guide.
SELECTION GUIDE
Pile height, fabric and cover format should follow the surface profile, coating system and finish target.
Short pile or suitable foam for doors, cabinets, trim and smooth walls.
Medium pile for common interior walls and controlled paint loading and release.
Longer pile for masonry, textured walls and deeper surface profiles.
BUYER'S GUIDE
Send the target channel, benchmark and quantity to begin an OEM and private-label brief. MOQ, delivery timing and final construction require an individual quotation.
Inch and metric schedules, pack languages and channel requirements need to be agreed for the destination. Review the market overview or start with these existing buying briefs:
Knit covers use a looped, single pass-through backing that makes the fabric more open, so they generally pick up and release more paint and cover a surface faster, but published guidance notes they shed more readily. Woven covers lock the fibres into the backing with a tight double-lock process, which is why they are chosen when reduced shedding and a cleaner finish matter, including semi-gloss and gloss where sheen makes lint visible. Compare the proposed samples with the same paint, because construction alone does not guarantee performance.
Published industry examples include 1.5 and 1.75 inches, but these are not the only frame systems. Specify the actual inner diameter and verify the fit and retention on your intended frame. These examples are not confirmed Pamin stock sizes.
Start with shorter pile for smooth surfaces and longer pile for deeper texture. The table above gives reference options, not a universal prescription. Follow the coating maker's guidance and approve the result on the intended surface.
Yes. Covers, compatible frames, trays and accessories can be coordinated into a retail program, subject to the agreed specification and sample approval. Replacement refill fit should be checked against the same frame.
Send the target market, coating, surface, finish target, width, pile, core and frame reference, quantities, set contents and packaging requirements. Confirm sample evaluation and approval requirements before releasing a production order.
BUILD THE COMPLETE RANGE
Build a consistent retail or professional program with compatible products, approved samples and market-specific packaging.
