The quickest and easiest way to apply paint to broad surfaces is with a 9-inch paint roller.

The problem is, lots of rooms have spaces where the 9-inch sleeve won’t fit, which is why they make a 3-inch paint roller.

But the sleeves that fit onto the 3-inch rollers cost two to three dollars apiece — about the same as a 9-inch sleeve — so I thought you could save quite a bit of money by cutting down the 9-inch sleeve.

Just take a hacksaw and cut the sleeve into three 3-inch-long sections and then use a pair of scissors just to trim the rough edges.

There’ll be lots of lint and burrs on the end so just trim that off nice and smooth.

What you end up end up with is this, a 3-inch paint roller sleeve that fits perfectly on the smaller frame.

And these cost only 70 cents apiece!

Watch the video above to find out more.

Editorial Contributors
avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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