a quality metal 'touch up' paint roller tray

[strik9]

Another take on the idea.   Make it bigger to make for less refills.  This one holds more than a commercial tray by half again but making a deeper well gets messy.  So I made it longer and wider. 
     Full box section under the ramp just because its rigid and stable.  Tin is cheap too.

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The other picture

[J.A.F.E.]

Your tin bending skills are getting quite impressive.

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I am just getting a bit better at torquing out light twists and hiding errors.  I made the lower plate move a bit to get it to set right before rivets.  Liquid nails tightened up all movement and water sealed. 

    Then I painted crap half the day sunday and never used a tray or roller....  just a dollar store cheapo brush.

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a question to the crew:

  Am I the only one here irritated by frequent refilling or is it just something most just adapt to?
the reason I ask is because as shown they can be made to greater capacity and the one shown here is proof.  But by just looking at more real estate and making one a bit bigger....     you could get a full gallon or 3/4 a gallon in one shot to make it a one fill room paint. 

   This isn't science to bend tin but obviously  a limit will be reached where too big is achieved and it becomes silly.   I understand that  much.   

[DeadNutz]

I think the smaller capacity is much better for me. Not as much to clean up or waste for when I step on it and spill it.

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a shot of black on the outside to cover up the ugly some .   Now they are ready for use.

[J.A.F.E.]

Looks good and I like the color choice.

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And a last hurrah.  The turn to the silly side of this.

   How about a 21" tray with 3/4 gallon capacity on a roller cart?

    Just push it about with your foot as you progress in painting a room.  No need to lift the tray until clean up.

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How it compares to a normal commercial tray.

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And the ugly backside.  I used the cheapest casters as it is unlikely to ever wear anything out in its lifetime. 

  There you go.  Fill twice and go go go to finish a room. 

[slip knot]

I've always hated the flimsy plastic trays as well. But I went the other direction. I use a 5 gallon bucket with a commercial roller grid. put @2gallons of paint in it and lets roll. When done, wash the grid off and toss the bucket and roller cover. I've never been able/willing to get the roller cover clean. I just grab the 6pack at Shermy Williams and go.

[J.A.F.E.]

Pretty clever. I like the idea. Does it move around when you load the roller?

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Ultra cheap casters ensure it stays put more or less but a push with the foot and it rolls the right direction.    No way it will ever get the miles on it to wear them out.

  Cleaning old paper core rollers was an art.  Two uses and the core unwound making my boss mad as this NEVER happened to him before I came along.  Modern plastic core rollers I get three cleanings before it just gets ugly and we part ways. 
       Old brushes and I are long friends.  I buy spares each job and have only used dollar store crap from five years ago.  They just do not die. 

   I searched for a bucket screen if to just copy it and found none.  So to do something this beast came of earlier ideas.

    It probably won't stay pretty long but who cares.    I put maybe 5 bucks into the entire project.