Wagner Smart Roller Side Kick Review

Do you feel more comfortable with a roller than a sprayer but still wish for a faster solution to painting a room?

Then, you are going to love the idea of a power roller which is what the Wagner Smart Sidekick is.

This Wagner smart roller automatically coats itself with paint through a tube that runs from the rolling brush directly into the can.

Why not take a look at our article on paint sprayers vs roller. You’ll probably already know that the most time-consuming part is constantly reapplying to the roller. Well, the Wagner sidekick cuts out the time that you’d otherwise spend on getting an even coating on a manual roller and an added bonus is it is also less messy.

Wagner paint sprayers are trusted by many, but they also produce a power roller series The Smart Roller. It has the familiarity of a conventional type and the greater efficiency of a sprayer. Read on for our Wagner Smart Roller Review

Here’s What It Can Do At a Glance

• Auto-Feed Control provides constant even coating
• Quick Release Handle for attaching accessories and new covers
• Suitable for oil and latex material
• Click-Attach Arm suitable for 1 – 5-gallon cans

About Wagner Smart Power Roller

This power paint roller is the most advanced tool in the Smart Roller range by Wagner. It is an electric paint roller with a detachable arm that fixes directly onto the can which eliminates the need for any trays or extra holders.

The paint flows through a 15-foot long hose directly to the end. Inside this automatic painting roller, there are small holes that create an even spread and so results in a perfect coating without any effort.

So this automatic paint roller is a time-saving tool for DIYers looking to cover large rooms or multiple rooms. By not having to continuously return to the tray you are cutting down on time but also on the mess.

This Wagner power roller is a great alternative to a sprayer that requires more practice and control for the desired results. DIYers will feel more comfortable with this format since the application is the same as with a manual option.

Here’s the official promo video from Wagner on the product. You can find the datasheet here if you need more in-depth info.

Key features of the Wagner Smart Sidekick

Time-Saving

The time spent on getting an even coating on the cover might not be your initial consideration when calculating how long a job will take, especially when it’s uneven such as painting popcorn ceiling.

That is until you have tried an electric model that completely eliminates the need for a tray.

The Smart Sidekick has an automatic feed from the can to the rolling brush. A 15-foot hose suctions the materials straight from the can and spreads it evenly on the cover through the small internal holes.

This way, you never have to stop and walk back to the tray for a new coating. You can leave the can at a safe distance and work the walls at a continuous pace.

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Adjustable Length with Easy Setup

Setting up the Wagner sidekick is also easy because there are limited parts. The package includes a hose, power paint roller with on/off controller, and the main component that attaches to rims which are also where you pull the electrical cable out of.

Attach the main component to the open canister that you have chosen to use simply by using the clicking arm, place the hose inside and plug the device into any regular home wall outlet. The automated system slowly sends the paint towards the roller where it spreads for a controlled coating.

The hose is 15 feet long which is already a decent length for home improvement jobs. However, if you have high walls or larger rooms, you can easily add length with a detachable extension pole.

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Easier Cleaning than Sprayer

Here at Paint Sprayer Guide, we don’t hide the fact that airless paint sprayers take a long time to clean. Now, this still requires a clean-up of about 10 minutes (excluding the time spent on cleaning the actual cover) but it is generally hands-off and still less time than with a sprayer tool.

The main component that needs cleaning is the tube. When using water-based paints you can simply clean it with warm soapy water but oil-based paints require a mineral spirit.

For the cleanup, you need an empty waste bucket and a can filled with either soapy water or a mineral spirit, depending on the medium.

Place inside the empty bucket, the suction hose inside the cleaning material and let it flow through until the hose is clear.

The instruction manual does warn that some material will still be left inside the tube, even after extensive cleaning. However, the instruction manual also states that these remnants won’t affect the performance quality of the tool.

For Best Results, Replace the Cover

Anyone who has ever done a painting project will know how difficult it is to get a completely clean roller. This is why many people simply opt for replacing the cover so that you can start fresh on each job.

That is still the wiser choice for this power paint roller. The cover is detachable with the handy quick-release system so replacement is done in a matter of seconds

Here’s What We Loved

• Easy setup thanks to it having few parts
• Saves time
• Saves materials because the automatic feed always ensures an even coating
• Detachable handle allows for accessories and quick replacements
• Cleanup requires little manual actions

Here’s What We Didn’t Love

• Can be difficult to get the feeding tube completely paint free
• It is hard to clean the cover so you will need replacements, but that also applies to the manual option

Final Thoughts

The Wagner Smart Sidekick is a great painting device for larger DIY jobs. It lets homeowners perform their painting projects quicker without having to invest in more expensive tools like sprayers.

This tool is perfect for large rooms, high ceilings or whole house projects. It saves you time while also making sure that layers are more even thanks to its automated system.

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The fact that it is an electric automatic paint roller is attractive for DIYers but less suitable for professionals. For frequent jobs, it makes more sense to invest in a sprayer, especially given that professionals are more skilled than the average DIY’er.