I'm such a chicken-**** that not only do I use a paint roller I also:
1) Stand, never kneel, as far away as possible.
2) Ensure that my body is moving laterally so that my momentum is already moving out of the way of the prop just in case of a full throttle start and plane jumps, I'm already moving out of the way.
I REALLY REALLY REALLY don't want to meet a prop, ever!
This is the most dangerous time involved with gassers and so I am pointedly paranoid during this time. I always assume that the plane will jump it's restraints and try to plan my starting accordingly. If the plane were to escape the restraints, it would head somewhere innocuous.
Have I mentioned how paranoid/chicken-**** I am...
I'm same way, and after an engine breaking loose from it's standoffs this past weekend, and going FT into safety fence, I've became a little spooked again. Starting gasser's is somewhat where my really UNCOOL nickname came from. I had just assembled my first gasser, 30cc. I got my bud to go out and help me, and I started flipping prop, problem was when I'd flip prop, somehow I'd end up 3-4 foot away from plane, not only that, but I was flipping it like a sissy. I've learned to commit to the flip, and flip prop like ya mean it, and I also don't run 3-4 foot away from plane like a scared little Chicken, now how Balls got added on to the nickname, you'd have to ask the low life, AARP card toting, toothless geriatric that started calling me that.
I've been using the paint roller for about 2 months now, and as
@Terryscustom 's mentioned took me a few tries to get used to it, but I really like it now, and don't start engines without it. One of the tards I fly with
@emtp275 has started to use the paint roller also, and I understand why when he's flipping a CF 28x10, that thing take your arm off, not just fingers.
In the pic, you can see what type of restraint we use.