A friction roller for rotating twist tubes in twisting apparatus in which the friction ring is protected from contact with ambient oil by means of a protective coating and a slinger edge disposed on at least one side of the friction ring. The protective layer may be a protective ring which may be integral with the roller or it may be a protective layer of lacquer applied to the friction ring. The layer protects the friction ring from the spinning oil and the slinger edge acts to fling off by centrifugal force that oil which collects around the periphery of the friction roller so that the running surface of the friction ring remains unaffected.In one embodiment the slinger edge projects radially beyond the running surface of the friction ring and there is a peripheral groove on the associated twist tube which cooperates with the slinger edge in the manner of a labyrinth seal, which increases the protection against adverse influences from the spinning oil.