Abstract: Metal carrier rolls having a mass of at least about 100 pounds for use in paper making, non-woven fabric making and other applications are balanced to within a predetermined first residual unbalance value for rotation of the roll up to a predetermined maximum service speed of at least about 100 RPM, preferably within a Balance Quality Grade G-6.3 residual unbalance value, by fabricating a pair of substantially identical removably mountable metal journals, each being balanced to within a second residual unbalance value less than the first residual unbalance value, preferably to within a Balance Quality Grade G-2.5 residual unbalance value, fabricating a body assembly including a hollow metal body with a pair of metal end heads each being adapted for removably mounting a journal, the body assembly being balanced to within a third residual unbalance value less than the difference between the first and twice the second residual unbalance values, and, preferably, within a Balance Quality Grade G-2.