- 1). Take a tape measure with you to the store. Measure the thickness of the thickest brand of paper towels you can find, stretching your measuring tape from the cardboard tubing inside to the outer layer of paper towels. Thickness of each roll varies widely by brand and style; other measurements of paper towel rolls are roughly the same.
- 2). Set a piece of 11-by-17-inch paper so the 17-inch sides are at the top and bottom, and then draw two 11 1/4-inch lines across the paper horizontally, parallel to each other and 1 inch apart at the center of the piece of paper. This represents a post that will fit most paper towel rolls.
- 3). Add 1/2 inch to your measurement of the paper towel roll thickness. Draw a dotted line this distance above your top solid line. Add another dotted line the same distance below your bottom solid line. The dotted lines represent the thickness of the roll on the post.
- 4). Draw a vertical line that connects all four (two dotted and two solid) lines at one end of the paper, and then extend your vertical line 1/2 inch beyond the dotted lines in both directions.
- 5). Draw a second vertical line parallel to your first, but 1/2 inch away on the opposite side from the horizontal lines. Connect the two vertical lines at the top and bottom. This forms your base.
- 6). Turn the paper so the base is down if you want to have an upright paper towel dispenser that stands on your countertop. Leave it horizontal if you want the base to attach to a wall or cabinet so the roll hangs horizontally.
- 7). Sketch any design element you would like to put on the end of your paper towel roll to finish off the post. It should be between 1 and 1 1/2 inches at its widest point to allow a paper towel roll to slide over it, onto the post. This completes your side view drawing of the design.
- 8). Lay out a fresh sheet of paper so you can draw your top view. Mark a dot somewhere on that paper for your center point of the dispenser.
- 9). Set your compass to draw a 1-inch circle (1/2-inch radius). Place the point on your center mark and swivel the compass around to draw the circle.
- 10
Measure the distance between your two dotted lines in the first drawing. Set your compass to draw a circle with that diameter (divide the number in half if you need to set the distance by the radius) and draw a circle representing the thickness of the paper towel roll by swiveling the compass around from the same center point. - 11
Adjust your compass to a setting exactly 1 inch wider than the previous circle and draw that circle from the same center point. This represents your wooden base. - 12
Mark where you will need fasteners and other hardware items on both drawings. For example, you will need a screw that runs up from the bottom of the base into the post to attach it. Two screws will work better to keep it steady. You may need glue or some sort of small post set into your large post to attach your finial; draw this in, too. Mark where you will need to place screws to attach the base to your cabinet or wall for hanging dispensers. - 13
Modify your design as you like to add decorative elements. - 14
Apply the measurements in your design to the wood when you begin to build your dispenser. For example, your base will be a wooden round the same diameter as your largest circle and the same thickness (1/2 inch) as represented on your drawing.
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