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Standalone Toilet Paper Dispenser

Project by George Gilbert posted 688 days ago 399 views 4 times favorited 15 comments Add to Favorites Watch
Standalone Toilet Paper Dispenser
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We awoke one summer day in June, 2000, to find that our toilet had been overflowing all night. In addition to ruining the bathroom floor, the water seeped into the utility room next door. The water also drained through the floor into the downstairs. It was a mess; but, as is true with many disasters, it turned out to be a blessing. A friend spent 3 1/2 months doing repairs. We took advantage of the project to do a little remodeling as well. When the work was done we were pleased with the results.

There was one lingering problem, however. The toilet in our new bathroom was backed against the middle of a wall with nowhere to conveniently mount a toilet paper dispenser. My solution was to design and build a standalone dispenser. The objective was to create an elegant addition to our bathroom that complemented the decor and was light enough to be moved while a person was engaged on the thrown. It also had to hold two rolls to prevent any embarrassing moments caused by running out while inconvenienced.

As pictured, the finished dispenser is made of oak with an open framework design that makes it quite light. The six cross members make the unit exceptionally sturdy. People have asked why I didn’t close the bottom so it could be used for storing spare rolls. That would have made the unit too heavy. Besides, with two rolls on board, it doesn’t matter where the spare rolls are stored.

Every part of this standalone TP dispenser (with the exception of the plastic roll holders and rubber feet) is hand made from oak including the handle on the top. The buttons showing on the side hide screw holes. The finish is a Golden Oak stain under two coats of water based polyurethane. To give the unit a very smooth finish, the entire piece has sanded with a Fine 3-M sanding pad. This removes the shine and leaves a finish that is as smooth as a baby’s behind. All finishing was completed before final assembly.

-- George ... my other passion is software development (http://www.2goodsoftware.com)


15 comments so far

View Russel's profile

Russel

2063 posts in 837 days


posted 687 days ago

How terribly convenient having a spare roll right there. A neat design and an attractive implementation.

-- Working at Woodworking http://www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

1557 posts in 921 days


posted 687 days ago

Another great piece born of necessity.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9537 posts in 886 days


posted 687 days ago

Alright! A two roller.

Good job.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View RobS's profile (online now)

RobS

1243 posts in 1204 days


posted 687 days ago

Cool, could even double as a cane, like if your leg falls asleep or something.. Nice job.

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14932 posts in 748 days


posted 687 days ago

Great design George, very practical. Just fo interest, which way does the paper roll over the top or underneath??, everyone seems to have a different idea on that.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View Karson's profile

Karson

25806 posts in 1298 days


posted 687 days ago

Grumpy: I like the paper falling down on the front side of the roll. That way it is easy to find.

Great design George. I guess with a design like that you could put in the 1000’ rolls that they use in commercial water closets. Other than the paper is like cardboard.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View George Gilbert's profile

George Gilbert

4 posts in 688 days


posted 687 days ago

RobS … You are right on. I have used the dispenser as a cane many times since I like to read while on the thrown. Legs falling asleep is a condition with which I am intimately familiar.

Grumpy … The paper rolls either way. However, Lois and I are firm “over the top” people.

Karson … I’m not a fan of commercial paper. Nor am I a fan of Charmin. I’m somewhere in the middle. (No pun intended.)

-- George ... my other passion is software development (http://www.2goodsoftware.com)

View rpmurphy509's profile

rpmurphy509

290 posts in 752 days


posted 687 days ago

I need one of those :)

-- Still learning everything

View Marge's profile

Marge

144 posts in 851 days


posted 687 days ago

The design is great – and to admire it you have a captive audience:)

-- Marge, Colorado

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5968 posts in 963 days


posted 687 days ago

Great solution to a very necessary piece of equipment. I’m an over the top guy too.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1723 posts in 888 days


posted 687 days ago

Elegant…Yes! Very nice.

There’s probably some personality disorder for people’s preference on how the TP flows off the roll. Mine is “going postal” when I discover that there is no roll! But I had this friend one time, who used to be a janitor, and said that “people use less TP if it comes off the top of the roll”. I don’t know where in the world she gets this info…probably some million dollar government research project from the 60’s!

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View MsDebbieP's profile (online now)

MsDebbieP

14163 posts in 1058 days


posted 687 days ago

over the top.

great idea. Well done.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11335 posts in 772 days


posted 687 days ago

Over the top. Why put it on wrong?

View jockmike2's profile (online now)

jockmike2

7350 posts in 1144 days


posted 686 days ago

Great idea George, you have my blessing. Nothing worse than trying to twist backward grappling for some s….. paper and then to run out. You have managed to solve both problems and do it in an elegant way, kudos.. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View mot's profile

mot

4903 posts in 934 days


posted 685 days ago

Keeps it at the ready! A lot of detail and work in that piece.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

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