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How to Make a Tension Rod For Paper Towels

A roll of paper towels is useful for cleaning your hands while working on projects in your garage or basement. Make the paper towels accessible by building a tension rod-equipped paper towel holder. It will hold the roll securely while still allowing for sheets to be pulled off. You'll need household tools and supplies from a hardware store.

Things You'll Need

Paint roller
Pliers
Tape measure
Hand saw
PVC tube, 1/2 inch diameter
Bonding glue
Spring, 3 inches long, 1/2 inch diameter
Wooden dowel, 1/2 inch diameter
Paper towel roll
Portable drill

Instructions

- 1
  Grip the nut on the inside left end of the paint roller with a pair of pliers. Twist the nut counterclockwise to loosen it. Unscrew the nut. Repeat this procedure with the nut on the inside right end of the paint roller.
- 2
  Pull the paint roller brush tube off the nubs at both ends and away from the paint roller. Measure the length of the brush's tube with a tape measure. Cut the PVC pipe with a hand saw to the same length as that of the brush's tube, minus 2 inches. Cut the wooden dowel with a hand saw to the same length as that of the brush's tube.
- 3
  Place an end of the PVC tube over the nub at the right end of the paint roller. Apply bonding glue around the end of the PVC tube where it meets the roller. Let the glue set overnight.
- 4
  Stand the paint roller on its side on the work table so that the open end of the PVC tube points up. Drop a spring into the tube so it falls all the way to the bottom. Insert an end of the wooden dowel into the tube. Push the dowel all the way into the tube until you feel resistance from the spring.
- 5
  Run the hole in the middle of a paper towel roll through the PVC tube. Push in on the dowel as you line it up with the nub on the left end of the paint roller. Release the dowel so that it presses against the nub and stays in position through friction caused by the tension rod you have made.
- 6
  Drill a hole in a corner of the work table with the portable drill. Place the bottom of the handle of the paint roller that is now a paper towel holder into the hole.

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