Toilet Paper Winder Helper Thing

thingiverse

A Handy Tool for Winding Toilet Paper: A Solution to the Post-COVID-19 Era's Unique Problem. In a world turned upside down by COVID-19, I'd have laughed at the idea of needing a tool to wind toilet paper from an industrial roll onto smaller household rolls. But we live in strange times, and here we are. **The Reason Behind It** We didn't join the toilet paper frenzy, but when our supply started running low, we tried to buy more. However, stores were out of regular rolls, so we had to settle for a 300-meter industrial roll used in public toilets. Its thin quality is not ideal, but it was our only option. The problem arose when we couldn't fit the large roll onto our household toilet paper holder. I set out to find a solution using my two thumbs and a 3D printer. **How It Works** I designed a plate that fits snugly onto a drill bit with a hexagonal profile (check the photos for clarification). The drill bit used is a Phillips head driver, which has a 6.5mm thick hexagonal profile. I recommend checking your drill bit against this measurement before printing. The other side of the plate features an axle to hold in your hand. While you could hold it between your fingers, using a 608 skateboard bearing (buy the cheapest ones available) is highly recommended. The "nub" fits snugly into the bearing, which provides a firm grip without being too permanent. The plate and axle have conical profiles with a 40mm diameter at the base and 36mm diameter at the top to accommodate varying inner diameters of toilet paper rolls. This design ensures smooth winding and prevents the roll from slipping off. **Using the Tool** To wind toilet paper, follow these steps: 1. Fit the disc side onto the drill bit. 2. Push one end of the toilet paper roll onto the disc. 3. Grab the axle handle to hold the toilet paper roll in place on the drill. 4. Apply gentle pressure while drilling slowly to prevent ripping the toilet paper. 5. Once started, you can speed up the drill. 6. Continue rolling until you've reached your desired amount, then repeat with another empty roll. Refer to the photos for a clearer understanding of the process.