Posted in Gift Ideas |
I have been racking my brain for a good gift for my mechanic husband. Any suggestions?
September 20th, 2006
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Full question:
I have been racking my brain for a good gift for my mechanic husband. Any suggestions?
My answer:
Well, I finally had time today to make a present for my significant other. I’ve had the parts for over a month, and didn’t think I had “time” to put it together. I feel really silly however, since it literally took less than 10 minutes to make this. I made him a paper towel holder for his shop. The parts were:
1. 2 - 6″ lawn mower wheels
2. 1 - 3/8″ threaded metal dowel, 2 ft. long
3. 3 - 3/8″ inch nuts
4. 1 - 3/8″ wheel cap (also called a Axle/Push Nut by hardware enthusiasts everywhere)
5. 1 roll of paper towel
Here’s how I did it (bigger picture at http://www.askthefrugaldecoratingdiva.com//images/papertowelholderparts.jpg):
I threaded metal dowel comes in set lengths. The smallest I found was 2 feet long. You don’t need the whole two feet so it has to be cut. I cut the threaded dowel with a sawzall. I asked at Lowes if they could cut it for me, but they said no. I am betting a smaller hardware store would have done it. The amount I needed was 13 1/2″. Yours may be different if you have a different wheel than I used. So measure the way I did.
I put one wheel at the bottom of the papertowel holder, threaded on an empty paper towel roll and set the other wheel on top. I left room at the top and bottom for the nuts to go on and cut at that line. It was 13 1/2″. If you went more than this, there would be no problem - less and it would be too short to hold a full-size roll.
Once the dowel was cut, I put one nut on one end of the dowel, screwing it about three inches up. I then threaded one tire, and another nut. I then tighted the tire in, by screwing the nuts closer to the wheel.
One thing you have to watch out for here. My tires had an “inside” and an “outside”, and I put this one on wrong the first time and it wouldn’t sit flush because the nut and dowel stuck out too far past the wheel. Once I turned the tire over, it sat flush fine.
Then I threaded on the last nut, the roll of paper towel, and placed the wheel cap on top. My wheel cap did not “tighten” on the dowel, which is good. It makes changing the roll really easy.
I have posted a picture of the finished gift, as well. It literally took longer for me to type this to you than it did to make this thing!
Your Frugal Decorating Diva,
Nancy
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Brenda on 30 Jan 2007 at 7:53 am: 1
Hey Girl. First let me say that I love everything you have done here. Your a very talented person.
I like the idea of the shop paper towel holder. You mentioned that we could see the picture of these parts in your photo section. Where is the photo section?
answers on 30 Jan 2007 at 10:28 pm: 2
THANK YOU for pointing out that those pictures were missing. I totally forgot to load them up! They are here now.