Handmade Paper Roll Holders Bring Efficiency to Note-Jotting Chores

Charles Mak's handmade paper roll holders have transformed note-jotting chores into delightful acts of efficiency marked with sophistication.

When working on projects for a seminar or magazine article, Charles Mak likes to take notes to remind him of tips that are to be shared in the class or manuscript. However, he often finds himself in a hurry, jotting down thoughts on any piece of paper in sight, only to lose it along with the good ideas that might have been on it.

Mak retrieved from storage a box of calculator rolls that his wife brought home more than a decade ago when her division was relocated. The rolls provided a good steady supply of paper, but were inconvenient to use, both in tearing off and keeping the paper rolled. Mak needed a better notepad solution in the shop: a better dispenser, that is.

Designing the Dispenser

After some thoughts, Mak came up with a few core features for the holder, and decided on a minimalist and functional design:

Mak included a joinery exercise in the build, by using hand-cut finger joints and notches. He made the box (inside) a hair wider than the roll and designed a slanted writing surface.

Building the Holder

Mak chose to use sapele and poplar from the scrap bin, checking against a wood movement guide to ensure that the notch design for housing the pad would not be an issue due to seasonal climate change. He laid out the finger joints with a pair of marking gauges, similar to laying out the dovetails.

Mak scribed the fingers on the sides first, then marked the fingers on the top and bottom. Before sawing, he laid out the cutline on the sides for the slanted surface.

Cutting and Assembling the Holder

Mak used gang cutting to efficiently saw two identical pieces, with the held-together members giving a longer reference cutline on the top edges. He crosscut off the shoulders, then cleaned up the fingers and shoulders by chopping and paring.

Mak marked and cut the writing pad, choosing a rectangular design and gluing the pad to the case. He added a notched pad design, which added a slight complexity and challenge to the project.

Installing the Sleeves

Mak made the sleeves out of tin scrap, using a file to cut teeth to produce the serrated sleeves. After the finish was cured, he placed a small washer under each hole and nailed down the sleeves. The paper pulls through the upper sleeve and tears off under the lower sleeve.

The functional dispensers make an interesting conversation piece in the shop or office. With these handmade paper roll holders, Mak's notepads are now always handy.