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Fan Blade Paper Towel Holder

September 6th, 2008 in projects     
suewhitney Sue Whitney, editor
1 user recommends
Tip: Dont unwind the whole towel roll just to see the fan blades spin.
Tip: Dont unwind the whole towel roll just to see the fan blades spin.

Tip: Don't unwind the whole towel roll just to see the fan blades spin.
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A dowel, a base, and the some towels. Standard. Simple. But blech-boring! Spice up a ho-hum necessity in your home with some cool vintage fan blades. It's fun, it's industrial...it's FUNDUSTRIAL!

Junk Market Style Difficulty Meter

Materials:

Two old bath fans (ours are 8 1/2 in. diameter)
One 1 1/2 in. dowel
One pre-cut, pre-drilled lamp base, 7 in. diameter
Two 3 in. bolts
Three 3/8 - 16 hex nut
Glue

Tool List:

Jig saw or hand saw
Drill
Hammer
3/8 in. drill bit

Method:

Step 1: Measure and cut dowel (ours is 12 in. long.)


 Make sure to clamp the dowel while sawing. You don't want it rolling away!

Step 2: Attach bottom fan blade to lamp base by running it through center hole and fastening with a hex nut on both sides.

Step 3: Drill 3/8 in. hole in center of each

Step 4: Cut off head of top bolt.

Step 5: Hammer end of bolt into drilled hole.

Step 6: Hammer dowel onto base and reinforce with glue.

Step 7: Slip on roll of paper towels.

Step 8: Put remaining fan on top and fasten with remaining hex bolt.


 The fan blade bone is connected to the dowel bone...



Don't tighten it TOO much-hand tight is all you need.

Step 9: Spill something. Grab a towel. Wipe it up.


 Ready for kitchen funkification, captain.
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posted in: projects, metal, industrial, funky, fun, kitchen
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Comments (8)

suewhitney writes: So cool! Please keep me posted. I get many calls in my neck of the woods because they know how passionate I am about preservation of the old houses, churches, etc. Any day a piece of the past can be saved is a good day.

Be well,
Sue Posted: 9:49 pm on September 9th
Junk_Sophisticate writes: Thanks for leaving the FIRST comment on my blog, Sue!! I was so excited to see it. I also appreciate the compliment because I am such a newbie at all that.

FYI - I saw someone on another message board state they are actually looking into removing those old homes...to refurbish and not demo! Isn't that cool?!

Thanks again,
Candy Posted: 9:43 pm on September 9th
suewhitney writes: I can see we're all getting into the play on words thing with this post. As a writer I love that! The funny thing is it was not intentionally designed to spin but one night (late) when we were putting it together we realized we could get the bottom fan to twirl about with the towels. We were jumping up and down with tears of junk joy. Remember I said it was late. Anyhoo that is how this kitchen funkification (thank Captain Tim for this little quip) came about. Candy, I just went on your nice blog. Wow, that house is amazing I'm coming with the truck to claim the architectural salvage... if only I could! Thanks and I hope you all are fan-tabulous, Sue Posted: 3:11 pm on September 8th
Junk_Sophisticate writes: "Ready for kitchen funkification, captain". Too funny! Posted: 2:27 pm on September 8th
MimiToria writes: Love this project. I can see myself doing this. The search will be on for fan blades now. Great mind! Posted: 12:13 pm on September 8th
georgiamoon writes: SuSu, what a "COOL" idea. Ha ha we could come up with so many silly things to say it'd make your head "spin". Shall I stop now? Ok. I do really love this, and you and Kimberly are coming up with the BEST projects! I do believe you will both collapse from exhaustion soon. Try and get some sleep one of these days and I don't mean just a "power" nap. Love to all, Gogo Posted: 7:07 pm on September 6th
csudderth writes: Now this is a "fan"tabulous idea--love, love, love it!

Christy Posted: 6:09 pm on September 6th
CottageElements writes: OMG! Love this idea! I would never have come up with it. Only you! I'll have to dig up some of my old fans now and try it. Thanks, Sue!

Lani Posted: 5:13 pm on September 6th
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