Wooden Tape Dispenser

I needed a tape dispenser for my desk but all that I could afford was a flimsy plastic one so I thought I could make myself one out of wood and so I did. With a few tools and this Intructable you can make your own too with little effort. It will weight enough to be used with one hand yet it will be light to carry from desk to where you need it. It also doubles as a paperweight.

Note: The photos are from an old version of the design; you will be making a simplified version.

Step 1: Materials and Tools

You will need these materials:

Piece of wood at least 22 millimeters thick
Piece of wood about 10 millimeters thick
15 millimeters dowel
5 millimeters dowel
Scroll saw blade with large teeth
Sand paper
Wood Glue
Strong glue suitable to bond wood and metal together
Masking tape
Glue stick
Finish of your liking

And these tools:

Jigsaw
Coping saw
Pliers
Drill
15 millimeters drill bit
5 millimeters drill bit
File
Belt sander (Optional)
Paintbrush

Step 2: Cutting and Drilling

Print the plans below. Apply masking tape to an area of the pieces of wood large enough to fit the plans. Using the glue stick, glue the plans to the masking tape and let the glue dry. I don’t have a photo of this because I drew the outline of the dispenser parts directly on the wood.

Drill a 15 millimeters hole centered on the X of the plans. Cut the out the parts and the slot in the sides with the jigsaw.

Step 3: Glueing

Glue the three parts together with wood glue. Put a piece of wood of the same thickness as the middle to ensure the space for the tape doesn’t get narrower. Clamp it.

While you wait, cut a piece of the 15 millimeters dowel about 3 centimeters longer than the wide of the tape dispenser. Flat both ends of this dowel and drill a 5 millimeters hole 5 millimeters apart from the ends. Cut two 15 millimeters long of the 5 millimeters dowel and glue them in the holes you have made. Wait for the glue to dry.

Step 4: Sanding and Finishing

When the glue is dried, sand the body of the tape dispenser. Wipe out the dust and apply the finish you want, it´s up to you. Wait for the finish to dry.

Step 5: Adding the Blade

With the finish dried, you are going to make a slot to fit the scroll saw blade in it with the teeth outside so you can use them to cut the tape. Glue the blade in place and trim its ends with the pliers.

Step 6: Congratulations

Once the glue is dry, you are ready to use your new tape dispenser. Congratulations. To use it you put a roll of tape in the long dowel and then fit it in the slot at sides of the dispenser.

If you have any doubt or you want to tell us how to make a better tape dispenser, just write a comment and I will try to reply.