Introduction: Lego Tape Dispenser
This is a tape dispenser made solely out of Lego Pieces excluding the tape itself. It even cuts using a piece of Lego. There is a video explaining the full assembly and how it works! Also a nifty little story on why I built it.
Step 1: The Trick Is to Let the Lego Assemble Itself
Well then I started my internship and once again I found that there was yet another shiny new stapler and somehow thumbtacks but again no tape dispenser. I decided to crank out the old Lego pieces again and make another. Score! Tape! And a reminder to all around that the funny little intern who plays with Lego sits at this cube.
Ahhh the sweet intern months go by and I eventually left that internship for school and gifted the dispenser away. I decided to make my third one and record it this time and hopefully this will be the one that doesn't leave my hands.
Step 2: Details Details..
Hopefully the video explained enough. A minor detail to this is that the cutting edge is the edge of a Lego piece turned sideways. Its important that it is fixed and doesn't move otherwise it will be hard to cut. Below are some pictures of how it should look. To replace the tape the two halves pop open and the tape comes out. Since this is an instructable I leave it to you to customized and design any additions to make the case look nicer.
Step 3: Some Comments
The tape dispenser is still in my possession and it works just as well as it did the first day I made it. A small annoyance is that the base isn't weighted like a regular tape dispenser so it has to be held down but I can live with it. I hope you all enjoyed reading this!
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41 Comments
9 years ago
Nice:)
10 years ago on Introduction
Super COOL!
10 years ago on Introduction
cool, something useful! I wish I had some LEGO bricks. I miss my dispenser while wrapping my chrismas gifts...
13 years ago on Introduction
i tried to make it but i didn't have the blue parts,you should have had step by step instructions instead of a video,the video went to fast
Reply 10 years ago on Introduction
Stop the video at the point when the parts ar put together.
11 years ago on Introduction
Nice work. I made a tape dispenser a long time ago that used the rack from a rack and pinion system to allow the tape to be torn more easily. Image here: http://www.prestoimages.net/store/rd1378/1378_pd1988422_1.jpg
11 years ago on Introduction
cool i wundr how long it took 2 make that vidyo
11 years ago on Introduction
Nice!
11 years ago on Introduction
hey man that's purdy cool
11 years ago on Introduction
when I made this I didn't have the small gears to hold the tape in place. i just used four of the pieces that go on the outside of the gears (I call them film reels) to hold it in place. It's loose.
13 years ago on Introduction
make lego tape. (chain links.)
13 years ago on Introduction
They have lego weights. You could put those on the bottom so it's weighted.
13 years ago on Introduction
SWEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!
13 years ago on Step 1
very creative : )
13 years ago on Introduction
It's not sticking with the "all-legos" theme, but if/when really pressed for a cutting implement (I know I would be uber-irritated during a project if that most precious dispenser of Scotch resources wasn't optimally performing), one could affix a wee bit of blade from a cellophane shrink wrap box, maybe held between two lego pieces. Just a thought. Very well-constructed!
13 years ago on Introduction
I made one, it worked okay, but I was limmited on the variety of legos at my disposal. It gets the job done.
13 years ago on Introduction
nice instructable. i substituted and left out quite a few steps but i used you general design and it worked great
13 years ago on Introduction
Sweet now I do not have to travel across my house and keep bugging my parents to get me one. You know (I'm a Maker)
13 years ago on Introduction
Hey that's pretty awesome. I'm gunna make one!
13 years ago on Introduction
very cool.