Paper Towel Roll Tension Collar

Tired of your paper towel roll spinning off half the roll every time you grab a sheet? This collar slides onto your holder’s post and adds just enough drag that sheets tear off cleanly. How it works A C-clip hub grips the post firmly, so the collar stays put when you change rolls. Curved spring leaves press against the inside of the cardboard core, the same idea as the expanders on store-bought holders. The tall tapered top guides the roll on smoothly, even with dented or out-of-round cores. Fits your holder The default settings fit the Gingerbread Man Christmas Paper Towel Holder (32 mm post) with standard 40 mm roll cores. Print it as-is, no customizing needed. It works with any holder that has a round post. Just enter your measurements. Customizable Click Customize to fit it to your holder:

- Post Diameter: measure your post, calipers are best.

- Core Inner Diameter: most US rolls are 40–42 mm.

- Post Clamp: how firmly the collar grips the post.

- Leaf Reach / Leaf Thickness: turn up for more drag, down for less.

- Collar Height / Top Chamfer: taller and longer tapers make rolls easier to slide on.

- Leaf Count, Slot Width, Hub Wall, and more.

The default is 50 mm tall with a 12 mm lead-in taper. Print settings

- PETG recommended. It springs back and won’t take a set over time. PLA works but may lose tension.

- Print flat with the tapered end up, as it loads.

- No supports.

- 3+ walls so the leaves print solid.

- 0.2 mm layers.

Install Slide the collar onto the post with the tapered end up, then push the roll down over it. Tuning

- Roll still spins freely: increase Leaf Reach by 0.3–0.5 mm, or set Core Inner Diameter to 42.

- Too tight, or sheets tear: reduce Leaf Reach or Leaf Thickness.

- Roll is hard to start onto the collar: increase Top Chamfer.

- Collar pulls off with the roll: increase Post Clamp, trying 1.0–1.2.

- Collar is hard to push onto the post, or the clip cracks: reduce Post Clamp.