Build a Paper Towel Holder from an Old Wire Coat Hanger [Macgyver Tips]

It may not look good enough for the kitchen, but if you have a workbench or garage that can get a little messy and a few paper towels are in order, this easy trick to transform an old wire coat hanger into a paper towel holder may fit the bill. The only thing you need is the coat hanger, a roll of paper towels, and a set of pliers or multi-tool you can use to bend the hanger.

Perhaps the best thing about this hack is that it costs no money, and you can use an old wire hanger you have lying around, that's headed for the trash, or that you might get from a dry cleaner. Just snip the bottom of the hanger, bend it into a square shape with strong corners, and make the cut ends into a pair of hooks that can attach to one another. Then, just unhook the holder, slide on the paper towels, then close the hooks so the roll doesn't fall off. The result is a paper towel holder that's great for a corner of the garage, a workshop, or anywhere else paper towels are needed but form matters less than function.

It's not the prettiest solution, but if your hands are covered in grease and you need a few paper towels without dirtying the whole roll, it gets the job done. Have you tried this in the past? Have a better solution? Share your tips in the comments below.

Paper Towel Hanger | Instructables

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Find Your Way in a City GPS-Free by Paying Attention to the Ubiquitous Cues [Macgyver Tips]

By Adam Pash Oct 11, 2011 1:00 PM 17,042 27

Your phone's GPS capabilities mean you can pinpoint yourself on a map with the tap of your finger, but should your battery die or your phone go on the fritz, would you be able to navigate compass-free? The Natural Navigator Tristan Gooley offers six clever ways to never get lost in a city again.

The best suggestions involving paying attention to cues that normally point in specific directions. For example, satellite dishes tend to point toward the south, with some variation depending on your location. Web site DishPointer can help you figure out the general direction satellite dishes point in your area (here in Los Angeles, they point to the southeast). Similarly, the post recommends paying attention to the direction religious buildings are facing for clues:

Christian churches are normally aligned west-east, with the main altar at the eastern end to face the sunrise. Gravestones, too, are aligned west-east.

If you just want to find your way to public transportation during rush hour, just follow the people. And to orient yourself so you know what direction you're headed when you exit a subway stop, just pay attention to the direction the clouds are moving before you head underground and use that to orient yourself when you reach your destination.

Hit up the full post for more tips, and if you've got your own tried-and-true trick for finding your way, let's hear it in the comments. Oh, and don't forget, if you're compass-free and lost in the wilderness, you can find north without a compass by using shadows. Photo mashup from rommy ghaly and Steve Snodgrass.

Six ways to never get lost in a city again | BBC News

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