MetaChat is an informal place for MeFites to touch base and post, discuss and
chatter about topics that may not belong on MetaFilter. Questions? Check the FAQ. Please note: This is important.
If you're trying to, ahem, "borrow" TP, I reccomend unrolling it and then rolling it back up around a pencil. At least, that's how my roommate and I made it through the Long Dark Summer of No TP.
I am trying to borrow, but not for nefarious reasons. There are two bathrooms on our floor, and one is completely out of TP, while the other has two rolls per stall. I just want to move a roll or two to the bathroom closer to our office, 'cause everyone's grousing and it'll make me look like a hero.
I don't think the pencil trick will go over well in this case, but I might reserve it for my own use later.
See in your photo on the left side of the straight piece that goes through the toilet paper tube? See how there's an extra little piece there? You squeeze that to release the it. So hard to explain. Maybe someone can do it better.
You need to get an appendage into the roll. . .and then squeeze the springy piece of steel until it releases. The problem is. .they are made so that you need to run out of paper, then tear the tube off in order to access it as God meant you to access it.
So, maybe the eraser end of a pencil jammed into the end with the spring.
Okay, let me try again. The straight piece of metal that goes through the TP tube is held in place on the left side by tension created from an extra little piece (like a sideways Y that is trying to open wider). Squeeze it to release.
Thanks, y'all. I figured some squeezing was in order, but couldn't figure out if there was a trick to opening while the roll was full. I think I'll try my Swiss army knife.
If all else fails, a hammer can be used to open almost anything. If you don't have ready access to a hammer, many pieces of office equipment can be substituted.