Overshot vs Undershot

Opinions vary.

Looking at free-running holders first: with the roll configured to unroll from the rear and the free end hanging downwards, any mismatch between the internal diameter of the roll spool and the external diameter of the spindle will produce a turning moment that pushes the roll away from the wall, resulting in freer-running paper than if the roll were to be mounted the other way round. This is the preferred orientation at these co-ordinates.

With the roll configured to unroll from the front, there is a tendency for the roll to move closer to the wall. If there is insufficient clearance then the roll, and there is a greater risk with a full one, will come into contact with the wall, resulting in more force being needed to continue unrolling. In the limit, the friction force between the roll and the wall may be sufficient to overcome the strength of the perforations, resulting in a piece of roll smaller than may be required becoming detached. In the limit, this can become a frustrating experience, requiring more time to be spent unrolling paper.

Some roll holders are configured for the roll to be in contact with the wall, or another part of the fitting, at all times regardless of the length of paper remaining on the roll. With this type, unrolling from the back is certainly the preferred arrangement, as unrolling from the front causes a wedge-type action to be set up between the roll-holder and the wall, increasing the chances for a shorter-than-desired piece of paper becoming detached.

Surely a bit of 'wall friction' helps the on handed jerk-tear manoeuvre?

Left-handed or right-handed?

The pre1886 undershot was, and quote me if I'm wrong, an unmistakable breakthrough in pantechnology. Using wall friction to deliver the correct amount of paper with the correct force applied! This was due to an 8yr research program funded by Albany Purrfurated wrappings to produce the purrfect purrfuration! Developments in the late 1960s changed the philosophy to the overshot when it was noticed that a new trend of tiles emerged! The moisture on the tiles after a shower would leave the paper prone to dramatic failure with instances of premature breakages at the central load zone! Hence to keep the sheet off the wall, the roll was reversed! For further protection against this unfortunate occurrence, we have seen the invent of the full flap cover which operates using the patented (9044 8878 938B) tangential tug'n'tear technology!

hope this helps with your investigation

Yes the friction coming off the top is a good thing. In addition, if it is un-rolled from the back you have a good chance of using the wrong side of the paper.

Don't you nail squares of newspaper to the door ? What about 1-ply/2-ply/3-ply/more-ply, tracing paper type, quilted,scented, re-cycled, anti-septic, moistened-wipes,different dispenser types,...... And what about the colour ?

Anyway, what's wrong with your litter tray ? Do we have to stick to mechanical efficiency, or can we divert to green-issues and other stuff ? I'm going to anyway. All that bleached white paper can't be good can it ? Or maybe it's better than using dyes though ? Sooo many questions. What did Henry VIII do ?

He got married to the widow next door,

She's been married seven times before, . . . .

he had somebody wipe his arse for him, what did he care?

I would think that undershot is more efficient on toilet rolls.

o - Changing from overshot to undershot later will waste energy.

o - The perforation works better.

o - It matches with my open lid & seat policy.

o - It clashes with my wifes closed lid policy.

o - I don't like to see the characters or flowers printed on the paper before I rub their faces in the mud.

Aw, how cute. Better than those scavenging Andrex puppies. Here's some stuff on the dilema. And some history.

Words fail me <wheeze>.

Hey, you've moved your box Pete. All those bits of paper that flutter down aren't toilet paper, they're receipts that the rich gits drop from the ATM.

<Splutter, cough.>

With Cats in the house you always hang the flap to the rear. This makes it harder for them to roll it off and stop up the toilets.

Still takes the same amount of sheets so I say no.

A friend used to argue with his wife about everything. One day he called me up and was just bent. Apparently they could not agree to the issue we are discussing now: over or under. He went on this lengthy diatribe about the need of it to be over (or under) and how only an idiot would have it otherwise. They were at each others throats over this very important matter.

As I let him unwind I just laughed. Ha Ha Ha.

Mark, I asked. Why don't you just flip it over? Just flip it over and be thankful she changes the damn thing at all.

I was told that that was not the point. (I guess I never did get the point)

I prefer it over. Heather does not care. I just quietly flip it over, being thankful that we can afford the stuff and further thankful that she puts the stuff on at all.

After all, she is a Blessing!

cr3

Talk about efficiency, here's a thought...how do you use both sides of a toilet paper?

Best person to ask that question would be Sheryl "Single Sheet" Crow..........

the makers should prepare rolls that have 3-4 turns one way, and 3-4 turns the other way with some progressive change of 11 degrees or so to prevent any lumps. Then those maroons who have a directional preference would be aggravated. husband/wife teams on opposite sides of this situation would fight, etc.

Ahah!

What about a dual-width roll dispenser fitted with two rolls, arranged so that one roll can be undershot and the other overshot? The user could then take his/her preference and any arguments would abate.

By voting one way or the other, preferences can then establish the need for the roll to be overshot or undershot as the need arises.

How about making a hinged bracket to hold the thing. It could be swiveled horizontally 180^o to suit under/over shot preference. Might need an end-piece to stop the toilet roll falling off, and a click-stop to keep it in desired position. I can't be a.. bothered to make a prototype, but I will accept royalties for this idea.

©Kris

All bow to the Kris....

Nice one.... can we manufacture under the 'KrisDel' trade name pleeeeeaaase? Can we can we?... a few more good ideas and we'll have enough for a Chritmas catalogue..(we can even put a hole in the corner so it can be hung up and used for....)

I hereby bestow exploitation rights upon you Del, subject to my usual cut. 'Flogging a dead horse' is more my thing.. I will try and dream up more for the x-mas catalogue though. Just recently I paid 8 quid for a credit-card sized metal underground map ! Well it might come in handy for the occasional Scotch-Egg impulse purchase, the bank are getting annoyed with me for ruining plastic.

Cat-alogue <groan>?

Wait! Two rolls, one in front of the other. Back one overhand, front underhand. Now both ends hang from the middle. This allows you to grab two sheets at the same time. And as a bonus your family can place bets on which roll is longer.

Ahah #2!

Turn the spindle 90deg so that it is perpendicular to the wall. The terms overshot and undershot then are not applicable. Problem solved!

Might have to worry about the Coriolis Effect instead...

Hang on a mo, you just modified my idea at #whatever with an extra click-stop position.

Pay up, or the Andrex puppy gets it !

Cor! No-one messes with Kris!

Never purchased a newspaper in a roll, so never
needed to study the issue; only read the small print.

jt.

There's more on http://www.mfnb.at

The printing is on the top, so OBVIOUSLY, it's overshot. ;)