Aluminum flashing is such a pain to unroll that we use the ever-present joint-compound bucket to keep it in line. As shown in the drawing, a slot cut in the side of the bucket makes it as easy to peel off a length of flashing as it is to unwind a roll of stamps. The same principle works for large rolls of plastic — just cut a slot in the side of the box and it pulls out like sandwich wrap.
—Jim Goodrum, Asheville, NC
Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #65
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Somewhere, there's a tip that recommends keeping a marker on a string attached to the handle and writing the original length of the roll & subsequent usage on the side of the bucket, so you know when it's time to get another roll.