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DIY Wood Laptop Stand

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DIY Wood Laptop Stand

I get a lot of requests for my DIY portable laptop stand, but I don’t have time to make one for every person who asks. So, I decided to put together an easy-to-follow guide that anyone can use!

A laptop stand is a portable stand that can easily be moved from one spot to another. It can be used wherever you need it, whenever you need it.

You can use your laptop stand anywhere, anytime. It’s portable, so you can move it from one spot to another with ease. Use it at home or office, on the couch or floor; in the car, on a bus or train; or on a table or desk. The possibilities are endless!

The correct height of your laptop screen is important for your posture and eye health. 

It also prevents neck pain. Having a good posture is essential for your overall health. It reduces stress on the muscles, nerves, and joints in the back, thereby preventing injury and strain.

Having a good posture is essential for your overall health. It reduces stress on the muscles, nerves, and joints in the back, thereby preventing injury and strain. The correct height of your laptop screen is important for your posture and eye health. It also prevents neck pain.

The purpose of this DIY portable laptop stand is to raise the screen to a comfortable level so that you can maintain a good posture while working on it without putting stress on your body or causing pain in any part of it.

For example, if you sit with a straight back but have to crane your neck forward to view what’s on the screen because it’s too low then you’re likely straining those muscles unnecessarily; not only does this cause discomfort but could even lead to permanent damage! ln addition t this positioning may affect how well feeling healthy as it can result in poor circulation which means less oxygen reaching organs like kidneys heart etc.

The materials needed are wood planks, glue, wood stain, brush and fork knife, or spoon knife.

DIY Wood Laptop Stand

You will need:

  • Wood – I chose oak, but you could use pretty much any type of wood. To make this stable, I’d recommend that it be at least 18mm thick. A drawing of what you need to cut can be found in the next step.
  • Dowels – I used 12mm oak dowels, but you could use any wood or even metal if you wanted to be daring. The length of the dowels is determined by the dimensions of your laptop. Each of these was 260mm long for me. You’ll need three.
  • Glue – Wood glue is required to hold everything together. I used Gorilla wood glue, but any wood glue will suffice.
  • Wood finish – I used a mineral oil and beeswax combination, but any wood oil would suffice.

Tools

Marking up with a ruler and a pencil (and a washer for drawing curves)

  • A saw – A bandsaw is preferable for this, but a jigsaw or even a hand saw will suffice if you’re patient.
  • A drill – A drill, as well as a drill bit that matches the size of your dowels
  • Sanders – I used a triton bench sander and a random orbit sander, but you could use anything you have, including hand sanding.
  • A screwdriver – There are only two screws to install, so you don’t need a powerful screwdriver.
  • Clamps will make your life easier, but you can probably get by without them.

Instructions:

Step 1: Measure and mark up your pieces first.

The first step is to label the parts you’ll be cutting out. To begin, we’ll just cut one version of each piece at a time. This means the first side can be used as a template for the second.

Cut the pieces from your wood according to the measurements, but don’t worry about the diagonal joints just yet. We’ll drill the holes later, so don’t worry about them for now.

I’m using a 28mm thick piece of Oak left over from another project for the wood, but you may use anything you have.

I wouldn’t go any thinner than 18mm for stability, but it doesn’t have to be anything special.

Step 2: Cut the pieces out

DIY Wood Laptop Stand

It’s now time to cut out these three parts. I used a bandsaw because I had one on hand, but you could certainly make it with a jigsaw or even a handsaw and a little patience.

I purposefully cut just outside the line so that I could sand it down afterward. This ensures that no saw marks remain, but also allows for the reality that I won’t be able to cut it out properly on the bandsaw.

Step 3: Calculate the Angles

While you might waste a lot of time using protractors and other tools to acquire accurate angles, I found it best to put up the pieces as shown in the picture and then modify them until I was satisfied. It’s a lot less difficult than math!!!

The plan drawing depicts the spacing I arrived at, although it does not have to be accurate.

Make sure your top piece doesn’t have too much of a slope, as the laptop needs to stay put and not slip off!

Use a pencil to write up the intersecting points and hence the angles to cut at once you’ve worked out the angles you desire. (If anything is unclear, watching the video may help)

Make use of your saw to cut those angles.

DIY Wood Laptop Stand

Step 4: First Round of Sanding

You must now sand the three pieces to ensure that they are exactly as you like. Take your time with the curves and edges, as the pieces will serve as a template for the second side.

I used a Triton sander for this, but you may use any kind of sander you have or sandpaper and elbow grease if necessary.

This is also an excellent time to use the sander to ensure that all of your miters (angled joints) are flat and aligned properly. Sanding can be used to guarantee a tight fit with no gaps.

Step 5: Duplicate to Create the Second Side

Use the initial side pieces as a pattern to make a second side now that you have the right size and form. I’d recommend striving for all of the wood grain to flow in the same direction.

Step 6: Glue and Screws

Drill pilot holes for the screws while clamping the components together. Even better if you have a countersink pilot bit for your drill.

Apply wood glue to the joining surfaces, then use a clamp to keep the piece in place while you screw it in. The clamp isn’t strictly necessary, but it will keep the wood from spinning as you screw it in, reducing the risk of damage to the joints.

You can remove the clamp as soon as the screws are installed since the screw will keep the joint tight until the glue has been set.

Step 7: Drill Holes for the Dowels

Mark the holes for the dowels on each side with a ruler. If you don’t get the inside edge of each piece, it won’t fit together!

I started by drilling a pilot hole with a smaller drill bit, then expanded it with a bit that had the same thickness as the dowel I bought. 12mm in my case.

If you don’t want the dowels to show on the other side, don’t drill all the way through.

At this stage, you can also cut your dowel to length, you’ll need 3 of the same length. I opted to go for 260mm for mine but this is based on my laptop. you want to cut these to a length that sits your side pieces under your laptop.

Step 8: Sand

The most popular step!!! Before we continue, we’ll send the parts. Pay special attention to the joints and the margins surrounding the holes.

I used a random orbit sander to do this, but if you don’t have one, sandpaper and elbow grease will suffice.

If you have a variety of grits of sandpaper, it’s always a good idea to work your way through them. I went with 120, 180, and 220.

Step 9: Assemble

Now is the time to start putting everything together.

Fill the holes with a tiny bit of wood glue and insert your dowels. Encourage them with a wooden mallet if they require it. If you don’t have a wooden mallet, use something else to hit it, but make sure it’s wooden or put a scrap piece of wood between your hitting device and the stand.

Repeat on the opposite side.

DIY Wood Laptop Stand

Step 10: Add a finishing touch

To complete and protect your stand, apply some oil or wax, or both.

I used mineral oil and beeswax blend with a cloth and buffed it off after a few minutes.

Laptop Stand Benefits

  • Neck pain
  • Eye strain
  • Back pain
  • Wrist pain and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)
  • Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Conclusion

A laptop stand is a great accessory for anyone who spends a lot of time sitting at their desk or on the couch working on their laptop. It will help you maintain a better posture and save your neck from discomfort. You would be surprised how much difference just one small change can make in your life! We hope this DIY Tutorial on how to make a wooden laptop stand helped you!

MAKING A LAPTOP STAND

DIY Wood Laptop Stand

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