Handyman Chris Palmer shows us how to make two simple and functional tablet holders out of wood.
Rustic wood block tablet holder
Tools:
- 2 x 10 block of wood
- Table saw
- Sander
- Speed square (90 degree triangle)
Method:
Take a 2×10 block of your choice of wood (hardwood is great) and cut the piece to 12″ length.
Set your table saw up to a 20 degree angle and set the height of the blade to the depth of your tablet’s window frame (area that isn’t the screen).
Make a line roughly 1.5″ in from the edge of the wood along the 10″ face (so the line should be parallel to the 10″ edge).
Take one pass on the table saw through the line you just drew, inspect your piece, and then adjust your fence to move 1/8″ closer to the blade. Repeat this step until you’ve made 3 or 4 passes. If your tablet is thicker than 3/8″ or 1/2″, make a 5th pass.
Test fit your tablet into the slot — you should now have a tablet holding on a 20 degree angle (you can always adjust the angle to your preference).
Take your speed square, and with your tablet standing in its most upright position, mark a line on the wood that indicates where the top of the tablet would be. This mark is where you can make your final cut to the length on the block of wood.
Sand and finish as desired.
U-block tablet holder
Tools:
- 1 x 12 block of wood
- Jigsaw
- Drill
- 1/2″ Forstner bit or 1/2″ drill bit
- Sander
- Ruler
Method:
Take a 1 x 12 piece of lumber (softwood or hardwood) and cut it to 10″ length.
Using your tablet, position it along a line that is 1″ back from the 12″ edge of the wood. Keep the tablet in the most upright position for this holder style. Now, trace the tablet.
Next, draw lines perpendicular to the outer edges of your tablet tracing so that they run off the board. Now draw a line parallel to this, 1″ closer to center on both ends.
Using your 1/2″ drill bit, drill through the piece of wood so that the bit removes the area that is the outer edges of your tablet tracing.
Now use the jigsaw to connect the lines between the holes, so that you’re going along the 2 edges of the tablet tracing. You should be left with an elongated slot. (Note: Your tablet should fit through this like a mail slot.)
For the last cut, take the jigsaw and cut inbound along the lines that are offset 1″ from the edge of your tracing. Essentially you should now have a “U” shape, with little 1″ fingers. Test fit your tablet to see if the slot is large enough — you may need to ream out the hole a little more or shave some wood off the edge to make it fit.
With your newly-cut tablet holder, test the angles. If you move the board up the tablet, it should allow a more slanted tablet, while moving it down will allow you a more upright tablet. If you find the tablet slides too easily through the holder, use some soft grip tape and adhere it to the inside grooves. It’ll give that added friction, without marking up your tablet.
Sand and finish as desired.
Courtesy Chris Palmer