Dashboard Phone Stand

UK transport law recently got much stricter regarding the use of mobile phones and other hand-held devices. Getting caught texting in stationary traffic will cost you £200 and six points on your license.

For a new driver, that's a complete loss of their driving license in one go!

On the rare occasions I use my phone's sat-nav, I used to hold it in my hand while it chattered about junctions and roundabouts. So, I suddenly had a need for a hands-free bracket for my phone...

I've attached the files I drew to match my phone - if you have access to a vector graphics programme (I use Inkscape), then it is a simple job to edit them to suit the thickness of your material and the dimensions of your phone.

Just in case you have the same phone as me (Sony Xperia M4 Aqua), I've also added a PDF of the file, in case you want to print it out and cut pieces by hand.

I cut my stand from 3mm poplar plywood, used PVA woodglue to bind it together, and tacky stuff (poster fixing) or Sugru to fix it in place.

Once you have cut out your pieces, assembly is simple, a mere matter of slotting them together.

If your laser is well-focused, the parts will fit well with pure friction, but you might still want to add a little PVA glue to stiffen the joints.

In my car, the stand, well stands on the dashboard, in a convenient position so that it obscures neither my view out of the car nor my view of the radio display & clock. I don't use the holder every trip, so I hold it in place with tacky stuff (the same stuff you use to hold up posters), but you could make a more permanent fixing with Sugru.

Wherever you place yours, be aware of local laws regarding the driver's view, mobile devices and distraction.

The phone slides snugly into place, and I can even charge it in situ, using a USB cable from an adapter in the cigarette-lighter socket (Google Maps is seriously power-hungry).