Instantly Attachable/removable Tray Turns Laptop Keyboard Into Desk Space.

This is something that I thought might be available commercially, but I've yet to find one that you can buy (pointers welcome, but there may be reasons for this - see below) so having decided I could really use such a thing I decided to make one. It's a tray that temporarily sits over your laptop keyboard to allow you to use it as an extra work surface when you're not actually keying. It attaches securely, detaches easily in seconds and is held above the keyboard without touching any of the keys or other controls.

There are many situations in which such an accessory is useful. One is if you have a cluttered desk and find that you literally have nowhere left to put stuff (e.g. when opening a pile of mail). However, there are also more worthy examples:

1. Needing to refer to a printed document and your screen simultaneously;
2. Needing ready access to a device or gadget while referring to its onscreen manual or to a video;
3. Needing to place a device somewhere visible while updating its firmware via a USB cable;
4. Working on a laptop stand rather than a desk or table;
5. Working on a plane or train or in any place where desk sprawl isn't helpful (the tray will fit into a typical laptop case where it'll also provide added protection against impact damage)...

...and so on. As someone who works a lot with music technology I do all of the above quite often, but there are any number of other applicable scenarios, from configuring a smartphone to tying fishing flies! Even if you have desk space to spare, the other attraction of this item is that you aren't constantly turning your head from side to side when switching your attention to the screen. There are also secondary uses, such as reading a magazine in your lunch break (while perhaps also watching the news or checking your social media) and even having somewhere to put snacks. The slightly contrived introductory photo shows the kind of thing I mean.

The closest thing I found to a retail equivalent was a transparent cover shaped like a stretched-out inverted U. It was designed to sit across a full-sized desktop keyboard with the user's hands fitting underneath it. It didn't really do the same job and would in any event be rather cumbersome for a laptop user.

So why can't we buy such an item? Possibly for a combination of reasons - the need to create a range of variants for different laptop models, the inevitable lawsuit from the idiot who parks a milkshake on it then knocks it over and blames the supplier ('You didn't say I shouldn't put a milkshake on it!') and so on. We can easily address the first issue and of course we're too smart to fall victim to the second.

It's very cheap, it's quick and easy to make and requires no specialist skills.

The supplies you need are very simple and really just consist of four things: something that will work as a tray, something that can be used to make feet and some adhesive and Velcro to hold it all together. I'll list the stuff I used for my version and also suggest alternatives.

So...

1. A ventilated baking sheet/tray with a raised edge of a size to suit your laptop. This is just a matter of measuring the space you'll be covering, so do that and shop accordingly. Your best source will probably be an online supplier offering a range of sizes. You can use a size that overlaps the machine to a sensible extent if you wish (common sense will tell you what's feasible). Just for reference, my tray measures about 39x27cm (15.5x10.5") and fits neatly on a 15" HP EliteBook. I like the appearance, the edge lip, the durability and built-in ventilation offered by such a tray, but if you have other ideas and are happy to forego the latter (the gap between the tray and keyboard provides what may well be sufficient ventilation anyway) you could use any number of other materials that are sufficiently rigid, such as plywood or acrylic cut to size.
2. Something that will serve as four feet. I had some hard protective foam (originally used for packing a kitchen appliance) that was ideal for this, but many other things will do, such as suitably sized pencil erasers or small timber offcuts. My foam scraps were 15mm/just over 1/2" thick, which was also ideal, so aim for that; anything higher will get in the way, while anything shorter may impede ventilation (but see above for reassurance). A surface area of about 2.5cm/1" is about right for the feet, but this needn't be exact. You may even be able to find self-adhesive feet of a suitable height, but the adhesive will be inadequate, so be prepared to remove it. The general criteria are that the feet should be light, friendly to stick-on Velcro and not hard enough to cause damage by accidental dropping or swiping, but be firm and durable - soft foam, felt etc. won't work.
3. Four self-adhesive Velcro dots or similarly sized pieces cut from a length. I recommend a size of 15mm/just over 1/2"; anything smaller may not have enough grip, while anything larger could be too much. The Velcro is just there to stop the tray from sliding off and you don't want to have to prise at it when you remove it.
4. Some epoxy adhesive. No other adhesive will do, for reasons I'll explain.
5. Probably a mouse or other external pointing device, as you won't have access to the touchpad while the tray is in use (unless you make a smaller tray that leaves the touchpad exposed - certainly possible, but perhaps less useful overall).

You'll also need some lighter fluid (Zippo-type fuel) and a cloth or tissue to apply it, possibly a small piece of coarse sandpaper, a sharp knife and also some scissors for Velcro-snipping if you aren't using dots.

Ascertain where on the laptop you'd like the feet to attach, then apply the loop side of the Velcro (it's slightly thinner than the hook side and is non-scratchy) as required. This will essentially be at the four corners, but be prepared to take the machine's design into account; for example, on my HP there are speakers and control buttons immediately under the screen, so the Velcro is located below this area. There are other designs (e.g. some Lenovo models) which have a key layout that extends right to the edge of the machine, so in such a case you'll want to place the Velcro above the keys. Give the chosen spots a quick rub with lighter fluid to ensure good adhesion. The laptop lid will close as normal with the Velcro in place.

Measure the distances between the pieces of loop Velcro on the laptop, then cut and trim four pieces of the material from which you're making the feet to a suitable size and attach them to the underside of the tray in the corresponding locations. Prepare the surface at these locations and attach the feet with epoxy adhesive. This baking tray had a non-stick surface, which understandably needed to be sanded off so that the adhesive would bond properly. If you're using timber offcuts you may also want to wipe a little epoxy over the surface to which you'll be attaching the hook Velcro, allowing it to dry before proceeding, in case the wood surface is uneven or porous.

[At this point I'll re-emphasise the importance of using epoxy rather than general purpose adhesive, double-sided mounting tape or anything else. The tray will be repeatedly attached and removed, so anything else will fail sooner or later. Trust me on this one - I've discovered this so you don't have to!]

When the epoxy has set, attach the pieces of hook Velcro to the underside of the feet as shown. For best results, allow 24 hours for the various adhesives to work properly (I've found that even self-adhesives benefit from this).

You'll find that you can quickly and easily attach and remove the tray as required (I keep mine in the kneehole of my desk for rapid deployment). Velcro becomes less efficient over time, but that's actually useful in this instance because it only needs to have enough grip to keep the tray in place. I find that I make use of mine several times a day, so if you make one I hope it serves you equally well.