Charging Station for Electronic Devices

My family has a variety of electronic devices that need constant recharging.

In the past, we were always losing the wall-warts and cables and chasing around the house for the right set to charge the unit we needed to charge. I looked at a number of options and chose a central charging station concept. I bought a unit that has 7 USB output ports that can charge 7 devices at one time. It takes up only one 110 volt plug-in outlet space and is the size of a deck of cards. There are a variety of brands and models of multi port USB chargers available that will also work in this design. I wanted two separate charging stations to best suit my family's needs so I bought a couple of Bolse® 60W / 12-Amp 7-Port Fast Charging USB Wall / Desktop Charging Stations and built two very simple wooden boxes an lids to hold the devices and house the USB charging unit.

This Instructables is about building a simple wooden box and lid designed to hold the multi-port charger, organize cables and provide a place to put the devices being charged.

Things you will need:

• Table saw
• Jig saw or Skill saw or Slider Miter saw
• Power Drill
• 1" spade, Forstner or paddle bit
• Hammer or Pin Nailer and 3/4" finish nails or pin nails
• One 3/4 X 5.25" X 5 ft board)
• (a good grade of birch plywood can be substituted for above)
• Wood glue (I like Tight-Bond)
• 12" bar clamps
• Sanpaper 120 grit
• Your choice of paint or finish....

The cut list above shows the parts you need to make. The parts shown in tan are 1/2" thick and the parts shown in green are 1/4" thick. The parts shown in blue are 3" X 1/2" X 1/2" wood blocks.

The easiest wood to use is plywood because it is already 1/2" or 1/4" off the shelf. Use a good grade of birch plywood for best results.

I used some left over 3/4" Cherry I had on hand but virtually any kind of wood you may have on hand will look nice! I cut all my pieces from a 3/4" thick board, then used the table saw to reduce the thickness of the pieces to 1/2" and 1/4" as needed.

(Since my board wasn't wide enough I had to edge glue two pieces of wood to make up the 6 3/4" X 8" piece.)

The drawings above show how the parts go together. I used glue and finish nails to construct the box. (tan)

I used a table saw to cut the two 1/4" X 1/4" dado's to accept the two 1/4" vertical supports in the 1/2" thick lid piece (green). The two, 3" blocks shown in blue are to keep the lid in place, side to side.

After the glue is set.... Drill 1 inch holes in the sides and back of the base box for cable routing.

Sand the pieces and apply finish or paint to your taste...

Now.... what to do with all the time you will save?.... I know.... make another one for someone special!

Enjoy!

Duncan