Wooden Book/laptop Stand With Multiple Positions

In this instructable, I will show you how to make a handy wooden bookstand with just one 35 x 12 mm (1.37 x 0.47 in) wooden plank. Of course, you can always adjust the dimensions as you wish. This stand can be used for a laptop, book or anything else you want. SUCCES!

• a slat of 3.5 x 1.2 x 240 cm (1.37 x 0.47 x 94.49 in)
• a Ø 0,4 cm (0.15 in) round wooden shaft
• a saw
• sandpaper
• wood glue
• drill ( + drill press, if you like)
• bore with Ø 0,4 cm (0.15 in)
• bore with Ø 0,5 cm (0.20 in)
• 2 hinges, screws and screwdriver ( suitable for the screw head)
• a pencil
• paint (white)
• a paint brush
• a hammer

Firstly, measure the pieces accordingly to the first photo. Then you saw on the marked lines. Try to saw as straight as you can, obviously. Afterwards, 1 of the 6 pieces of 13 cm (5.12 in) you have to saw lengthwise in 2, an another piece of 13 cm (5.12 in) you have to saw 3 grooves, as in picture 5 (make sure you don't saw through the plank, maximum to half ), to fit in the grooves. The piece of 9 cm (3.54 in) also needs to be sawed lenghtwise in 2,and that piece you have to make into a wedge-like shape ( see picture 4, the upper piece). Round the other side using sandpaper. After that, sand all the pieces, but try to sand it off as little as possible. Only the splinters have to come off. Make sure you don't round the corners too hard. The piece of 26 cm (10.24 in) you must round two corners like picture 6.

Now you have to mark where to drill. You must indicate the points on the 12mm side. On the 29 cm (11.41 in) pieces you must mark the center. Then you measure on each side of 2 of the 29 cm (11.41 in) pieces the center half the width of the shelf. After that you put 2 points, each between the middle and the other line you marked off, you must mark the width of the 13 cm (5.12 in) planks on the sides, mark two points on each side equally far from the side and the the marked line. Next you take the other 2 pieces of 29 cm (11.41 in) and you mesure three quarters of the width of the 13 cm (5.12 in) pieces, and then you do the same at the sides as the other 29 cm (11.41 in) pieces Than you take the pieces of 13 cm (5.12 in), on each cut sides you have to mark two points equally far from the side ( you must match the points of the 13 cm (5.12 in) pieces and the 29 cm (11.41 in) pieces. The piece of 9 cm (3.54 in) you have to mark one point like the first picture. In the two half pieces of 13 cm (5.12 in) you have to mark a point at the height of the drilled hole in the piece of 9 cm (make sure you match the holes of the 13cm (5.12 in) long pieces with the hole of the 9cm long piece,picture 3). The same pieces of 13 cm you have to mark 1 point on each head. Mark this point in the middle of the head. To drill I used a drill press,which makes it easy to drill sraight. Only the piece of 9 cm (3.54 in) needs to be drilled all the way through, like the first picture.Make shure you use a drill with a slightly larger diameter(5mm worked good for me), it has to be able to rotate freely. The other drillholes should not be to deep, about a centimeter. These holes will be used for the joints in the next step.

Cut of 25 pieces of the wooden rod. Slightly less than twice the depth of the holes. First I'm going to make the upper part. Take 2 parts of 29 cm (11.41 in) , 2 parts of 13 cm (5.12 in) and the 3 parts of the second picture. After that, you take 7 pieces of the wooden rod you just cut. Put a little glue on one end and then hammer the rods into the holes of a 29 cm (11.41 in) piece.Be careful not to split the wood! Do the same for the other five holes of the 29 cm (11.41 in) piece.Take the part of 9 cm (3.54 in) put 1 piece of the wooden rod into the bored hole (picture 2) and put the half 13 cm long parts on the rod (picture 3). Than you do some glue on the rods in the 29 cm (11.41 in) piece. After that you take the 2 parts of 13 cm (5.12 in) and the maked part of the 3th picture. 2 pieces of 13 cm you have to put on the sides of the 29 cm (11.41 in) piece, the three rotating pieces (3th picture)must be put on the middle rods. Next you put some glue on the rods of the other 29cm (11.41 in) long part and put that part on the 13 cm (5.12 in) long parts. For the second part you do exactly the same., except you need to use the piece withe the grooves in the middle instead(pictures 6 and 8). Remeber that you can click on the images to enlarge themor view the others.

If you have the 2 sides, you must sand again. Now make sure that you sand enough, it should feel like one piece. If you run your finger over it you should not notice any irregularities. Make sure that the 2 pieces are sanded evenly .

You can paint the bookstand if you want. I have painted the pieces 2 times with white paint. Paint also the piece of 26 cm (10.24 In).

First you put the 2 grand pieces between eachother. After that you hang the hinges in the middle of the rectangular holes in the pieces, make sure you hang the pieces correctly.

On the top part you have to glue the piece of 26 cm (10.24 In), above the hinges. this will support your book/ laptop/ whatever els you want to put on it. Clamp it down and let it dry overnight.

Congrats, you have done it. now go ahead and use it!