Quick Summary: Create a beautiful, functional handmade wooden phone stand with simple woodworking. This beginner-friendly project offers a stylish and eco-friendly alternative to plastic holders, keeping your phone accessible and adding a touch of craftsmanship to your space.
Tired of your phone sliding off your desk or precariously balanced against something? A dedicated phone stand can tidy up your workspace and prevent those annoying tumbles. While many store-bought options exist, there’s a special satisfaction in crafting your own. A handmade wooden phone stand is not only incredibly useful but also a chance to work with natural materials and gain woodworking skills. Don’t worry if you’re new to this; we’ll walk through it step-by-step, making it easy to achieve a great result. Ready to build something smart and sturdy for your phone?
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Why Build a Handmade Wooden Phone Stand?
In a world of disposable gadgets and plastic accessories, a handmade wooden phone stand stands out. It’s a small project that brings big benefits. Think about it: your phone is often front and center, whether you’re working, cooking, or unwinding. Giving it a stable and attractive home is more than just convenient; it’s about surrounding yourself with things you’ve made. This project is perfect for beginners because it doesn’t require a huge workshop or complex tools. You can get started with just a few basic items and learn fundamental woodworking techniques along the way.
Beyond the personal satisfaction, a wooden stand is inherently better for the environment than mass-produced plastic alternatives. Wood is a renewable resource, and a thoughtfully made stand can last for years. Plus, the natural beauty of wood adds a unique warmth and character to any room. It’s a functional piece of art for your desk!
Key Benefits of a Handmade Wooden Phone Stand
- Cost-Effective: Often cheaper than buying a quality stand, especially if you have scrap wood.
- Customizable: Design it to perfectly fit your phone and your style.
- Durable: Solid wood construction is built to last.
- Eco-Friendly: A great way to use up wood scraps and avoid plastic.
- Skill Building: A fantastic project for learning basic woodworking.
- Unique Aesthetic: Adds natural beauty and a handcrafted touch to your space.
Choosing Your Wood: The Foundation of Your Stand
When picking wood for your phone stand, you have a few great options. For beginners, it’s best to start with softer woods that are easy to cut and shape. Hardwoods can be beautiful but require more effort and sharper tools. Here are a few popular choices:
Beginner-Friendly Wood Options
- Pine: A classic choice. It’s inexpensive, widely available, and very easy to work with. It has a light color and a nice grain pattern.
- Poplar: Similar to pine in ease of use, poplar is a bit harder and takes paint or stain very well.
- Basswood: Extremely soft and easy to carve or sand, making it forgiving for your first project.
More Durable & Aesthetically Pleasing Options (Slightly More Challenging)
- Oak: A strong hardwood with a beautiful, prominent grain. It’s durable but requires sharper tools for clean cuts.
- Maple: Another strong hardwood, often with a smoother, subtler grain than oak. It finishes beautifully.
- Walnut: A premium hardwood known for its rich, dark color and elegant grain. It’s a bit more expensive but offers a luxurious look.
For your first project, I’d highly recommend starting with pine or poplar. You can often find these at your local hardware store or lumber yard. Look for straight boards with minimal knots. If you’re using scrap wood, ensure it’s dry and has no cracks.
Essential Tools You’ll Need
The good news is you don’t need a full workshop to make a great phone stand. Here’s a list of the essential tools. Many of these are likely already in your home or can be picked up affordably.
Basic Toolkit for Your Phone Stand Project
| Tool | Purpose | Beginner Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Measuring Tape / Ruler | Accurate measurements are key! | Double-check your marks before cutting. |
| Pencil | To mark your cut lines and measurements. | Use a sharp pencil for thin, precise lines. |
| Saw (Hand Saw or Jigsaw) | To cut the wood to size. A jigsaw offers more versatility for curves if needed. | A simple hand saw is perfectly fine for straight cuts. For a jigsaw, ensure you understand its operation. Safety first! |
| Sandpaper (various grits: 80, 120, 220) | To smooth rough edges and surfaces. | Start with coarser grit (80) for shaping, then move to finer grits (120, 220) for a smooth finish. |
| Wood Glue | To securely join pieces of wood. | Use a good quality wood glue. Clamp pieces together while it dries. |
| Clamps | To hold pieces together while the glue dries. | Bar clamps or spring clamps work well. |
| Drill (Optional, for cable management hole) | To drill a hole for charging cables. | Use a bit sized for your cable. A spade bit or hole saw works great. |
| Safety Glasses | Crucial! Protect your eyes from dust and debris. | Always wear them when cutting, sanding, or drilling. |
| Dust Mask | To avoid inhaling wood dust. | Especially important when sanding. |
If you’re planning on making more woodworking projects, investing in a good jigsaw can be a game-changer. They are versatile and can handle straight cuts, curves, and even some rough shaping. You can find many resources on how to safely operate a jigsaw from reputable sources like Woodworker’s Journal.
Simple Design Ideas for Your Wooden Phone Stand
The beauty of a handmade project is its adaptability. Here are a few common and easy designs to get you started. We’ll focus on a two-piece design that’s very popular and straightforward to make.
Design 1: The Classic Two-Piece Stand
This is a favorite for its simplicity and stability. It consists of a base piece and a back support piece.
- Base: A rectangular piece with a slot cut partway through it, angled slightly backward.
- Back Support: A triangular or angled piece that slots into the base, propping your phone up.
Design 2: The Single-Piece Folded Stand
This design uses a single piece of wood, often cleverly cut with slots so it can be assembled into a stable structure. It can be more challenging to cut but looks very sleek.
Design 3: The Angled Slab Stand
This is perhaps the easiest. It’s essentially a solid block of wood with a slot cut into it at an angle.
For this guide, we’ll detail how to make the classic two-piece stand, as it’s the most forgiving for beginners.
Step-by-Step: Building Your Handmade Wooden Phone Stand
Let’s get building! We’ll guide you through creating that classic, stable two-piece wooden phone stand. Remember to take your time and enjoy the process. Safety first – always wear your safety glasses!
Step 1: Planning and Measuring Your Pieces
First, decide on the size. A good starting point is a base piece around 4-5 inches wide and 3-4 inches deep. The back support can be about 4-5 inches tall.
For a standard smartphone (like an iPhone or Android), a slot depth of about 0.5 inches is usually sufficient. The width of the slot should be just a little wider than your phone’s thickness, plus its case if you use one. A common width is around 0.5 inches, but measure yours!
Cut List Example (adjust based on your phone & preference):
- Base Piece: 4.5 inches (width) x 3.5 inches (depth) x 0.75 inches (thickness)
- Back Support Piece: 4.5 inches (width) x 4 inches (height) x 0.75 inches (thickness)
Pro Tip: It’s always better to cut your pieces slightly larger than you think you need. You can always trim them down later, but you can’t add wood back!
Step 2: Cutting Your Wood
Using your chosen wood and measurements, carefully mark your cut lines with a pencil. If you’re using a hand saw, ensure the wood is securely clamped to a workbench or table. Cut slowly and steadily along your lines.
If you’re using a jigsaw, make sure you understand how to safely operate it. Draw your lines clearly. Guide the saw smoothly through the wood. Always let the saw do the work; don’t force it.
For the base piece, you’ll need to cut slots. For the back support, you might want to cut an angle on the bottom edge so it sits flush when glued into the base. A common angle is around 75-85 degrees from the horizontal.
Expert Advice: Practice cutting on scrap wood first if you’re new to using a saw. This helps you get a feel for the tool and achieve cleaner cuts. You can find great tutorials on basic saw techniques on sites like Family Handyman.
Step 3: Creating the Slots
This is a crucial step! You need a slot in the base that the back support will fit into, and a groove on the back support to hold your phone.
For the Base: On your base piece, measure and mark the center line. Then, mark a slot for the back support piece. This slot needs to go most of the way through the base, leaving about 0.5 inches at the bottom for stability. The angle of this slot should match the angle of the back support’s bottom edge. If your back support’s bottom edge is angled at 80 degrees, the slot in the base should be angled at 80 degrees.
For the Back Support: On your back support piece, measure and mark a line about 0.5 inches up from the bottom edge. Draw two parallel lines, creating a slot slightly wider than your phone (again, about 0.55 inches is a good starting place). This slot should also go most of the way up the piece, leaving about 0.5 inches at the top.
To cut these slots, you can use a jigsaw or a dado blade on a table saw (if you have one and know how to use it safely). For a beginner, using a jigsaw and carefully following your lines is a great way to go. You might need to drill a starting hole inside the slot area with your drill to insert the jigsaw blade.
Step 4: Sanding for a Smooth Finish
Once all your pieces are cut and shaped, it’s time to sand. This is where you really transform rough cuts into a smooth, touchable surface.
Start with your 80-grit sandpaper. This will remove any rough saw marks and level out any imperfections. Work your way up to 120-grit sandpaper to further smooth the surface. Finally, use 220-grit sandpaper for a silky-smooth finish. Make sure to sand with the grain of the wood.
Don’t forget to sand the edges of your slots too. This makes it easier for the pieces to fit together and prevents splinters.
Safety Note: Always wear a dust mask when sanding wood. Wood dust can be harmful to your lungs.
Step 5: Optional: Add a Charging Cable Hole
If you want to be able to charge your phone while it’s on the stand, now is the time to drill a hole. On the base piece, decide where you want the charging cable to come through. Mark a spot, typically towards the front of the slot. Use a drill bit that’s slightly larger than your charging cable diameter. A spade bit or a hole saw works well for this.
Drill through the base piece cleanly. Sand the edges of the hole smooth.
Step 6: Gluing the Pieces Together
This is the final assembly step! Apply a generous amount of wood glue to the edges of the slot on the base piece and the corresponding angled edge of the back support piece.
Carefully slide the back support into the slot on the base. Ensure they fit snugly and are aligned correctly. Wipe away any excess glue that squeezes out with a damp cloth.
Now, use your clamps to hold the two pieces together firmly. Make sure the stand is sitting square. Let the glue dry completely according to the manufacturer’s instructions, which is usually at least a few hours, but overnight is best for maximum strength.
Step 7: Finishing Touches (Optional)
Once the glue is dry, you can apply a finish to protect the wood and enhance its natural beauty.
- Sanding Sealer: Helps prevent blotchiness if you’re planning to stain.
- Stain: If you want to change the color of the wood. Apply evenly and wipe off excess.
- Varnish, Polyurethane, or Oil: These provide a protective clear coat. Apply in thin, even coats, allowing each to dry and lightly sanding between coats with a very fine grit sandpaper (like 320 or 400).
- Natural Oil: Like tung oil or linseed oil, which soak into the wood and give a natural, matte finish.
If you’re unsure, a simple coat of clear polyurethane is a great, durable option that lets the wood’s natural grain shine through. Always test your finish on a scrap piece of the same wood first!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Even with the best intentions, woodworking can sometimes present little challenges. Here’s how to tackle a few common issues you might encounter:
Problem: Pieces don’t fit together snugly.
Solution: This usually happens if the slots are a bit too tight or the angles don’t quite match. You can carefully shave a little wood off the edges of the slot or the fitting piece using a sharp chisel or sandpaper wrapped around a block. Go slowly and test the fit frequently.
Problem: Saw cuts are rough and messy.
Solution: This can stem from a dull blade, forcing the saw, or not supporting the wood properly. If using a hand saw, ensure it’s sharp and you’re using smooth, even strokes. For a power saw, make sure the blade is appropriate for the wood type and the saw is maintained. After assembly, extra sanding will help smooth out minor imperfections.
Problem: Wood glue squeeze-out is difficult to clean.
Solution: Clean up glue squeeze-out while it’s still wet, as this is much easier. Use a damp cloth or sponge. If the glue has dried, you can try to carefully scrape it off with a chisel or sandpaper, but sometimes it can be stubborn.
Problem: The stand is wobbly.
Solution: This often means the bottom of the base isn’t perfectly flat, or the slot isn’t angled correctly, causing the back piece to lean too much. You can try sanding the bottom of the base until it’s flat. Ensure the back support is seated as far down in the slot as possible and that the angled edges are a good match.
FAQ: Your Woodworking Questions Answered
Q1: What is the easiest wood to use for a beginner phone stand?
A1: Pine or poplar are excellent choices. They are soft, easy to cut and sand, and readily available.
Q2: Do I need a lot of power tools to make this?
A2: No! A simple hand saw, sandpaper, wood glue, and clamps are often enough to get a great result. A jigsaw can make cutting slots easier but isn’t strictly necessary for basic designs.
Q3: How wide should the phone slot be?
A3: Measure your phone’s thickness, including its case.