proud n00b

Handmade computer stand

After last week’s spillage on the Macbook keyboard, I put my laptop behind my monitor- resting vertically against the wall. It was out of the way, and made my desk mighty spacious. However it occurred to me - if I have another spill, the comp is still in the floodplain. 

How could I keep it vertically and get it off my desk? 

There is the TwelveSouth BookArc Stand- but that is $50 for a piece of metal. I’m not sure that is exactly a ‘value’ - even if it does have a nice design.

As I walked around Union Square yesterday afternoon, my inner Bob Vila got to thinking. I sketched out various ideas, like:

• A holder that hangs from the top of a monitor- like a towel hanger for a door
• An easel design

After quickly tossing out the first idea, I did a few Google searches on the second, and found a few “How to” videos. An A-frame easel seemed like a relatively simple solution, until I found this crazy video- and yes it is crazy.

A picture frame design- 2 pieces of wood- no bolts or glue necessary!

With my inner, urban carpenter rearing to go, here are the results.

At this point I had to go to the hardware store and buy a bigger saw & clamps. The little hand saw we had at home was just too small and flimsy.

Apologies to the Ikea shelf sacrificed in the process..

$9.99 for Saw

$8.99 for Clamps (so the wood didn’t slip, and I inadvertently cut off a thumb)

Total Cost: $20.78

Not too shabby. I think I’ll knock a few out tomorrow, and may throw them on Etsy. Who knows I may even make a Kickstarter video for them!

Update: And no I didn’t “cut it with my teeth” - just a rough, first model :)