The Zen of Laptop Stands

Customizing the way you sit and interact with a laptop computer can make a huge difference in your comfort. Here is an in-depth look at making a stand that really works for you.
For a free template of the profile of some stands, see my website at the following link:
psullivancarme...

[@green_building]

Keep making video because : - very informative - easy to understand with nice animation - useful product creation - easy to make and affordable materials Thankyou verymuch 🙏✨

[@billprocter942]

Very much appreciated the project details. Editing was very well done. Enjoyed the video.

[@simonflr]

You are perhaps the "Best Video Creator" I have viewed. Substantive information, well edited content, pleasing narration. Well done!

[@Humongous_Pig_Benis]

Thank you, Patrick! More than telling what to do, you tell us why and give us the questions we should ask for our own needs. That's a good Physician and project maker mindset. Kudos from a sore neck from Portugal!

[@gerardvila4685]

Beautiful stands. I live in a flat - no big power tools - but I made a laptop stand out of thick corrugated cardboard from removal cartons. If you glue enough cardboard strips together you get a lightweight block which is strong enough to support the structure. I cut one set of big triangles, for the main body, and another set of small ones, for the little rest in front that holds up the laptop. Then I glued the triangles side to side to form two wedges. The outside is just cardboard cut to shape to fit around the whole thing. I designed this stand to support my (work) laptop so that the screen was high enough, then I put it on top of another carton or two with a keyboard in front, and put the whole thing on the table to form a standing desk. Not very pretty but it worked fine. Now I'm retired, I just have a desktop PC, so the standing desk idea doesn't work any more, but the cardboard wedge is still useful as a reading / music stand, or to support a tablet.

[@bobfugazy4916]

Thanks Michael. I may make a few, thanks for the ideas. I'm at my 15" laptop right now, hunched over! Whilst at work I have to glorious 24" monitors that keep me sane and upright.

[@billparrish4385]

I like this angled design, and the flexibility of height and angle. Great design! This is similar to one I designed a while back, with the difference that mine had the strip at C, a full panel on the A level, and a vertical fence at B, only those 3 pieces, sort of like an upside-down sushi cutting board, with one leg taller. The laptop itself rested on the B fence and slid forward into the strip at C, so a lot of air under it and not sitting on the panel. The B fence attached to the A panel with 2 dowels, unglued, and could be swapped out with 2 other B fences of different heights, depending on where I was working. The panel at the A level tended to be a bit sweaty on my leg, so instead of fabric or a cushion, I cut some 1/8" grooves in it, 1/4" apart, at a depth just over halfway through the material, then more grooves 90 degrees to those but on the opposite surface, so that where they intersected was a hole all the way through. That provided enough ventilation to end the sweaty leg issue. I am thinking of a redesign, adding an extension of the A panel to the right, for a mouse pad and a cell phone holder. I don't want to get too crazy with features, I like the simplicity of a sushi board, but there are some scenarios where I do want an external mouse, such as in gaming, and to prop up my phone.

[@dr.rongoldstein1633]

Great ergonomic designs .. help people with carpal tunnel, neck and shoulder problems.

[@jrgomez]

Great designs! Simple but straight to the point. Thanks!

[@gordo62mobiel]

Hi Patrick, Thank you for your instructions. But i would advice you, from a personal bad experience, to use an extern keyboard...Have you heard about RSI(Repetitive strain injury) this is caused mostly for long time use of the wrong position of your hands and arms while using a laptop...

[@jakobhovman]

The Zen of Standing Laptops...great video vlog...nice to see workflow and processed ideas. Thank You Patrick.

[@CheaddakerT.Snodgrass]

I really despise laptop computers but this is absolutely a great idea. Nice video.

[@marknahabedian1803]

I've made several laptop stands out of k'nex. Some of these could be folded flat so that they could be packed in a bag next to the laptop. Have you considered adding a sort of bench hook to the front of your laptop stand. It would hang over the near edge of your table or desk to keep the laptop stand from moving away from you as you type.

[@iadtag1853]

This really looks more elegant than those you can buy online!

[@IEnjoyCreatingVideos]

Nice work Patrick! Thanks for sharing the video with us.👌👍😎JP

[@huwdavies5264]

Hi Patrick, Great project which I will adapt as others have already said to accommodate a separate key board. The 4 people who have not liked this obviously don't feel the need to have a good posture when using a laptop. Cheers, Huw

[@MartinLopez-ys5dm]

Patrick, consider making holes at the substrate to improve air circulation for the motherboard. Great work!

[@worzelbxoy3565]

Martin Lopez excellent idea.

[@PatrickSullivan]

Martin: Your concern about heat buildup is a good idea. I built two with air holes (one with a slot and one with a row of round holes). My previous computer got very hot after an hour of ordinary work, and better air circulation really made sense. My current laptop seems to run much, much cooler. I don't know how much good the holes do now, but they can't hurt.

[@edualbergaria10]

I really like your way to make videos and woodwork. Waitting the next one.

[@yannkitson116]

Excellent... we're completing the circle and coming back to the old writing desks, you just need a hinge and an inside compartment... and you'll be back in the 1700's. Thanks for sharing!

[@MrBobisadog]

Nice work! I built your tool holder recently and that is saving me 30 minutes a day. Please keep up the good work.

[@nobull-dozer3356]

Wonderfully simple and the best bit is no maths - very much appreciated thank you 🙏

[@Thom4123]

Such a beautiful design and awesome build video. Definitely need to build a couple for around the house. Take Care

[@AbstractJan]

Cheers, nice methodology. If you dont mind i have few observations i remember from product design master ergonomics. For that hand writing is also good to try the whole table under angle, or at least bigger size, then just the exact size of the book, magazine. In old times architects and enginners used to draw on that kind of angled tables. On the computer writing, is actually better to use external keyboard and have it on a flat table, its more natural 90 angle degree arms to body like having them higher and angled on the laptop.

[@mikecurtin9831]

I use a separate keyboard, but I'm thinking I may build one of these to get the height right. Thanks very much for sharing the idea and the dimensions. I clicked "like" to crush a troll.

[@zolatanaffa87]

simple and useful objects made with skill and attention. GREAT! At work they have changed all the desktop PCs with laptops and writing for me with the internal keyboard is very difficult because of my big hands: sometimes I hit two keys together with the normal keyboard. Fortunately, they left us the keyboard and the monitor (19 ") of the previous desktop, so I don't need to tilt the laptop, but to avoid bending my back, while I look in the small laptop monitor, I had to lift my portable from the desk with two reams of paper and a half! (Wrong or no longer useful photocopies: accumulate and re-insert in the properly emptied new paper wrappers: recycle recycle, which we save the environment!)

[@Josh_Luijsterburg]

Love it. It looks like the old victorian writing desks. I only miss the inkwell and quill 👍👍👍

[@PatrickSullivan]

That is the beauty of making things yourself. You can put in an inkwell if you want. Maybe a few cubbyholes, too.

[@Propagandalf1]

Your stands are great. I would like to see one with a laptop-cooler!

[@ajWLMk2o]

If nothing else, a few holes would be good where the air intake is so that it gets better airflow.

[@morrisonsusan]

Love it, and will build myself one! Thanks!

[@fabiangonto]

Thanks for sharing your amazing ideas.

[@skatewithvanz]

Nice 👍🏼 im going to make one that will be sort of a bed in breakfast type of deal, my wifes in doing school classes and homework and always has back pain so i think its going to help her posture and comfort also our big 17" laptop gets warm so she needs a break from that on her lap, were renting a living room that i closed the entry way to buy framing and installing a door lol, we dont have enough room for a table but we can certainly fit a small laptop holder, i have made space in our room by making shelves out of 2x4s and osb all over the room to take up head space for storage, i cant wait to finally buy a house lol 😂

[@jareddietrich2345]

Nice work, very detailed and covers what one would need to build themselves a nice stand. One piece of feedback for a simple improvement on your video - clear your throat, maybe drink something warm like a tea, and warm up your voice before recording audio. It’s kinda rough to listen to.

[@dleivam]

Brilliant.. This weekend I'll try it. Thanks.

[@germansteier]

just what i was looking for, great video

[@FredFloresca]

Really enjoying your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and expertise. Out of curiosity, would you consider an external keyboard for typing comfort? Thanks again.

[@graphitepencil]

Excellent video and commentary.

[@alperensahin7468]

very nice and cute video, thank you

[@o0o-jd-o0o95]

I've been looking around for laptop desk ideas ... my search is over

[@zhaobronte7453]

Nice video, I will make one for my pocket 2 when I have time.

[@dimitristabakis754]

Very nice video....thanks

[@johnlowry5311]

Thank you I have to get around to making one

[@turkeycreekknives133]

Like the laptop stand I’m making one 👍

[@antoniomondini2205]

Brilliant project, very well done. Interesting small plane, which brand is it?

[@PatrickSullivan]

Lie-Nielsen makes this small, bronze block plane. I have found it extremely handy.

[@harrydavis6903]

So very true. Well done, thanks.

[@sergiosanchez1905]

great job!!!

[@doktorkoka]

Thanks!

[@gwynt909]

I needed a cooling stand for my laptop. The height of the fan at the back decided the height of the stand for me. As i don't have a woodworking shop i made mine from cardboard

[@inhalants]

A proper laptop stand should also have clear holes for the air intakes on the bottom of the laptop. Otherwise their cooling is seriously hampered and performance will be throttled.

[@jeblubberjeblubber1597]

Sehr schön und praktisch 🤩

[@tayyabhasan]

how about buying a LED monitor, a bluetooth mouse and keyboard?

[@CptSpears007]

Very nice

[@csle1962]

Cool!

[@stevenlengyel9701]

I used to stack books under my computer screen. So it was closer to eye height

[@glmm9969]

Excelente. 🇧🇷

[@catherinehargreaves9959]

hi. exelent , i bet the motavational doc would endorce and like to have one. this could help people.

[@shinigamiatgame1962]

Bigger Holes = Better Air Flow / Temps

[@G36934]

cool

[@billarmstrong9333]

ADD IN AN AIR BLOWER FOR COOLING. PROLONG LIFE OF LAPTOP

[@MunisaR]

I wish I had a Dad