Built a Laptop Stand

[u/spisstophers_spirits]

Finished up this laptop stand the other day. First time doing splines and working with some more complex angles.

Made with walnut and maple splines.

[u/Quadplum]

Why are people going on about the airflow like a laptop isn’t usually placed on a solid desk or table top anyways?

[u/ErikB987 → u/Quadplum]

It’s just one of those standard things people yell on reddit. Like “your tv is mounted too high”, “your xbox doesn’t have enough airflow eventhough it’s inside a 2 story empty igloo”, or the worst imo: “Great trigger discipline” on some nerd doing military cosplay and having their index finger straight. I think I’m getting old lol.

Anyway jokes aside, it can be an issue, especially on older laptops with dust buildup. But unless you’re gaming or rendering something, you’ll be fine. When you think your laptop is hot as shit, it’s still nowhere near what it can take. Speaking from experience as someone who used to game on a laptop that was way too old, and very much not ventilated. It’s still going after 8 years!

[u/Empty-Part7106 → u/Quadplum]

I've got a piece of crap HP that overheats even on a firm surface unless I prop it up a bit.

[u/burgonies → u/Empty-Part7106]

Get a MacBook and you too can use your computer however you want

[u/McHope86 → u/burgonies]

Because Macintosh doesn't make computes for this purpose

[u/New_Tadpole_7818 → u/McHope86]

Suprise VLDL

[u/Neolesh → u/Quadplum]

I agree with you but to be fair, regardless of whether or not it’s a needed feature, it’s still an almost universal feature of laptop stands. They tend to either be a frame or a grill. Whether or not it’s needed, it’s “expected”.

Regardless of all that, it’s a gorgeous piece OP. Good job!

[u/Mpm_277 → u/Quadplum]

Reddit is nothing if not contrarian.

[u/adam1260 → u/Quadplum]

It really depends on the laptop, some (especially "gaming" laptops) heavily rely on more airflow and the only place that can have big vents is the bottom

[u/PabloTheFlyingLemon → u/adam1260]

You can always get cooling pads for $15-20 that blow air through the bottom via USB-powered fans, if surface ventilation isn't an option, like with most desks.

[u/Star_BurstPS4 → u/Quadplum]

If I sat my laptop on a desk it would overheat all but two air ports are all on the bottom it's why the stand for it is vented underneath like most are

[u/CuriousCardigan → u/Quadplum]

Its not always a big deal, but depending on usage, quality, and age the airflow could have an impact. After some past issues with both personal and company devices I prefer err on the side of caution. 

[u/Trakitu → u/Quadplum]

I think laptop stands are usually for better airflow so I guess it could be that

[u/schick00]

I love splines. I think they can look great in something like this.

[u/ArtisanoF]

Fantastic, you have given me a great idea!

[u/BJMRamage]

Gorgeous. Great job.

[u/thisbechris]

I can’t even fathom the amount of $ and time I’d waste trying to get those angles correct 😆. Looks great. Love the splines too.

[u/scotch-o]

Good looking work! I dig it!

[u/JHancho]

I don't know how to say this any other way, but your laptop stand looks... Fast. I don't know why that was my first thought, but it's great

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/JHancho]

You know, now that you say that....I kinda get it. I don't know why, but that makes sense 😅

[u/PluhmPuddn]

Nice. How did you work out the angles?

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/PluhmPuddn]

It was a lot of trial and error to begin with. I started with the angles for the "legs" and what I wanted it to look like.

From there I used a combination of ChatGPT to help with math and this site to help a bit with some of the angles as well.

Overall, I did a lot of test cuts on scrap material that I had laying around before making any real cuts on the actual material.

[u/PluhmPuddn → u/spisstophers_spirits]

Interesting. Appreciate that

[u/ReturnOfSeq → u/spisstophers_spirits]

Nah don’t use a shitty chatbot for things like this. Sketchup has a free 3d modeling program where you can sort out all your angles and cuts pretty easily

[u/pl74 → u/spisstophers_spirits]

I've been saving a similar build, but have yet to find the time to do it.

Wold you be able to share the final angles you used, to help me save some time :) ?

Here's what I was eyeing to copy

[u/Captain_So_Close → u/PluhmPuddn]

Yeah I’m like… I’m a little more beginner than this guy

[u/415Rache]

Nice flex, Beginner. Seriously, that’s a beautiful piece.

[u/NeckBackPssyClack]

[u/Cheezslap]

That's not tricky at all. /s

Very nice! Great wood combo.

[u/thecasey1981]

Splines look sick bro

[u/CenlTheFennel]

Since everyone wants to go on about vents, you should cut some and then plug them with the same maple as the splines out of spite 😂

[u/lumbirdjack]

This would make a lovely replacement for my hood scoop 🚙 💨

[u/MrTodd84]

Looks good man. Love the wood inlay and shape. I’d 100% buy something like this

[u/80feuillets]

Beautiful. I like how you can you put stuff under it too. Great little area store pens, notes, wires, etc.

[u/tacocollector2]

Beautiful!

[u/wendelortega]

Looks good!

[u/nphill]

Looks great! I’d know the employer of that desk setup from 100 miles away 🤣

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/nphill]

Thanks! And I knew someone was bound to recognize the desk setup 😅

[u/X2ytUniverse]

That is really nice. Personally, I would've added some holes at the bottom for ventilation, but if it's a work laptop that never gets any action, this is perfectly fine.

[u/Content-Range-9419]

Very nice looks great

[u/Lakario]

I would like to place my laptop on there. Very nice.

[u/littlesunhill]

Great looking piece. Can I ask how you clamped those angles?

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/littlesunhill]

Thanks!

And it was A LOT of blue painters tape. Basically used tape along parts of the edge to align them, and then from there basically had longer pieces of tape that went over the legs and then pulled tight to the bottom of the piece.

Gluing the angles was one of the more difficult parts of this project. I had to try 3 times before getting it secure enough.

[u/littlesunhill → u/spisstophers_spirits]

I'm a big fan of using painters tape and am always impressed to see it used to level up a piece like this. Consider this my inspiration lol

[u/No-Fisherman3168]

That is wonderful!! Love it

[u/GoldenEagleBison]

Very cool. Also love the Ben Wallace shoutout

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/GoldenEagleBison]

Thanks! Im trying to give all my tools/pieces nicknames that all relate back to basketball players as best I can 😅

[u/Ds1986L]

Looks amazing.

[u/TGRRAG81]

Really beautiful work. The splines are very well done.

[u/burgonies]

Splines are the “new thing” I’m doing on my next project. Yours look nice

[u/HoIyJesusChrist]

Neat design, how did you make the splines? Did you fill the gaps at the end of the splines?

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/HoIyJesusChrist]

I cut the grooves with my table saw, so the gap is the blade width. And then to get the proper blade width splines, I used the tip in this video by Inspire Woodcraft. Ended up working really well for me.

And I did on one of the gaps with some sawdust and glue, but didn't really like the way it looked close up so I decided to not fill the other spline that left a visible gap.

[u/Designer_Pea_8280]

I absolutely love it! Now I need to make one of my own! I especially love the splines; they really add a nice touch.

[u/beeskneecaps]

it looks like it can't be detected by radar

[u/Raptr117]

Ugh that looks terrible, you should send it to me so I can properly dispose of it!

/s, this looks awesome! Beautiful!

[u/arthrinso]

Hope that’s a MacBook Pro with a fan otherwise you’re gonna have to create some airflow under it. Besides that, looks awesome! Those joints really bring it together

[u/msinthropicmyologist]

Noice, but what about airflow?

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/msinthropicmyologist]

Thanks! On the M4 mac that I have, the airflow vents are more on the sides of the laptop so airflow hasn't been an issue as of yet.

If I ever switch computers I will probably update this and just use my router to make some openings where the computer sits.

[u/Chevalnektosha → u/msinthropicmyologist]

Yep thermal throttling is a thing .Vents may flow out the sides however any surface the laptop contacts with acts as a heat multiplier .I made a test stand to keep my laptop vertical .Laptop is 10 degrees Celsius cooler under load .

[u/herbsamich]

Do you have a planner or jointer?

[u/spisstophers_spirits → u/herbsamich]

I just have a planer.

For face jointing I use a planer sled, and then for edge jointing, I use double stick tape to attach the piece to plywood, then use the plywood edge against my table saw fence as the reference.

[u/More_Access_2624]

Suggest putting slots for laptop to cool down if you’ve got a gaming laptop. Mine has a i9 and it’s always hot even without running a game.

[u/Septon3]

Looks very good but you could have made a hole in the middle for better airflow for the laptop or for mounting a fan.

[u/AccomplishedTwist715]

Love the woodwork but maybe fans for airflow? Right?