Vertical Laptop Stand
![Screen Shot 2015-12-31 at 5.11.57 PM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FXN/FXHM/IIUMIO6I/FXNFXHMIIUMIO6I.png&filename=Screen Shot 2015-12-31 at 5.11.57 PM.png)
Make a vertical laptop stand (inspired by Twelve South's BookArc). Positioning a laptop vertically reduces heat buildup on the bottom and allows it to run much cooler!
Measurements
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.08.55 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F36/684C/IIUMIO87/F36684CIIUMIO87.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.08.55 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.28 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FG4/E699/IIUMIOG1/FG4E699IIUMIOG1.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.28 AM.png)
![Plan.jpg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F9Y/HOPK/IIUMIXI6/F9YHOPKIIUMIXI6.jpg&filename=Plan.jpg)
Measure the thickness of your laptop. If you use calipers, I suggest applying some tape on the jaws to avoid scratching your computer.
You'll need to do some calculations to determine the size of all the pieces. All the measurements are in the PDF plans: http://fasteasysmarttool.com/laptop/
Step 2: Cut Pieces to Width
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.09.36 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTJ/FOUY/IIUMIOA2/FTJFOUYIIUMIOA2.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.09.36 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.10.02 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F3S/BVE3/IIUMIOAA/F3SBVE3IIUMIOAA.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.10.02 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.10.20 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHW/MJSX/IIUMIOAL/FHWMJSXIIUMIOAL.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.10.20 AM.png)
I cut down a sheet of 3/4" plywood to a manageable size. Then at the mitre saw, I cut two thin strips (1"), and one thick strip* (2 5/8").
*These dimensions should be adjusted for your laptop per the plans in step 1.
Cut Pieces to Length
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.00 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUW/465O/IIUMIOCJ/FUW465OIIUMIOCJ.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.00 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.15 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8M/AJ41/IIUMIOEB/F8MAJ41IIUMIOEB.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.15 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.33 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FEO/GM9U/IIUMIOG5/FEOGM9UIIUMIOG5.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.11.33 AM.png)
The mitre saw table is adjusted to 22.5°.
I apply masking tape to the plywood to control tearout.
Sanding
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.12.12 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FR0/L6YU/IIUMIOJP/FR0L6YUIIUMIOJP.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.12.12 AM.png)
Prepare the surfaces for gluing.
Tape the Bits Together
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.12.24 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FWS/QI96/IIUMIOLD/FWSQI96IIUMIOLD.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.12.24 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.12.53 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FL7/CQC3/IIUMIOLE/FL7CQC3IIUMIOLE.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.12.53 AM.png)
Use masking tape to hold everything together before the glue-up.
Test Fit
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.13.13 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5Z/N6J1/IIUMIOLG/F5ZN6J1IIUMIOLG.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.13.13 AM.png)
Perfect!
Glue-up
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.13.36 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0I/915H/IIUMIOLH/F0I915HIIUMIOLH.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.13.36 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.13.46 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F0A/5V72/IIUMIOLI/F0A5V72IIUMIOLI.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.13.46 AM.png)
Apply glue to all the joints. Let it set overnight.
Glue Clean-Up
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.03 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZX/8MOL/IIUMIOLK/FZX8MOLIIUMIOLK.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.03 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.14 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FHO/EE17/IIUMIOLL/FHOEE17IIUMIOLL.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.14 AM.png)
Clean-up any glue squeeze out, and break the edges with sandpaper.
Route Cable Holes (Optional)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.21 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLB/9XI7/IIUMIOLS/FLB9XI7IIUMIOLS.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.21 AM.png)
On the router table, I cut a slot on each side for cable management.
Strength Test!
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.36 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTV/LBQO/IIUMIOMY/FTVLBQOIIUMIOMY.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.36 AM.png)
To be honest... I'm surprised it didn't break :)
Apply Finish
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.50 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FNE/UCQ8/IIUMIOO3/FNEUCQ8IIUMIOO3.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.14.50 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.15.52 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDS/OKWO/IIUMIOPO/FDSOKWOIIUMIOPO.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.15.52 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.16.05 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJO/WJ9Y/IIUMIORA/FJOWJ9YIIUMIORA.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.16.05 AM.png)
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.16.29 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FR8/9804/IIUMIORE/FR89804IIUMIORE.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.16.29 AM.png)
I'm using enduro-var. First I pre-raise the grain with water. Then I apply two coats of finish, sanding between each coat.
Done!
![Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.16.40 AM.png](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDZ/9QOY/IIUMIOUL/FDZ9QOYIIUMIOUL.png&filename=Screen Shot 2016-01-01 at 11.16.40 AM.png)
Your laptop has a new home!
Video
![How to Make a Wooden Laptop Stand (Free Plans)](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F6L/B6NK/IIUMINCQ/F6LB6NKIIUMINCQ.jpg&filename=How to Make a Wooden Laptop Stand (Free Plans))
Here's a video of the whole process.