Make a DIY tablet stand with Sugru

Hands-free tablet time

iPads and other tablets are great for surfing the web and can help hours pass like minutes. But anyone who has held one for a while will know the 'arm ache'! If you find yourself wishing you could go hands free with your tablet, then this Sugru Mouldable Glue project is for you.

Why buy an expensive solution when you can totally make one yourself, and it's more fun to do so? Here we'll show you how to create your own tablet stand that you can move around the house as you need it. Will it be a tablet desk stand, a holder for bed, or one for the kitchen counter with your morning coffee? You decide.

It's time to give your arms a rest!

Tablet stands made from old lamps and Sugru

Kit

  • An adjustable table lamp
  • Wire clippers
  • A tablet case
  • Screwdriver / hex key (to dismantle the lamp)
  • A single-use pack of Sugru Mouldable Glue

Step 1

Moveable desk lamp

Finding the right lamp:

- For this project you will need to use a lamp that has an adjustable arm, which will give you free movement of the tablet when it's clipped in.

- An added bonus, but not essential, is finding a lamp with an adjustable/twistable head — this will give you the choice of using your tablet in both landscape and portrait modes while it is clipped in.

Here we've rescued our Forsa IKEA lamp that was sitting unloved and underused in the corner of Sugru HQ (it's got an adjustable head)

Step 2

Wire that connects to plug is cut

Once you've found your lamp — first things first, cut the plug off to be safe. This will also make it easy to remove the cable later on.

And if there is a lightbulb in place, remove it now.

Step 3

Fittings on lamp head unscrewed

Unscrew the fittings on the head of the lamp using a screwdriver.


Step 4

Lamp shade is removed

Now remove the light shade.

Step 5

Wires connecting the light socket piece are cut

Cut the wire to remove the light socket piece so you can remove the remaining wire.

Step 6

Wire is pulled through the lamp arm

Pull the remaining wire through the light's arm to remove it completely.

Step 7

Disassembled lamp arm

Now that you are left with only the structure of the lamp, find a suitable surface that you can attach the tablet case to.

For this project we used the black circular piece of plastic pictured here.

Step 8

Hand holding thin sausage of Sugru

Cut open a single-use pack of Sugru and roll it into a ball, then into a thin sausage.

Step 9

Sugru applied to the lamp arm

Lightly press the Sugru sausage onto the rim or surface of the piece you want to attach your tablet case.

Step 10

Tablet case applied to Sugru on lamp arm

Top Tip: if you don't have a rotational head on your lamp, then this is when you'll need to decide if this is for movies (landscape) or surfing the web (portrait!)

Line up your tablet case so it is straight and centred, before pressing down firmly.

Hold the case down this for a few seconds to make ensure the case gets a good contact with the Sugru.

Step 11

Lamp arm holding tablet case

That's it — now just leave the Sugru to set for 12-24 hours* and your new tablet stand will be ready!

Top Tip: If you're doing this for a larger tablet and the case is heavier, you may want to use some tape to keep it in place while it sets. 

*Depending on the thickness of the application, for load-bearing projects, allow up to 48 hours for Sugru to fully set.

Step 12

DIY stand made using Sugru holding tablet

Now you just need to click your iPad or other tablet in place and you're ready to go!

Happy surfing :)

This project was inspired by Vikas and his awesome bedside iPad holder project.

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