DIY Wooden Phone & Tablet Stand (Made from Thermally Modified Poplar)

How We Built a Wooden Phone & Tablet Stand (DIY Table Saw Project)

Hey everyone, and welcome back to the woodshop! Today we’re sharing a simple, practical project you can use every single day — a wooden phone and tablet stand made from thermally modified poplar. I don’t know about you, but I spend more time on my phone than I probably should, and I’m constantly holding it in my hand. Sometimes you just want to set it down and still be able to see the screen clearly.

This little stand solves that problem beautifully. It’s sturdy, minimal, and sized to hold a phone or a tablet, making it more versatile than most single‑purpose stands you see online.

Milling the Poplar

We started with a thick piece of roasted (thermally modified) poplar and milled it down to about ½ inch thick. Once it was cleaned up, we ripped one edge to square it and cut two pieces:

• 5½ inches long

• 8 inches long youtube.com

These two pieces interlock to form the stand.

Cutting the First Notch

On the longer piece, we cut a notch that would eventually accept the upright support.

• The notch is 1 inch wide

• Starts 2 inches from the edge

• And is 1½ inches deep 

We left the board full width during this step so we’d have something to hold onto while cutting into the end grain — a little trick that makes the process safer and more controlled.

Ripping to Final Width

Once the notch was complete, we ripped both pieces down to their final width of 5 inches.

Cutting the Upright Support Notches

Next, we cut two notches in the shorter piece (the upright).

• Each notch begins 1 inch up from the bottom

• Extends 2 inches inward

• Leaving a 1‑inch center section

• And sized exactly to the ½‑inch thickness of the board

These notches allow the two pieces to slide together snugly.

Sanding & Prep

The planer left the surfaces pretty smooth, so we only needed a light sanding with a 300‑grit DuraGold pad to remove any remaining roughness.

Assembly & Finish

With everything fitting nicely, we added a tiny bit of glue to the joint and assembled the stand. For the finish, we kept it simple — just natural Danish oil. Thermally modified poplar is already a deep, rich color, so the oil really brings out its warmth without altering the tone too much.

The Final Stand

The finished stand is clean, square, and surprisingly versatile. It’s a little larger than most phone‑only stands, but that’s intentional — it holds a phone or a tablet securely. Whether you’re watching workout videos, following a recipe, or just giving your hands a break, this stand fits the bill.

If you enjoyed this project, be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel or bookmark this website so you don’t miss future builds.

And as always — happy woodworking!