Gregory Hayes

Stickstand

Go hands-free and mount your tablet on a monopod.

By Tara Wheeler

THE STICKSTAND IS A PLATFORM THAT mounts an e-reader (in this case an iPad) to a monopod by means of a quick release. It can easily attach to table legs, chairs, or just about anything you can get a loop around, and can be adjusted to a better height and angle for reading.

I also use my Stickstand to turn my iPad into a handheld, mobile, lit sign (mostly to get autographs from celebrities). It works equally well as a display in a booth or in any number of attention-grabbing situations.

The Stickstand is designed to hold an e-reader secured in a folio-type case for added security, so it’s got a strap to hold the case’s cover flap. If you’re not using a folio-type case, make the corner straps tighter and use care when moving the Stickstand with the e-reader in place.

1. Cut a suitable backing plate to size. You can use either a piece of aluminum cut to fit the e-reader, or for the iPad, the heat sink cover plate from a Power Mac G5 with the curved edges cut off is a perfect fit and looks cool.

Sand the cut edges smooth.

2. Drill holes for the straps using a 1/16" drill bit. At each corner, drill 2 pairs of holes approximately 1" from the corner in either direction, no more than ½" apart.

At each top corner, drill an additional pair of holes closer to the corner for the flap strap.

3. Position the quick release. Mark the backing plate 1½" down from the top edge, centered, then drill a ¼" hole at your mark.

Countersink all holes to remove sharp edges.

4. Cut the foam to fit the plate: two 6mm pieces and one 2mm piece. Hot-glue the 6mm pieces together and set the 2mm piece aside.

5. Cut straps from the yard of elastic: 1 piece 11" long for the flap strap and 4 pieces 5¾" long for corner straps. Super-glue the cut edges to keep them from unraveling.

6. Sew the straps to the backing plate with black nylon thread, stitching through the holes you drilled. Make about 25 stitches for each end. Start with the flap strap and then sew the corner straps over it (Figure A).

7. Put the glued-together foam on the plate. Make sure your e-reader fits under the corner straps with the foam in place. It should fit securely, but not be difficult to secure. If needed, re-cut the straps and re-sew them.

8. Remove the e-reader and stick a pencil through the ¼" hole from the back to mark the foam. Remove the foam and use the X-Acto knife to cut out a 1"-diameter circle around your mark.

Hot-glue the foam to the plate, centering it over the ¼" hole and aligning the edges flush.

9. Attach the quick release plate to the backing plate, fastening the wing nut through the hole you cut in the foam (Figure B).

10. Check the placement of the quick release plate in relation to the monopod’s ball head. It should click in and out easily, in approximately the orientation you’ll primarily be using it. (You’ll make fine adjustments later, using the ball head.)

11. When the quick release is in the right position and the wing nut is tight, use snips to cut off the wings.

12. Glue the 2mm piece of foam over the other 2 pieces, covering the hole with the wing nut.

13. Cut the double-sided velcro in half, making 2 straps. Secure the e-reader in the holder (Figure C), attach the quick release to the monopod, and then use the double-sided velcro to attach the Stickstand to a table or chair.

David Wheeler

Tara Wheeler owns a full-sized TARDIS prop, knits Doctor Who scarves continuously, tinkers with her website, wittylittleknitter.com, and loves, loves, loves her iPad.