How to Create a Bedside Charging Station for iPhone/iPad

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create a bedside charging station for iPhone/iPad

How to Create a Bedside Charging Station for iPhone/iPad

I wanted to create a gentleman's electronic valet next to my bedside for all my gear. I am very pleased with the finial design. It will charge my iPhone , ear piece, bluetooth keyboard and iPad.

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Step 1 of 33
Mark  your pattern, set it up on the drill press and get comfortable. Check your depth don't go too deep.

Mark your pattern, set it up on the drill press and get comfortable. Check your depth don't go too deep.

Step 2 of 33
Drill and drill some more. Set the depth so it doesn't go alway through.

Drill and drill some more. Set the depth so it doesn't go alway through.

Step 3 of 33
You can use your router to knock out some of the wood that you couldn't drill

You can use your router to knock out some of the wood that you couldn't drill

Step 4 of 33
Wow thats a lot of holes.

Wow thats a lot of holes.

Step 5 of 33
Lots of drills and used the router to get the rest of the wood cleaned out. It is starting to look like a square bowl. Use Blue tape to protect the edges.

Lots of drills and used the router to get the rest of the wood cleaned out. It is starting to look like a square bowl. Use Blue tape to protect the edges.

Step 6 of 33
The wood made lots of red dust, it was all over me, my glasses and the shop. Wear eye and nose protection.

The wood made lots of red dust, it was all over me, my glasses and the shop. Wear eye and nose protection.

Step 7 of 33
Dust field from MARS.

Dust field from MARS.

Step 8 of 33
My arm after router work, yikes.

My arm after router work, yikes.

Step 9 of 33
Okay the gentleman's valet is starting to take shape after some sanding. Note beautiful wood grain.

Okay the gentleman's valet is starting to take shape after some sanding. Note beautiful wood grain.

Step 10 of 33
Final assembly,good idea to clean up the dust before you get to danish oil and get dust on the fake leather.

Final assembly,good idea to clean up the dust before you get to danish oil and get dust on the fake leather.

Step 11 of 33
Found the back plate to a picture frame and started to trim to fit. Take off with knife or scissors. Take a little bit at a time, you can't add it back once it's gone.

Found the back plate to a picture frame and started to trim to fit. Take off with knife or scissors. Take a little bit at a time, you can't add it back once it's gone.

Step 12 of 33
Starting to take shape, cardboard laying on fleather ready for next steps.

Starting to take shape, cardboard laying on fleather ready for next steps.

Step 13 of 33
Fold over leather or felt your choice.

Fold over leather or felt your choice.

Step 14 of 33
Trim the corners with scissors.

Trim the corners with scissors.

Step 15 of 33
Add spray adhesive to back of felt and fold over and press firmly, you can add some weight to hold it down.

Add spray adhesive to back of felt and fold over and press firmly, you can add some weight to hold it down.

Step 16 of 33
Found some plastic spacers to keep the card board level and give room for all the charger wires have room. You could use wood block if you need.

Found some plastic spacers to keep the card board level and give room for all the charger wires have room. You could use wood block if you need.

Step 17 of 33
After the adhesive on the board has dried add hot glue gun to fold over the corners. Don't worry this is all on the underside and is not seen.

After the adhesive on the board has dried add hot glue gun to fold over the corners. Don't worry this is all on the underside and is not seen.

Step 18 of 33
Try not to glue your thumb, it's really hot.

Try not to glue your thumb, it's really hot.

Step 19 of 33
Okay measure thee times and drill your hole for all the chargers to run thru. I suggest go out the back but you could go out the bottom. Don't make the hole too big, say usb plug size.

Okay measure thee times and drill your hole for all the chargers to run thru. I suggest go out the back but you could go out the bottom. Don't make the hole too big, say usb plug size.

Step 20 of 33
Inside view of charger hole.

Inside view of charger hole.

Step 21 of 33
I see the light.

I see the light.

Step 22 of 33
I have run the various cords for a test fit. Make sure they can move smoothly and don't bind.

I have run the various cords for a test fit. Make sure they can move smoothly and don't bind.

Step 23 of 33
Use a zip tie to manage the cables don't over tighten.

Use a zip tie to manage the cables don't over tighten.

Step 24 of 33
Cables secure and spacers hot glued in, almost ready for the leather top.

Cables secure and spacers hot glued in, almost ready for the leather top.

Step 25 of 33
Add a few sticky pads to protect your furniture and to keep your valet sturdy. Add the leather piece to the top.

Add a few sticky pads to protect your furniture and to keep your valet sturdy. Add the leather piece to the top.

Step 26 of 33
Test fit, Move cables and devices around to fit to your likening.Note depth of leather board.

Test fit, Move cables and devices around to fit to your likening.Note depth of leather board.

Step 27 of 33
Looking better, holds iPhone charger, ear piece charger, iPad charger, and blue tooth keyboard charger.

Looking better, holds iPhone charger, ear piece charger, iPad charger, and blue tooth keyboard charger.

Step 28 of 33
Pretty cool gentleman's electronic valet ready for action.

Pretty cool gentleman's electronic valet ready for action.

Step 29 of 33
You can extend cables for iPad charger or you can tuck them away if they are not needed.

You can extend cables for iPad charger or you can tuck them away if they are not needed.

Step 30 of 33
Check out my other Snapguide for iPad natural speaker amplifier.

Check out my other Snapguide for iPad natural speaker amplifier.

Step 31 of 33
It will work with your iPhone and increase speaker volume with no extra electronics. I gained 25 db with the cave underneath bouncing the sound.

It will work with your iPhone and increase speaker volume with no extra electronics. I gained 25 db with the cave underneath bouncing the sound.

Step 32 of 33
The electronic valet chargers all my devices, holds my wallet and a small flashlight.

The electronic valet chargers all my devices, holds my wallet and a small flashlight.

Step 33 of 33
Looks great, works great, makes me feel organized at night and wake up ready to go because I can find all my stuff. Pretty cool.

Looks great, works great, makes me feel organized at night and wake up ready to go because I can find all my stuff. Pretty cool.

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22 Comments
Supplies

Block of Exotic wood

Drill press

drill bit

router and bit

Dremel

sanding disk

sand paper

danish oil

card board

leather or pleather

hot glue gun

spray adhesive

hot glue gun

Csir Em

Very nice!

Csir Em 3 months ago

Keith Ingram

Thanks Earl

(author) 4 months ago

Earl Barker

Or at least place this on Etsy. It looks awesome!

Earl Barker 4 months ago

Carter Krummrich

Thanks!

Carter Krummrich 4 months ago

Martin Storbeck

You should definitely put it on the market, maybe try kickstarter, ask for a ridiculous sum of money so you can buy yourself some time and more tools and get it out there. I would buy one. As many others I'm missing the tools for doing this on my own, though I have my 40th guide coming up, most of them are about remaking your home. But this is a different league. Thanks for sharing!

Martin Storbeck 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

8 inches all around and you can order from Woodcraft.com good luck

(author) 4 months ago

Carter Krummrich

That valet is perfect. Very Cool. Could you share the dimensions on that block? Also, where's the best place to get exotic wood like that in block form?

Carter Krummrich 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

Thanks for the kind words Frank and Christina

(author) 4 months ago

Christina Sommers

Nice! U should market this product- not everyone has woodworking tools.

Christina Sommers 4 months ago

Frank Lee

Very nice

Frank Lee 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

Madison, what do you suggest? Do you have IPhone or iPad? Give me a suggestion:)

(author) 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

So far Madison only wood

(author) 4 months ago

Lau Hal

Very, very nice! Clever man.

Lau Hal 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

Thanks Alyson😃

(author) 4 months ago

Alyson Hames

Also, I want one. :D

Alyson Hames 4 months ago

Alyson Hames

You'd make some good money if you made this stuff for other people on Etsy.

Alyson Hames 4 months ago

Alejandro Balderas

Nice and easy!!!

Alejandro Balderas 4 months ago

Sandra Wåhlander

This is so nice, wish i had supplies to make it myself :)

Sandra Wåhlander 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

Thanks Russ it is good therapy to work with wood.

(author) 4 months ago

SE Russ

Nice! Love woodworking.

SE Russ 4 months ago

Keith Ingram

Thanks Ryan it's harder to remember to take pictures than do the project. I'm really a beginner.

(author) 4 months ago

Ryan Clark

these are such great guides!! I will definitely make all of these whenever I have the time! haha.

Ryan Clark 4 months ago

Jeff Meyer

Thanks, but you lost me at drill press.

Jeff Meyer 3 months ago

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Heather W

Dude there are better ways to do this.

Heather W 3 months ago

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Ikram Choudhoury

Is that even an arm! LOL

Ikram Choudhoury 4 months ago

Thomas Strembitsky

What species of wood is this?

Thomas Strembitsky 4 months ago

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Carlton Mamo

That's like really cool 😃

Carlton Mamo 3 months ago

Hamada Elmulonji

Nice!

Hamada Elmulonji 3 months ago

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