Nandan Nair

In our freshman seminar class, we have one term in which we cover the trades (plumbing, welding, automotive, etc.), and get a first hand experience in these fields. Just recently, I finished the class on carpentry, or woodwork. The teacher told us what the carpenters do, and what you could do if you become a certified carpenter and make a lot of money – an extra incentive. As a part of the class, we got to do some carpentry of our own – we made our own phone stand, with a hole at the bottom for the charger, and the ability to make it adjustable.

We started out by cutting one 8 inch long piece of wood for the base and sanded the sides to make it smooth. Then we used a sawing machine to cut wedges in the base, one on the front and another on the back. We then cut another 5 inch long piece of wood. This piece was used to hold the base up. Then we attached another small piece on the front with a hole for the charging wire in the middle. This would hold the phone. We finished it off by applying a layer of sealant all across the pieces, and let them dry for a day. The next day, we had a finished phone stand – a robust one and useful too. It is sturdy enough to hold an iPad as well.