Wooden IPad Tripod Mount

I just build a simple wooden iPad tripod mount, so that I would be able to use my iPad during those long trainer rides. I already had a cheap tripod, so the total costs were less then $15 and it took me less than 2 hours (not including the time to let the glue dry) I guess, plywood and any other kind of threaded plate would work equally well. The measurement I used were for a black iPad 2, so you might have to adjust if you are using a white one…. just kidding, but seriously measure if you have a different tablet. Please read everything first before you start, - yes including the 'additional remarks' ;-)

Tools required:
pen, paper, ruler,  saw,  wood glue,  file,  sandpaper

Materials required:
handy panel or plywood ~ 20 x 20 inches, 6 mm thickness
clamp with 1/4 inch thread (~$4) and holes for mounting,
screws to attach the clamp to the mount shorter than the panel thickness

Optional materials:
4 screws for building the frame - see pictures, drill to drill hole for the back camera of the ipad, paint

Step 1:
Cut one base plate 30 cm x 21 cm, cut 4 pieces of 21 cm x 2.5 cm wooden stripes (2 additional if you want to use it with an ipad still in the case - this is what I did), and 2 or 3 pieces of 25 cm x 2.5 cm wooden stripes (these are the stripes to hold the ipad from the bottom, you can use shorter ones for better ventilation), and 2 pieces of 21 cm x 4 cm (These 2 pieces hold the ipad in place).

Step 2:
Lay out the sanded pieces on the base plate. Make sure the ipad fits in your construction, holding it tight without scratching it. Then take the ipad out and glue 2 or 3 pieces (if more depth is required to fit the ipad with a case on) of the 21 cm x 2.5 cm stripes on each sides (=4 pieces), the 2 or 3 pieces of the 25 cm x 2.5 cm wooden pieces on the bottom, then on both sides one 21 cm x 4 cm piece each.

Step 3:
After letting it dry, round the corners with the file or power tool, and sand it again. Turn it around and attach clamp in the middle of the back of the base plate.

Optional Step 4:
Add anti-scratch patches as seen on the pictures inside the mount - (I still had a few left from an Ikea shelf).

Step 5:
Then, screw in your camera mount base plate, hook it up to the tripod and slide in your iPad and you are ready to go!

Congratulations you did it!

Additional remarks:
Power tools like a router would have been awesome for this project. I took shorter stripes of wood to allow for holes for ventilation and the speaker. My construction allows to use the front camera and the home button without adjustment/drilling holes in the top wooden stripes. I did not add a hole for the back camera - feel free to drill any. I did not paint or treat the wood with anything, but I guess one could do that. I only use the ipad horizontally in the tripod - you probably have to make adjustments if you want to use it vertically.