Make a $2 Adjustable Smartphone Car Mount in 10 minutes

Step 5Fashion a Cradle For Your Device

Fashion a Cradle For Your Device
This is where the plastic coated wire comes in.  If you don't like your device for some reason feel free to use regular galvanized wire, old hack saw blades or any other bendable material you have lying around.  Or you can put shrink tube on regular wire.  The plastic coating is just there to keep your phone pretty instead of all getting all scratched up when you put it in the mount.

Cut an18"-24" piece of wire and, using the pliers, fashion a suitable cradle for your device.  
This may require a little experimenting to get something that works best for you.
I wanted a minimal but secure hold that left all the buttons and ports clear for ease of use and charging so I ended up with this "loops on opposing corners" approach.  It looks funky but is incredibly sturdy and easy to use.  I can swing it around my head without any fear of the iPhone flying to it's death.  The phone also snaps easily in and out very quickly.

The whole thing is cleaner and sturdier if you can manage to make it out a single piece of wire.

Once you have the gripping part sorted out, DO NOT CLIP the excess wire.  Form the excess wire into a a downward pointing "tail" that fits snugly into the open tube end of the previously assembled PVC nipple.  To make a snug fit, fold the wire a couple times with a bit of "spring".  The plastic coating will also help it grip in the tube.  If you can manage to get both ends of the wire in this tail - all the better as there will be nothing poky or scratchy to harm you or your device.  If you can't get both ends into the tail then tightly curl and crimp the errant end with your pliers and tuck it somewhere out of sight.

Push the cradle tail firmly into the open end of the PVC nipple and assembly is complete.  
Test fit your device in the cradle and swing it around to see if you are satisfied with it's sturdiness.

Alternately - if you already have some kind of holster or other commercial cradle device feel free to use that instead of making your own from wire.  Or heat form thick plastic sheets/carve from wood/any other craft you have skills to utilize.  Fashion an appropriate way to attach it to the nipple tube.  Gravity is your friend.  So is friction.
Example: if you use a belt clip type holster already you may be able to just slip the clip into the nipple tube or put a small wire loop on the end of the nipple that can hold the clip.

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1 comment
Jan 21, 2010. 1:38 PMfirehiker says:
don't use hack saw blades. they are NOT flexible!
I may try this when my suction mount finally gives out!
=)

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Author:niftycurly