Live Edge Headphone Stand

I wanted to make a headphone stand that went next to my computer. Bad jokes aside — ever since I started making videos I've been using my headphones a lot when I edit. I scoured the internet for ideas but didn't find anything that I absolutely loved. So this is the headphone stand that I came up with. I drew it out in CAD, and transferred it to a plywood template. Here's a link to the template that I used on my website.

The headphone stand is made from black walnut, and the base has a live edge at the front. I used bridal joints for the top because I like the way the grain change looks when it's shaped. And I used a mortise and tenon to join the stem to the base so it was strong, and the joinery was hidden.

If you're interested, here's a video showing you how I made this thing.

Step 1: Watch the Video

Watch the video I uploaded to my YouTube woodworking channel showing you how I built this headphone stand. So you have a good idea of just how I built it.

Step 2: Cross Cut Your Pieces to Length.

I cross cut my workpiece to length on the table saw with the table saw sled. I cut them a little long because they would be trimmed to final length later.

Step 3: Rip Your Pieces to Width.

Then I ripped my workpieces to their rough width on the table saw.

Step 4: Create Your Bridal Joint for the Top Joinery.

Then I created the male and female parts of a bridal joint using a perpendicular fence on my table saw sled. There are other ways to do this, of course.

Step 5: Then I Cut My Tenons.

I used the same perpendicular fence to cut the tenons on the base of the stem.

Step 6: Finish Up the Tenons.

Then I used a hand saw to finish up the tenons. A keen eye will probably notice my little boo-boo on the top right of the tenon. I won't tell anyone if you don't.

Step 7: Glue Up the Top Half.

Then I glued up the bridal joints and applied clamping pressure. I made sure they were tight and didn't care much about them being square because the template is out of square.

Step 8: The Template.

I transferred my template to a piece of 1/4" plywood. You can find a link to the template here.

Step 9: Rough Cut the Template.

I applied the template to the workpiece with double sided tape, and then rough cut around it on the band saw. I tried to stay away from the template about 1/8". This leaves less material for the flush trim bit to remove once we move over to the router lift.

Step 10: Flush Trim Your Headphone Stand.

Then I used a flush trim bit on the router to finish the shaping of the template. If you look close, you can see how that bearing rides the template, and makes an exact cutout on the workpiece.

Step 11: Layout and Cut Your Mortise.

I then laid out and cut my mortise. I hollowed it out on the drill press to remove the bulk of the material. And then finished it up with a very sharp chisel.

Step 12: Glue Up the Mortise and Tenon.

I then glued up the mortise and tenon, attaching the stem to the base. I took extra care not to get any glue on the workpiece. Squeeze out stops the finish from penetrating, and you get phantom light spots.

Step 13: I Sanded Up to 220 Grit.

I started at 150 grit, and worked my way up to 220 grit sand paper.

And I sanded, and sanded, and sanded.

Step 14: And Then I Applied the Finish.

I used four coats of General Finished Arm-R-Seal, sanding with 1,000 grit sandpaper in between each coat. I love that stuff.

Step 15: And You're Done!

And we're done with the headphone stands (I made a second for my father-in-law.)! Thanks for checking this one out, and let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks again, and I'll see you on the next one.

— Adam