Recent posts have been about experiments or jigs or tools so, to make a change, here’s a folding book (or music) stand in pippy English oak.
I’ve made quite a few of these in various woods and various sizes. After the curves of violins and guitars, it’s a pleasure to make something based on a right angle. They make good presents for musicians and bibliophiles. And people who like to cook find them useful for holding recipe books open.
The arms that hold the pages open are in bog oak…
… and so are the dowels which act as hinges for the frame that props the stand open.
Here are a couple more. The one on the left is is sycamore, with page holding arms and dowels of laburnum.
The construction is fairly straightforward. The only tricky bits are in making a neat job where the arms that keep the book open fit into the bottom ledge and in constructing the curved stretcher of the frame that allows the stand to fold up when not in use. I’d be happy to give more details if anyone is interested.
Finely Strung 
2 Comments
Hello! Would you please let me know the measurement details you used in building the wooden book stands? I plan on making my own set for my heavier books. Your work looks really nice and sturdy! Thank you!
Perhaps you’d be a bit more precise about the measurements that you’re after. As I said in the post, they come in a variety of sizes and a variety of woods. Generally the footprint is around 9 by 14 inches. The bookrest itself is mortice and tenon construction out of half by one and a half inch strips, with a foot glued on to support the book. The base is from half by two inch strips. The construction is pretty straightforward. The only tricky bits are the curved stretcher that links the props together and the two gizmos that pop up to keep the pages from turning. And, if you don’t want the holes for the dowel hinges to be visible from the outside, you have to drill them before assembly.
I’d advise making a working drawing before you start because, although it’s largely straightforward mortice and tenon joinery, the visual and tactile appeal of these stands (at least in my view) depends on everything fitting together accurately whether the stand is upright or folded.