Keep Your Gaming Gear Tidy With This Video Game Controller Stand

Rough-cut the lumber

Plane down enough walnut to 1/2-in. for the tops of the bottom two tiers (A) and the mounting board (E).

At the miter saw, rough-cut the wood for all three sections. I advise cutting the pieces on the cut list a 1/2-in. longer in both directions to allow for wood shifting while clamped and gluing. This excess gives you room to cut off any edges perfectly flush after the glue dries.

Glue together the controller tiers

To create the first and second tiers that will hold the controllers, glue and clamp the walnut tops (A) to the ash bottoms (B). Even though these pieces are oversized, do your best to keep the pieces aligned when gluing.  Use enough glue to create squeeze-out along all the edges.  This will join the two pieces seamlessly without a gap. Secure with clamps and set them aside to dry.

Glue up the headset holder

This piece is made from three pieces of wood glued together. Sandwich a piece of ash (D) between pieces of walnut (C) on either side. Once again, do your best to keep the rough cut pieces aligned as they’re being glued up. Once the headset holder is made, the orientation of these pieces will be vertical. The base of this tier will be added after all the edges have been rounded over.

Draw and cut the arch

Using your headset, trace the arch of the top section, made from sandwiched ash (D) and walnut (C) pieces. To perfect the arch shape, use a circle compass and pencil, then cut the arch with a bandsaw.

When cutting on the band saw, be sure to cut slightly outside your drawn line to preserve the desired shape and avoid removing too much material. Later, you will use a sander to refine the shape.

Trim the edges of all three sections to size

Glued pieces of wood rarely dry perfectly flush and will require a bit of cleanup when the glue has dried. Use the miter saw and band saw to flush cut all four side of your glued up sections to the final dimension listed in the cutlist above.

Sand off the kerf marks

It is inevitable that you’ll get saw kerf marks on all three pieces from cleaning up and flushing out the edges on both the miter and band saw. Use a sander to remove these marks. A spindle sander or belt sander will be most suitable for this task; however, a hand sander can also be used. Start with 120-grit sandpaper and work up to 220-grit. This is where you will smooth out your arch by sanding down to the outline.

Round over the edges for all pieces

Once you have sanded off the saw marks, use a router with a 1/4-in. round-over bit to round-over all edges along the top and bottom of the first tier, second tier, and top arched headset tier. You will also round-over both sides of the two long edges on the base of the top headset holder (E). This piece was added to accommodate the dimensions of the flange and tie the design to the first and second tiers.

The edges can be rounded over using a router table. In the absence of a router table, be sure to clamp your workpiece to your bench for safety.

Drill holes for the handle

In the first and second tiers, drill holes with a 1-in. Forstner bit to serve as catches for the controllers’ handles.  Use the actual controller you plan to store on each tier to determine hole placement. For this project, the holes were drilled 1-1/2-in. in from the front and sides and 3/4-in. deep.

Secure the mounting board to the arched top section

Join the mounting board (E) to the arched section using wood glue and 23-gauge nails. This piece will accommodate the flange’s width, so it doesn’t protrude from the bottom of the piece.

Pre-drill pilot holes for flanges

This video game controller stand requires pipe flanges to be installed on top of the bottom tier (A), both the top (A) and bottom (B) side of the middle tier, and the bottom mounting board (E) of the arched top tier. Center the flange on each face and 1/4-in. in from the back edge. Mark and pre-drill holes with a 1/8-in. drill bit deep enough to seat the 1-in. screws easily.

Apply walnut oil finish

Before connecting the flanges and pipes, oil all sections with Walnut oil or the finish of your choice. Let it fully dry before proceeding.

Assemble the controller holder

When installing screws into hardwood species such as these, it is crucial not to use a drill.  A drill may have too much force and snap the heads off the screws. To prevent snapping the heads of the screws, always screw in by hand using a screwdriver. Use a screwdriver and 1-in. screws to secure the flanges to their tiers through the predrilled pilot holes. Once the flanges have been attached to all tiers, connect the tiers by threading the pipe lengths between the flanges. Use the 6-in. pipe to connect the bottom and middle tiers, and the 4-in. pipe to connect the middle tier to the top arched tier.

FAQ

What is the best way to store my controllers and headset?

Keeping your controllers and headset in a cool, dry, dark place is the best option.  Consider using a dedicated storage caddy to prevent misplacing or damaging your controllers and headset. To preserve the internal electronics of your gaming equipment, avoid high humidity and extreme temperatures.  Direct sunlight may also cause plastic to crack and damage over time.

Are all gaming controllers the same size?

Gaming controllers are not all the same size. Manufacturers aim for a universal size and fit, but the spacing of buttons, the shape of the grips, and the weight will vary.  You will also find smaller controllers geared for children.  Pricing also varies widely by controller and headset.

The post Keep Your Gaming Gear Tidy With This Video Game Controller Stand appeared first on Family Handyman.

Article source here: Keep Your Gaming Gear Tidy With This Video Game Controller Stand