Building a pass-through book and cookbook stand

Difficulty: easy. Time: 10 minutes design, 30 minutes making. Best method: laser-cut plywood.

A book holder is a satisfying quick build: two triangular sides and three boards that pass straight through matching slots, so there are no fiddly finger joints to fit. The angled rest board holds a book or tablet at a comfortable reading angle, the front ledge stops the pages sliding off, and the bottom stretcher keeps everything square. The Assembled 3D tab shows the stand in place so you can judge the angle and footprint before spending a sheet.

Open the Book Holder Generator

What You'll Need

Laser cutting: 3 to 6 mm plywood or MDF. Measure the actual sheet thickness with calipers, it is rarely exactly 3 mm.
3D printing: any rigid filament. 4 to 6 mm panels give the slots enough grip.
Glue (optional): a dab of PVA in each slot if you want a permanent stand rather than a flat-pack one.

Step 1 - Stand size

Width is how wide the boards run, so pick something a little wider than your books. Base depth sets the footprint and Back height sets how tall the sides stand. Thickness must match your sheet, because every slot is cut to that width.

Step 2 - Ledge

Ledge height controls how tall the front lip is, which is what keeps the book from sliding off the rest.
A taller ledge holds heavier cookbooks; a shorter one gives an easier page turn.

Step 3 - Check the assembly

Switch to the Assembled 3D tab and orbit the stand to check the reading angle and that the boards reach across both sides. The Export Preview tab shows the flat sheet with each panel in its own colour.

Choose Your Build Method

Before you cut

Measure your sheet with calipers and set Thickness to what you measured, not what the label says.
Cut the slots before the outlines where your software lets you choose, so panels do not shift once they are free.
Run a fit test first: cut one side and the rest board, and check the board slides through the slot with light hand pressure.

Assemble

Slide the bottom stretcher through both sides first to set the spacing.
Add the angled rest board, then the front ledge near the base.
If you want it permanent, add a little glue in each slot before the final push; otherwise leave it as a flat-pack stand.

Make It Yours

Engrave a recipe title or a name on the triangular sides before cutting.
Round the front top corners of the sides for a softer look.
Widen the boards for large art books, or narrow them for a compact tablet stand.

Open the Book Holder Generator

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