Quick shop upgrade. I’ve been looking for a solution to mount my phone while I work in the shop. I use it to play music, as a calculator, or to watch videos. Side note: right now I’m really digging Adam Savage’s new One Day Builds. He’s kind of like my virtual shop buddy, it’s great to have playing in the background. I was debating about 3D printing something, but I didn’t find any models I liked, and I wanted to avoid designing anything custom so I could focus on completing my current projects.

I already had a phone mount that used a 1/4-20 (standard camera mount) so I just needed to figure out how to mount it in the shop. While browsing on Amazon, I happened to come across several camera cheese plate mounts. I’ve never heard of them before, but it’s essentially it’s a plate or bar with many 1/4-20 threaded holes to mount various things such as microphones, lighting…etc.. I’m guessing the name comes the similarity to Swiss cheese 😁. Anyways, inspired from that, I decided to add a 1/4-20 threaded insert to my cabinet door so I had the flexibility to add other attachments in the future. I choose the bottom corner of the door as it’s roughly at eye level and would be supported by door hinge.

Supplies

• 1/4-20 threaded inserts*
• 1/4-20 phone mount*
• Neewer Mini Multi-Function Double Ball Head

Instructions

1. Drill a pilot hole for the 1/4-20 threaded insert.
2. Install the 1/4-20 thread inserted with the supplied Allen key, or create your own tool with a 1/4-20 bolt and two nuts.
3. Install the double ball head mount or mount of your choice.
4. Install the phone mount.

Notes

• Make sure you have appropriate clearance when the cabinet door is opened.
• Consider counter sinking with a forstner bit so the threaded insert sits flush against the panel.
• *Double check the thickness of your cabinet door and the depth of the threaded insert. My cabinet door frames are 1″ thick. They were made from 2x4s to support a magnetic whiteboard for the door panel.
• * The Amazon link for the 1/4-20 phone mount is different than the one I own. They’re very similar and both have 1/4-20 female threads to support multiple orientations.