First: Sorry fo the long text!
It's funny that this topic is so topical again right now.
Here is my "phone holder history".
In 2014, I made some small changes to Gandalf in preparation for our trip through Norway.
I have posted photos in my "Norway-Travel-kit" thread.
My " “Norway Travel Kit #1-5" postingsAmong other things, I made a holder for my motorbike sat nav and my smartphone.
To be able to use both, I used an adapter system with click function. There were matching shells for various navigation devices and smartphones.
Here my (2014) Prototype V1:
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Proto_V1_seitl.jpeg)
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Proto_V1_Garmin-Frontal.jpeg)
With each new -and bigger- smartphone and because I wanted to use the smartphone not only vertically but also horizontally, I had to use new adapters and smartphone holders.
The holder looked very bad, but it worked. (See Prototype V3 below).
And when something works, I continue to use it until I find a better solution.
All these years I have been thinking about how to make a new holder and cover it completely with vinyl.
Because I only use an older smartphone as a navigation device in the meantime, I thought about creating a delicate and unobtrusive holder only for a smartphones.
My new holder version should fulfil the following criteria:- It should match the look of my dashboard. That means be inconspicuous and not look like a foreign body, as it should normally remain mounted almost all the time.
Among other things, it should be covered in vinyl to match my dashboard.
- Be quick to fit/remove without any changes to the dashboard.
- Not cause any damage to the dashboard.
- Be optimally adjustable to ensure a good view of the smartphone and the instruments.
Since I sell motorbike parts (including smartphone holders for motorbikes), I have always thought about how I could convert a motorbike holder.
Last month, a supplier offered me a magnetic holder.
I used it for my current version.
Here is the result:![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Ruheposit_frontal.jpeg)
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Ruheposit.jpeg)
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Arbeitspod_Fahrer.jpeg)
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Sams_Quer.jpeg)
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Sams_Hochk.jpeg)
The magnetic holder can be rotated 230 degrees on the clip and can be adjusted to many positions.
The clip is so thin that it can be spread a little for mounting, but it is still very tight. This helps me avoid scratches when mounting it on the dashboard. In addition, the inside is covered with foam.
I made the clip from a plastic part that I heatet in several steps/ sections and then I have adapted to the shape of the dashboard.
The smartphone is held in place with the enclosed metal plate (glue it on directly or stick it onto a small backcover).
It takes many hours to make this small part but I am satisfied.
![[Linked Image]](https://tm-img.com/images/2023/05/05/Phone_Gesamtubersicht185cecd263cd24aa.jpeg)
Last week, a German customer asked me to make him a holder too.
I hoped that the 2nd holder could be made faster. I was wrong!
Many, many small steps are necessary and unfortunately I had to learn that the smallest mistake makes the whole work ripe for the bin....