LCD Projector Mount for Cheapish...
by bellinghammakerspace in Workshop > Home Theater
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LCD Projector Mount for Cheapish...
Want to mount your LCD projector to the ceiling? Don't want to spend $100 or more?
You will need:
1. LCD Projector
2. Generic speaker wall mount kit (internet, ebay, swap meet, hardware store... $3-$20. Usually have two in a kit)
3. Drill with assorted bits
4. Pop riveter with rivets or equivalent (Use long rivets 3/4"-1" long)
5. Really long computer monitor cable (www.pacificcable.com)
6. Plastic plate 1/4" thick +/- big enough to cover all the mounting holes on the bottom of your projector (hardware store or www.tapplastics.com... less than $1)
7. Screws 3/32" about 0.5" long (Special size to fit in the mounting holes in bottom of projector)
8. Screw driver with assorted screw bits (philips & hex head in a bunch of sizes)
9. 1/4" washers for rivets (1/4" hole... not the outside diameter)
You will need:
1. LCD Projector
2. Generic speaker wall mount kit (internet, ebay, swap meet, hardware store... $3-$20. Usually have two in a kit)
3. Drill with assorted bits
4. Pop riveter with rivets or equivalent (Use long rivets 3/4"-1" long)
5. Really long computer monitor cable (www.pacificcable.com)
6. Plastic plate 1/4" thick +/- big enough to cover all the mounting holes on the bottom of your projector (hardware store or www.tapplastics.com... less than $1)
7. Screws 3/32" about 0.5" long (Special size to fit in the mounting holes in bottom of projector)
8. Screw driver with assorted screw bits (philips & hex head in a bunch of sizes)
9. 1/4" washers for rivets (1/4" hole... not the outside diameter)
The Mount
Get a generic speaker wall mount kit. I have done this the metal and the plastic ones, both work just fine. You can get them online, ebay, or just about any hardware store for under $20
1. Take the speaker mount apart with hex head screwdriver bit.
1. Take the speaker mount apart with hex head screwdriver bit.
Plastic Plate
The plastic plate can be any type of plastic or synthetic piece. I used this really light plastic that is kinda like foam.
Line up the mount in the middle of the plate and mark the holes with a permanent pen.
Drill holes in the plastic plate that line up with the speaker mount... mounting holes.
Using a pop riveter attach the plastic plate to the speaker mount. You might have to use a small washer to give the rivet a good foundation to grip into. When you do the pop rivet you have to go from the bottom up... otherwise you might run the rivet into the projector later.
Line up the mount in the middle of the plate and mark the holes with a permanent pen.
Drill holes in the plastic plate that line up with the speaker mount... mounting holes.
Using a pop riveter attach the plastic plate to the speaker mount. You might have to use a small washer to give the rivet a good foundation to grip into. When you do the pop rivet you have to go from the bottom up... otherwise you might run the rivet into the projector later.
Plate to Projector
Mounting the plastic plate to the projector is the tricky part...
Once you have securely fastened the speaker mount to the plastic plate it's time to drill holes!
*(This part was inspired) take some unused rivets and put them in the mounting holes on the bottom of the projector.
Place the plastic plate... with the speaker mount facing up... on top of the rivets that are sticking up and give the plate a somewhat light tap
(this will force the rivets to make little indents in the plastic plate in the exact location you will need to drill the holes!)
Drill holes in the plate to access the mounting holes on the projector by drilling where the rivets made their little marks.
Set the plastic plate, with the speaker mount pointing up, on the bottom of the projector so the holes line up with the mounting holes on the projector.
Using the screws connect the mount and plate to the projector. *(Yes the projector is up-side-down)
*(if you projector weighs more than 10 lbs. you might consider using two speaker mounts. If you projector is more than 22 lbs. use something else!)
Once you have securely fastened the speaker mount to the plastic plate it's time to drill holes!
*(This part was inspired) take some unused rivets and put them in the mounting holes on the bottom of the projector.
Place the plastic plate... with the speaker mount facing up... on top of the rivets that are sticking up and give the plate a somewhat light tap
(this will force the rivets to make little indents in the plastic plate in the exact location you will need to drill the holes!)
Drill holes in the plate to access the mounting holes on the projector by drilling where the rivets made their little marks.
Set the plastic plate, with the speaker mount pointing up, on the bottom of the projector so the holes line up with the mounting holes on the projector.
Using the screws connect the mount and plate to the projector. *(Yes the projector is up-side-down)
*(if you projector weighs more than 10 lbs. you might consider using two speaker mounts. If you projector is more than 22 lbs. use something else!)
Mounting to Ceiling
In my case I am mounting to a steal beam that runs the length of my room. You may have a different set-up.
Steal beam:
1. Place other half of speaker mount in the desired location on ceiling and mark where the holes will go with a pen.
2. Drill holes in beam with bit that is same size at the rivets (1/4" and 1/4" in my case)
3. Hold speaker mount up to holes and use pop riveter to mount to beam.
Regular roof with wood beams:
1. Place other half of speaker mount in the desired location on ceiling and mark where the holes will go with a pen.
2. Using long wood screws (1.5"-2") mount to wood beam.
Steal beam:
1. Place other half of speaker mount in the desired location on ceiling and mark where the holes will go with a pen.
2. Drill holes in beam with bit that is same size at the rivets (1/4" and 1/4" in my case)
3. Hold speaker mount up to holes and use pop riveter to mount to beam.
Regular roof with wood beams:
1. Place other half of speaker mount in the desired location on ceiling and mark where the holes will go with a pen.
2. Using long wood screws (1.5"-2") mount to wood beam.
Putting It All Together
With screwdriver in hand (with right size hex bit) connect the two parts of the speaker mount together and tighten the little set screws. This is the tricky part and might really irritate you.
This is also the time you will loosen the middle nut and bolt to adjust the angle of the projector so it hits the wall or screen you want it to.
Make sure everything is adjusted right, tighten all the set screws.
Connect the power cord and connect to computer.
Once you have everything hooked up you will have to go into the settings for the projector and change it from regular to ceiling mount or inverted... so the image won't be up-side-down!
*(Note: Some projectors have a single input to connect to the computers monitor output. If this is the case you will need a video card to connect your projector and your monitor. Some laptops have both and don't need another video card. Some newer projectors take care of the video card dilemma by allowing you to run a monitor cord (D9 male to D9 male) from the computer to the back of the projector... then another cord (D0 male to D9 Male) from the back of the projector to the computer monitor)
*(Note: Don't drop projector. You might want to do this over a soft chair or a friend with fast reflexes)
This is also the time you will loosen the middle nut and bolt to adjust the angle of the projector so it hits the wall or screen you want it to.
Make sure everything is adjusted right, tighten all the set screws.
Connect the power cord and connect to computer.
Once you have everything hooked up you will have to go into the settings for the projector and change it from regular to ceiling mount or inverted... so the image won't be up-side-down!
*(Note: Some projectors have a single input to connect to the computers monitor output. If this is the case you will need a video card to connect your projector and your monitor. Some laptops have both and don't need another video card. Some newer projectors take care of the video card dilemma by allowing you to run a monitor cord (D9 male to D9 male) from the computer to the back of the projector... then another cord (D0 male to D9 Male) from the back of the projector to the computer monitor)
*(Note: Don't drop projector. You might want to do this over a soft chair or a friend with fast reflexes)