Projector mounting problems

[Khai]

Hi,

I'm looking at buying a Panasonic AE300 or AE500 but have a slight problem. I can't ceiling mount the projector as I have no idea where the ceiling joists are and this is a rented property stopping me from looking. So rather than do this, I've had the idea to mount it on a ridiculous looking shelf. This shelf would only need to be as wide as the projector but it would need to be about 80cm deep (to bring it closer to the screen wall).

My question is ... how should I make this shelf? I'm looking to this as cheaply as possible. My worry is that with a shelf that long supporting a few kilos on the end could quite easily come unstable so any ideas on stablising it would be appreciated.

Cheers, Khai

 

[ibster]

i use a tripod, which does the job and can be easily put away, unless you are going to be using it all the time in which case it mate be more hassle then its worth.

 

[aarons]

have a look in ikea i have my 100e in one of their cabinets worked out at right height and has an up and over door

 

[Khai]

Umm, tripod would work but I wouldn't want to set it up every time I want to watch a film. The cabinet idea is probably too costly and not really suitable. There are two seats against the wall where the projector would be mounted so I couldn't really have a cabinet there.

 

[Kramer]

It might be worth browsing the DIY forum for info on shelving etc...

 

[dek1965]

wall speaker bracket will do the trick, cheap as chips 2 boot

 

[Khai]

A wall speaker bracket will not purtrude far enough ...

I want to place the projector on the end of a shelf which pertrudes 80-100cm from the wall. This shelf only needs to be wide enough for me to mount the projector. So basically a big springboard looking thing from my wall sturdy enough to support the weight of the projector without bending or collapsing. My concern is the weight on the end of such a deep shelf as well as the shelf itself so it's gonna require a sturdy fixing of some sort. I was thinking of maybe a couple of shelf brackets to hold it up and some sort of support from two cables from the top but can anyone suggest something a bit easier? I'm thinking I can do this very very cheaply but need advice on the parts to get to do this.

I know that a springboard will look kinda silly but this is only temporary (ish) ....

Cheers, Khai

 

[Khai]

Right, I've got some measurements now which hopefully might encourage a useful suggestion or two ...

This is in a small area of my bedroom but the wall I want to mount my projector off to the screen is 3.88m. The wall it is projecting onto pertrudes slightly (part of a chimney sort of like ___[[[[[[[[[]]]]]]]]]]]____ this crude crude diagram). This section is only 1.77m wide. Like I said before, I can't ceiling mount this. I don't want to put it on a coffee table or tripod either ... it'll get in the way. The seating position will be next to the back wall beneath the projector. According to Projector Central I'll have to get the projector (AE300) 2.77m away from the projected wall to get a screen width of 1.70m on this wall leaving 7cm for a slight black border. This means my shelf will have to be in fact 1.11m deep and as wide as the projector. Any ideas for materials to use and how to secure that kind of weight that far away from the wall?

Any comments/suggestions appreciated, cheers, Khai

 

[TheBigApple]

I'd go for ceiling mounting the PJ.

If you want to do it on the cheap buy a CCTV camera bracket such as one of these.

http://www.vista-cctv.com/hardware_cb.htm

Fix it to the ceiling with toggle bolt as below.

http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=15328&ts=34751

The projector has a threaded hole in the middle which should then screw onto the bracket. Don't worry about the projector falling down as it's not that heavy. My mates AE300 has been up for about 6 months now.

When you come to leave the rented property all you have to do is remove the bracket and fill the 10mm holes that are left behind.

 

[Khai]

OK, I don't know much about DIY but this has to be done cheaply ... If I was to go for this approach monkeyboy then would I need to find the joists in the ceiling? Are ceilings made out of plasterboard? If I didn't hit a joist is this thing gonna stay up OK?

Cheers, it's a nice cheap idea that should do the job, Khai

 

[TheBigApple]

Yes ceilings are generaly made from plasterboard, but that's what the togglebolts are designed for. When you mark the position of the fixing holes try poking a small screwdriver through the plasterboard first. If you hit a joist use a regular screw, if you hit nothing unse the toggle bolt.

As I said my freinds AE300 has been fixed this way for 6 months with no problems.

 

[zoolap]

it would be great if somone had a step-by-step picture guide for ceiling mounting - i think maybe i'll have a looksie in the DIY forum

 

[Seahorse]

There are two simple methods for finding ceiling joists.

1. If the ceiling is smooth - use a stud detector available from B&Q etc for about a tenner.

2. Artexed ceilings or plain cheap method - use the ball end of a hammer and gently tap in a line across the ceiling. The change in density over joists is obvious. Done with care this leave no marks or dimples in the plasterbaord.

I used method 2 as the ceiling is Artexed here...

 

[Khai]

I have to say I'm not quite sure what artex is. Perhaps I should put up a guide to ceiling mounting from scratch ... I know practicically nothing of DIY. I was pretty much set to get a CCTV bracket until i realised it won't drop far enough (high ceilings) so I'm now thinking about getting a Sanyo Z2 instead especially since I've found out they're 145000 yen from Japan (about £715 quid at today's exchange rate)!

Anyway, my question is where can I get one of those CCTV brackets from?

Cheers, Khai

 

[Seahorse]

A plain, flat, smooth (insert description) ceiling is not Artexed. One with a stipple, textured or combed pattern is...