LCD projectors have become the favored way to watch television and movies in a home media room. A projection screen brings you the best possible picture from your LCD projector. Fastening the projection screen to a wall that is framed with metal studs is similar to the installation process of a wood framed wall. Although the technique for hanging the screen is similar, the hardware required is not. The metal studs rarely land on the corner locations of the projector screen. Fabricating a projection screen mounting bracket will allow you to mount the screen in the optimal position.
Instructions
1. Prep the 1 inch by 6 inch piece of pine. Open the wood primer by prying on the lid with the flat head screwdriver. Stir the primer thoroughly. Apply an even coat of primer to all sides of the board. Clean the paint brush. Let the board dry while you proceed to the next step.
2. Determine the height at which the projection screen will be mounted. The bottom of the projection screen should be mounted between 24 and 40 inches from the floor and there should also be an open area of no less than 6 inches between the projection screen and the ceiling. Measure from the floor. Place a mark at the appropriate height. Find the center of the wall by measuring the wall's length and dividing it by two. Place a pencil mark at the wall's center. Extend the centerline up the wall with the four-foot level.
3. Measure and mark half of the screen width on either side of the wall's centerline. Extend the lines up to the projection screen's mounting height. Use the stud finder to locate the studs within the projector screen area. Place a pencil mark at each stud location. If there is no stud located close to the end of the projection screen, find the first stud past the projection screen location. Cut the 1 inch by 6 inch pine board to the length of the farthest studs, plus 2 inches.
4. Place marks 1 inch in from each end of the pine board and then place a mark for each stud location. Mark the center of the pine board at each stud pencil mark. Drill an 1/8th inch hole at the point where the board centerline mark crosses the stud marks.
5. Hold the pine board on the wall with the corner of the board 1 inch past the studs furthest from the center of the projection screen and the top edge of the board 1 inch above the projection screen height. Insert a screw through one of the 1/8th inch holes located at the end of the pine board. Place the four-foot level on the top of the pine board. When the board is level, insert a screw in the next hole over. Continue to screw the board to the wall at each stud location.
6. Fill the screw holes with wood putty. After the wood putty has hardened, sand it even with the surface of the pine board. Paint the mounted pine board with your chosen paint color.
7. Mount the projection screen to the pine board mounting bracket using the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Tags: projection screen, pine board, each stud, each stud location, pencil mark