What's the best way to hang a fixed frame screen?

[nomad139]

Help!

I just spend over an hour trying to hang my DIY fixed frame screen in the proper position. Now I'm a frustrated & still don't have my screen mounted. :mad:

Any pointers on making this easy on myself when I try again tomorrow?

I mounted a 2x4 on the wall & was planning to hang the screen by the top frame to the 2x4, but I really didn't plan out the hardware to use & got stuck. :o

What should I have done here? Thanks!!!

[nomad139]

So many views but no suggestions yet?

Well, I did manage to get the screen into place by putting up another 2x4 above the one that was there & then drilling holes into it & using screws as if they were dowels (into the 2x4 & screwed into the screen frame.)

It's not pretty, but it does hold it in place well enough. I'll probably rethink it, but I wanted to get things going since the cable guy arrives tomorrow for HD service.

[vootkur]

So many views but no suggestions yet?

Well, I did manage to get the screen into place by putting up another 2x4 above the one that was there & then drilling holes into it & using screws as if they were dowels (into the 2x4 & screwed into the screen frame.)

It's not pretty, but it does hold it in place well enough. I'll probably rethink it, but I wanted to get things going since the cable guy arrives tomorrow for HD service.

Put the spare 2x4 (or cut it into two pieces) BELOW the top piece of your frame. Mount that spare 2x4 to the wall studs. Now, your screen can simply rest on top of it. It is very similar to a french cleat. If you are not sure what that means, google "french cleat" and it should make sense. This way of mounting works awesome unless you are in an area that is earthquake prone!

[Sdallnct]

This is what I use, and think it works great! Even lets you slide the screen a little from side to side to get that perfect alignment.

http://www.hangmanproducts.com/hangman-system-new-300pxb.jpg



http://www.hangmanproducts.com/hangman-system.html

[nomad139]

Looks perfect!! Thank you!! Much better than my "make due" solution!

[McCall]

My screen is hung with 2 18" french cleats, which are basically like those pictured here in another post but longer by the look.
You can also make your own french cleats with two pcs. of wood.

[nomad139]

Thanks. I think I'll go with the purchased product. Less than $20 is the right price!

[nomad139]

Just to follow up, I picked up the 18" Hangman @ Lowe's and finally mounted it today to replace my temporary setup that was a bit crooked & too low by an inch.

Everything is perfect now -- centered image, a level screen & frame, and it just looks "finished" now. I highly recommend it for under $20.

[LemurGuy]

i haven't hung mine yet, but i was leaning towards those brakets witht he little leves on them untill i decided on a dual sided screen. My Plan of action now is to use some eye rings mounted into the top of the frame and to hace them be about an inch long so that i can adjust them slightly if need by (so that even if the hooks in my walls aren't perfect then i can still adjust either side.

[SixkillerNYC]

That hangman setup looks perfect for me. Right now I'm using heavy-duty picture wire hung form two molly bolts, and the wire's been slowly stretching for a couple of months and i'm not exactly happy with it. This looks like a perfect solution for me.

Thanks

[Sdallnct]

Yes, those hangman are very good and highly recommended. Since so much interest, some more info on them:

-there are several different sizes. basically the longer ones hold more
-my lowes did not carry at all and home depot hand only the very small ones. Ace Hardware had several sizes.
-they come with a small level that fits in the grove of the piece that mounts to the wall. very handy especially for the longer ones
-as you slide the two pieces together it makes for a very snug fit and really pulls the screen towards the wall. Very clean look when complete
-even tho it is snug if you are careful and lift the screen to remove some of the weight, you can slide the screen from side to side. This is helpful if you were off a little in your calculations for hanging (not that it would ever happen).
-they are re-usable

[Touchdown]

Thanks for the suggestion on the hangman. Picked up a longer one from Lowe's this weekend and will be using it to hang my screen

[OsiViper]

Found these at a local True Value today, while looking for something to hang my 91" frame.

Got 2 of the 8" ones that i will put on it, should work great considering each is rated at 100lbs and frame only weighs 30 or so :)

[SatelliteGuy]

I used pieces of 1X4 fastened to the wall and then the screen just hangs from them. I also used clips at the bottom for additional support.

[Sevker]

I used pieces of 1X4 fastened to the wall and then the screen just hangs from them. I also used clips at the bottom for additional support.

On my 4X8 frame I used 1X4 wood, with the extra peices I used a stagered step setup, not unlike the french cleat. I am able to hang and slide my screen. I would recommend sanding down the oposing edges to make for a smoother easier fit.

[shugazer9]

How far off the wall does the screen hang with the Hangman? I need to hang my screen in front of a window and i wonder if it will clear the windowsill. Will a single 10 handle a 5' x 8' screen or should i go 18"?

[nomad139]

shugazer -- Are you hanging the screen starting above the window frame & letting it "cover" the window frame? If so, then I'd suggest what others have done (including me), by mounting a 2x4/1x3/(whatever will work best for you) to the wall & then mounting the hangman to that wood block.

If you make that wood block 2 feet long or so, then you can get it into two studs & place the hangman exactly where you need it, with everything very sturdy. I recommend buying the 18" model, since it gives that bit of 'slide room' that others talked about for precision.

[shugazer9]

That's a good suggestion, nomad. I was thinking of going the Wilsonart DW with a wood frame route, but adding up the cost of the materials and hardware and hassle of installation, it almost seems like an economy manual pulldown screen might be a better solution. I may get a Gray Wolf II, but am concerned about waves.

[LemurGuy]

i found an interesting alternative to hanging a screen that I'd like to share.

I found an interesting DIY shelving alternative for crating floating shelves out of hollow core doors.

http://www.wikihow.com/Build-Simple-Floating-Shelves

Not sure what sizes hollow core doors come in, but you could definately use the door slices as a single central strut and then mount with the technique outlined here only vertical instead of horizontally.

This would allow for a strong sturdy, easily leveled (with a central strut just hang your cleat at the desired height and let gravity do the work) mounting option that could also allow you to put some space between the wall and screen if you wanted.

[csmoyer26]

I have a small home theatre company. I've used the method described above with the "hangman" product. It works as long as there is no warping in the wood or the wall. What we switched to was a key-hole bit and a router. We make four measured keyholes on the back of the screen. Then we place four screws into the wall. The keyholes lock the screen into place and hold it tight against the wall. You might try a combination of using keyholes and the hangman??? Anyway, just another method to put in your tool box.

[DrA]

I am hanging 87 inch long doable framed screen with two 18 inch Hangmans.
should I place them farthest apart or together in the middle?
I want to have the ability to slide it side to side for adjustments.

Thank you

[vanz]

I am hanging 87 inch long doable framed screen with two 18 inch Hangmans.
should I place them farthest apart or together in the middle?
I want to have the ability to slide it side to side for adjustments.

Thank you

I'd think you'd want them together in the center. If they were farthest apart, and you need to slide the screen, wouldn't the piece on the wall show?

[skylooker1]

I make my own simple cleats from 1x4. Ripped at an angle, it holds itself to the wall. I you put the wall cleats on level, you screen will hang level also.

[Frescard]

Here's my super low-budget solutions (only using left-over boards I had sitting in my basement for years):
It has two 1x4s running across the back of the frame, up at the top quarter of it, which are then hung over some basic brackets mounted to the wall.

While it may look pretty crude, it has quite a few good features:
• It is *very* sturdy
• It cost practically nothing
• It allows me to slide the frame left and right by quite a margin
• It gives me some nice "handles" to carry the frame around with
• It gave me pretty good flexibility dealing with my irregularly spaced wall studs

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/5614/toptr8.jpg

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/1682/bracketsfd0.jpg