Make Your Own (DIY) LCD/Plasma TV Wall Mount
Homemade Wall Mount
INTRO
When I bought my LCD TV I looked for wall mounts and the universal mount for up to 24 TVs was reasonably priced, but the price dramatically increased when I moved to the 32 and above size. I went to my local Fry's Electronics, where the prices are usually way cheaper, but they were still very expensive to me. I looked at the structure of many of the mounts, and thought I can make something like that. The worst part about the cheaper units is that you are captive to where your wall studs are and can't adjust the TV left or right. I was able to make my own semi-adjustable, thin wall mount. I have had it mounted for several months and no problems. Total cost? How about under $30 after tax. I know for sure it holds my 32 TV but I would expect it would handle much larger because the mounts I used are for garage storage. Also, the weight is so close to the wall that there is very little torque on the mount. Just make sure you use large crews to mount the horizontal bracket. Here is what I did.
Make a trip to Home Depot and pick up the following items:
One roll of Marine and Automotive Weather-strip tape. ¾ x ¼ Price: ~$2.98
One 40 Closetmaid Maximum Load Horizontal Wall Bracket Price: $10.97
One 40 Closetmaid Maximum Load Vertical Wall Bracket (shelf support) Price: $7.97
Four 4mm- 7 x 12mm Machine Screws (If you use the factory screws it will not reach when the weather-strip is there. The weather-strip gives you the ability to adjust how far the Vertical Bracket is from the TV, allowing you to slip the Vertical Bracket into the Horizontal Bracket.). Price: $1.44
Two grabber screws to mound into the studs. As large as you think is needed to hold the weight. My TV is only 33 pounds.
Hacksaw with metal cutting blade (or whatever you want to use to cut the bars to length and to cut a notch.
Stud Finder
Drill
Drill Bits
STEPS (There are a bunch of pictures at the end of the post)
- Cut the Horizontal Bracket a few inches smaller than the width of your TV.
- Cut the Vertical Brackets, measuring from the notched end, about 13 inches.
- Take the other piece of Vertical Bracket and cut a notch to match the factory notch of the first piece.
- Now cut the second piece to match the length of the first Vertical Bracket.
- Place each Vertical Bracket against the screw mount holes on the back of the TV and mark where you need to drill a small hole for the screws to fit.
- Place weather-strip on the side that will mount to the TV. This helps prevent scratching as well as acts as an adjustor.
- Place weather-strip on the Fat side of the wall-facing side of the Horizontal Bracket.
- Find the first stud and screw a large screw into the stud. Find the second stud (approx. 16 Inches to either side) and mark with a Sharpie where you need to drill a hole for the second stud screw.
- Drill the hole for the second screw, just larger than the screw.
- Place the Horizontal Bracket against the wall and mount with large grabber screws.
- Screw the Vertical Brackets onto the back of the TV and slide them under the lip of the Horizontal Bracket until it fits in the slot. Let it hang.
There you goa mounted LCD or PLASMA TV for under $30. Sweet.
This is how thin the mount is. Actually closer to the wall than many mounts (Just over an inch from wall to TV back!!).
Sorry about the crappy pics and not rotating some of the images. You get what you pay for, and you didn't pay me anything.
Homemade Wall Mount
INTRO
When I bought my LCD TV I looked for wall mounts and the universal mount for up to 24 TVs was reasonably priced, but the price dramatically increased when I moved to the 32 and above size. I went to my local Fry's Electronics, where the prices are usually way cheaper, but they were still very expensive to me. I looked at the structure of many of the mounts, and thought I can make something like that. The worst part about the cheaper units is that you are captive to where your wall studs are and can't adjust the TV left or right. I was able to make my own semi-adjustable, thin wall mount. I have had it mounted for several months and no problems. Total cost? How about under $30 after tax. I know for sure it holds my 32 TV but I would expect it would handle much larger because the mounts I used are for garage storage. Also, the weight is so close to the wall that there is very little torque on the mount. Just make sure you use large crews to mount the horizontal bracket. Here is what I did.
Make a trip to Home Depot and pick up the following items:
One roll of Marine and Automotive Weather-strip tape. ¾ x ¼ Price: ~$2.98
One 40 Closetmaid Maximum Load Horizontal Wall Bracket Price: $10.97
One 40 Closetmaid Maximum Load Vertical Wall Bracket (shelf support) Price: $7.97
Four 4mm- 7 x 12mm Machine Screws (If you use the factory screws it will not reach when the weather-strip is there. The weather-strip gives you the ability to adjust how far the Vertical Bracket is from the TV, allowing you to slip the Vertical Bracket into the Horizontal Bracket.). Price: $1.44
Two grabber screws to mound into the studs. As large as you think is needed to hold the weight. My TV is only 33 pounds.
Hacksaw with metal cutting blade (or whatever you want to use to cut the bars to length and to cut a notch.
Stud Finder
Drill
Drill Bits
STEPS (There are a bunch of pictures at the end of the post)
- Cut the Horizontal Bracket a few inches smaller than the width of your TV.
- Cut the Vertical Brackets, measuring from the notched end, about 13 inches.
- Take the other piece of Vertical Bracket and cut a notch to match the factory notch of the first piece.
- Now cut the second piece to match the length of the first Vertical Bracket.
- Place each Vertical Bracket against the screw mount holes on the back of the TV and mark where you need to drill a small hole for the screws to fit.
- Place weather-strip on the side that will mount to the TV. This helps prevent scratching as well as acts as an adjustor.
- Place weather-strip on the Fat side of the wall-facing side of the Horizontal Bracket.
- Find the first stud and screw a large screw into the stud. Find the second stud (approx. 16 Inches to either side) and mark with a Sharpie where you need to drill a hole for the second stud screw.
- Drill the hole for the second screw, just larger than the screw.
- Place the Horizontal Bracket against the wall and mount with large grabber screws.
- Screw the Vertical Brackets onto the back of the TV and slide them under the lip of the Horizontal Bracket until it fits in the slot. Let it hang.
There you goa mounted LCD or PLASMA TV for under $30. Sweet.
This is how thin the mount is. Actually closer to the wall than many mounts (Just over an inch from wall to TV back!!).
Sorry about the crappy pics and not rotating some of the images. You get what you pay for, and you didn't pay me anything.