Introduction: DIY PVC Monitor Mount (~$20)

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About: Student, computer scientist, software developer.

Have you recently upgraded monitors? Do you have a leftover old monitor that doesn't quite meet your needs, but isn't bad enough to dispose of? Or perhaps you have acquired some monitors second hand, missing naught but a stand? In that case, this Instructable may be for you! I recently acquired a free monitor from my boss that was a real upgrade from what I was already using at home. I loved the new monitor, but I couldn't quite get myself to part with my old one. It has bad color and clarity, but it still works. Unfortunately, the mount that is attached to the monitor is difficult to remove and of the non-rotating sort, so I was forced to look into alternative mounting methods. Rather than waiting and ordering a shiny new mount from Amazon, I was inclined to visit my local hardware store and see what I could put together myself for (hopefully) less money.

Step 1: Materials

Online Total: $24.21

A cheaper alternative would be to use the following instead of the bell trap drain:

Alternate Online Total: $19.88

Prices should be cheaper at your local hardware store.

For a height-adjustable version of this build, you will two or more of any wood screw of a major diameter less than 4mm.

Step 2: Bracket

Rest your monitor on its face in the orientation by which you wish to mount it.

Unravel a length of the hanger strap, aligning the first hole in the strap with one of the VESA mount holes on the back of your monitor. Now, wrap this around the PVC pipe leaving as little gap as possible, and align the horizontally adjacent VESA mount hole with the nearest hole on the hanger strap. Cut this length of the hanger strap off and then cut another piece of strap that is the same length. For me, around 6 inches of strapping (8 holes) sufficed.

The holes in the plastic hanger strap should be a little small for your screws. To widen it, take a screw driver and push it into the holes nearest to the edges of your pieces of strap until the screws will fit into said holes.

Screw the hanger strap pieces to the monitor's VESA mount holes with the 4x16mm machine screws until secure. Check that you have the proper length of strapping by sliding the PVC pipe into loops of strapping. It should be a somewhat snug fit.

Step 3: Backbone

If you chose the drain over the flange and adapter combination, then connect the drain to the 1-1/2" x 2'pipe. Otherwise, connect the flange, adapter, and 2' pipe. Due to its wide base, I would imagine that the drain version of this build is more stable than the flange version. For this reason, I recommend that if you use a flange, you attach it to a wider surface.

Step 4: Combine

Slide the monitor all the way down onto the backbone. If , like me, you are fine with it resting on the base, then you are done! Otherwise you have two options:

  • If you have a specific height at which you wish the monitor to rest, then take a ruler or measuring tape, and mark that distance from the "base" of the backbone (i.e. drain or flange). Next, on the back of the monitor, measure the distance between a VESA mounting hole and the next vertically adjacent VESA mounting hole. Mark this distance upwards from the last marked position on the pvc pipe. Place the monitor on its face and align the holes in the attached strapping with these marks. Drive two wood screws (one for each strap) through the holes in the strapping and into the PVC pipe to secure the monitor at this height.
  • If simply want a general range by which you wish to be able to adjust the height of the monitor, measure the distance between a VESA mounting hole and the next vertically adjacent VESA mounting hole. Make several marks (from the base to the top of the 2' pipe) that are either this distance or half of this distance apart. Drill a hole ~2mm in diameter through the 2' pipe at each mark. Place the monitor on its face and align the holes in the attached strapping with two marks of your choosing. Drive two wood screws (one for each strap) through the holes in the strapping and into the PVC pipe to secure the monitor at this height.

Step 5: Done

Admire your work and enjoy!