DIY "Hidden" Video Projector Folding Shelf, Carbon fiber look

It has been about a year when i last time had the chance to do something to here, my two year old boy has been keeping me very busy and of course there is some homework to do to school.

This instructables is about how to make video projector shelf that is cheap and reliable, but also stylish.

The basic idea to this is i do not use any money to make these instructables i have, i only use whatever i find and allready have or i got for free. for this project i used about 5$ to the "golden" chain (and because it can handle over 15 kilos of weight so the projector is safe from falling).

Tools needed for the job:
Power drill and some drill bits
screwdriver
sharp knife
wire strippers
and a hair dryer. You know, just to look fabulous.

Stuff needed:
Good and sturdy shelf
4 angle brackets
Enoug chain
And if you want some tape or paint.


So enjoy, comment and rate!

Step 1: Desing of the shelf

The shelf is an old bathroom shelf that was originaly desinged to open from left to right and to be upwards.(im not sure that the whole sentence makes sense but it does not matter). I got this for free from my parents since they didn't need it anymore.

There is few criteria if you want to do somehting like this like i did:

1. It has to be right size, meaning that the projector has to fit in the closet and to the closet door. Also there has to be enough room for the cables.

2. The hinges(pic.5) has to be strong enough to support the weight of the projector so that is safe for you and the projector AND most of all to the children. If something like this hits you or someone to the head, it could kill. And besides the projector would not project anymore.

3. !!DO NOT use a shelf that is allready rotting or about to. Use only shelf that only has healthy woor or it is made from steel. The rotting wood isn't strong enough to hold for long.

Step 2: Installing the angle brackets and making hole for the cables

Install the angle brackets and drill the holes and everything before painting or taping the shelf.

If using wood drill holes to the screws so the screws wont tear the wood apart. Remember this allways when using screws.

I had these angels for me a long time ago. so basicly they didn't cost me anything.

I used four angle brackets, two to the each side so the shelf woud be supported evenly when hanging on the wall and it would stay on the wall. I have plasterboard walls so it is a pain to get something stay on the wall because the plasterboard is wery fragile and it wont hold anything whitout good support and some anchor bolts

If you make the hole to the side or on top of the shelf use good tools, as you can see i did not have such(pic.3) ... But if you are like me....too busy to buy proper tools for the job or don't have big hole drill.(as big as you need) You can allways drill small holes and then just give it a good smak with a hammer, and you have the hole for the wires. but warning....it wont be pretty to look at...

Step 3: Installing the other nuts and bolts

Ok, so now you have installed the angle brackets and drilled the hole. Good.
Now its time to pre-install the video projector to the shelf and the chain.

The basic idea with the chain is that it supports the weight of the projetor when the lid is open for the projector. If the chain is not used the hinges will break in a couble of days and you know what happens then. Yes you are right, the old VGA projector will become 3D HD projector for sure...

So. Install the Chain first. The chain could be any color or shape you like but it should be able to hold 10 or more kilos in straight pulling weight. just to be sure not to enjoy FullHD 3D picture instead of VGA.
Drill two holes to the actual case of the shelf and to the lid of the shelf like in the picture 3-4 and then install the chain between the lid and the case. one to the each side so it will look like in picture 5. use wire cutters to cut the chain.(hint. leave few extra loops to the chains lengh after measuring so that you have the possibility to adjust the lenght afterwards for longer and for shorter lenght.)

Step 4: Insalling the projector

Now the basic things are done, but before painting or tapin you have to make the installation to the projector, i know, booring.

I had the simplest idea to mount the projector to the shelf, it had to be light and adjustable to side to side and up and down, And the projector has to be easily removed and make the cable installation easy and clean. simple.

And you know what. It is! Just cut a few inches of flat iron strip that has screw holes and you are done. After that install them to the bottom of the projector. (pic 2.) In to the bottom of the projectors back panel install screw that fits in to it  so you can adjust the up and down angle of the projector.(this can also be done whit the shelf lid by adjustin the chains lenght.)

When that is done. drill holes to the lid and install the projector and thats done. just make sure that the projector is installed about center of the lid and the basic line is that it has to be straight and the flat iron has to point left and right in 90 decree angle so that the projectors movement is the same to the each side.

then comes the time to test the lid operating with the projector. picture 4 and 5 will tell the tale

If done right the projector will not chance its possition after closing and opening the lid few times. If it moves or slides down etc. check that everything is tightened propely.

Step 5: Remove everyhting and clean the shelf

This is simple, just undo everything you have done. After that, clean the parts whit soft cloth and water. If there is some heavy stains give it some fine sand paper and clean it again. The parts HAS TO be clean from dust and stains, and if the surface of the shelf is glossy and you are going to paint it, sand paper it first to make sure the new paint sticks to the material.

Step 6: Apply the CARBON (tape..)

I used some carbon look tape to cover the old paintings of the shelf and to make it look ""Cool"". This carbon tape is a leftover from my car as i uset it in the interrior of it, so basicly free for this purpose. Cost to the car was about 15$, but its not nessesary to apply to this shelf.

After cleaning make sure there is no bumbs or damps you don't want there to be. Believe me. They will show up from under the tape or paint if you are painting it.

With this i suggest that you use a normal hair dryer to make the tape more flexiple for the installation and to make the details of the shelf if it has got any. My goal was that the lid would be flat but the tape fell to the carving that is there and i just had to do it. Didn't have enough tape to make new one. So remember. The tape is made from plastic and plastic is flexiple if heated.

Also get a sharp knive for this to cut the tape and if there is any air bubbles you can make those disapear. Just make small cut to the air bubble and apply some heat and press it with finger and it will disapear. (pic4 and 5)

Step 7: Install the nuts and bolts back and add the details and projector

After taping/painting just put it all back together like it was. The holes under the tape are easy to find with pin if lost.

To make the wall mounting as easy as possible and safe. DO NOT install the projector to the shelf when istalling it to the wall. Do it after installing cables.

Step 8: Ready, Set, Action!

Now its on the wall. WOW you say and admire your work. Take a couple of frosty and call all your friends where the next big game is going to be seen.

The projector in the last 3 pictures is installed on the lid. It is still missing cables in the picture, so make sure that the cables fit in there and prepare them before installing projector. Trust me, it will be 100 times easier that way.


Thanks for reading or waching the pictures. If you like this comment and rate! Any questions will be answered. And if you find some spelling errors please notify, since my language is not english or anything near that there might be some spelling error or "wrong" word for the purpose.

Good night from Finland, As clock is here five minutes past midnight.

Comments

[tr3mor]

great idea there mkarvonen. May have to try this myself and mount a RaspberryPi running RaspBMC in there, no issues with network cabling and could probably hide alot of items in there... only thing that would be showing during movie downtime would be your audio system :( still seems like an option though

[ik2mlt]

ti ho detto semplicemente che è un bel lavoro ma:
1) la catena l'avrei messa all'interno che non si vedeva;
2) idem per gli attacchi a muro
Buon W.E.

[mkarvonen]

grazie per la pubblicazione, si prega di scrivere i vostri commenti in inglese in futuro. si consiglia di utilizzare Google Translate.

kiitos kommentistasi, kirjoitathan jatkossa englanniksi kommenttisi. voit halutessasi käyttää google translatea.

thanks for posting, please write your comments in English in the future. you may want to use Google Translate.

Ps. I dont speak English also.

[ik2mlt]

Hi, it's a good job, but .... the chain if the mettevi all'unterno not seen .... the clamps (fittings for the wall), I would put the inside and everything was gone. ;-)

[mkarvonen]

hi! I don't understand a word what you are saying but read the other comments and replys to get the idea.

[Ortzinator]

He said he would prefer the angle brackets to not be visible.

[popmircea]

Maybe it is usefull to use a other type of bracets, slow motion mechanical, for avoidings shock at videoprojector lamp.

[mkarvonen]

If done right it won't move. and if not, it wont brake the lamp for the movement of about 1 cm and all the cables behind it softening the "fall", In other words there is no shock to the lamp or the projector, just don't slap the lid when it is cooling down after use or in use. I once was installing my old projector to the roof and when i was putting it on to the roof it slipped from my hand and fell down to the sofa and bounced to the floor from there, and guess what. nothing happened to the lamp or the projector, im sure there is some crazy luck in that case but the fact is that if the lamp is cold it wont brake so easy (think about a class inside of plastic casing bolted to the middle), when the lamp is warm minor shock will make the lamp burn because of the lamp's wiring inside the bulb is at the most fragile state. if in cold state the wire is not so fragile. The only thing that is the most fragile is the class.

[akaSol]

Clever idea , just remember to not to put the projector away while its still warn. This can crack the bulb...

[mkarvonen]

yep. you have to be really careful with projector lamp.

[newtonn2]

Hi there! Good job! did you get the idea from my instructable? 
I have to admit that yours looks much better!

[mkarvonen]

Hi. No i didn't get the idea from your instructable. I got the idea from walking in my parents carrage and spotted the shelf. and tought that i could use it to hold my video projector. But yours shelf is looking good!

[newtonn2]

Great minds think alike!

[mkarvonen]

I couldn't agree more!

[mikolynn]

Hi! Clever Idea! Great results!
But, I'm thinking in tuning you can do and is about placing the angle brackets inside the shelf. I do not know if it's possible, but surely it looks better...

[mkarvonen]

yes. in most of shelfs it is possible, and looks much better.

[Nemesis201077]

I'd agree with the other guys that it would be tidier if all the fittings and chain were inside the cabinet, but it's a great idea using the material you have available. I like the way the projector is mounted on to the door so it folds away vertically into a small space.
It might be nice to make a range of shelves/cabinets on the wall to hold DVD's etc with this hidden amongst them, may I'll use your idea in my own cinema room :-)

[mkarvonen]

thanks for the reply! The shelf is working perfectly and no flaws has occurred, i build this about a month ago.

[Another Plastickiwi]

Hi, great idea - I like the 'hiding technology away when not in use' plus the practicallity of keep the projector clean and safe. But, I question, Why not put the mounting bracets inside the case and save haveing them on show?
Great idea, Phil.

[mkarvonen]

as i replyed before. I didn't think it clearly and realized that "too late". besides. Bracets are too awesome to hide ;)

[D0itYourself]

Nice idea.

But, not only the the golden chain could have been on the inside but I would have preferred just 4 screws on the 4 corners inside in addition of the angle brackets,.

[mkarvonen]

had to do it like that so it would stay in the wall firmly and for it to be solid and save enough. But yes i can see your point. I also tought about the chains inside the casing but chains outside is easyer to adjust the angle on the lid. depends how you do it

[repguy2020]

You could affix the brackets to the inside of the cabinet, so they wouldn't be seen when the door is closed. Cool instructable and a great idea. When my home theatre comes to its final fruition, I might just have to "borrow" this idea and adapt it to my own circumstances.

[mkarvonen]

I tought the same idea. But i decided to put the bracets to outside the cabin so its easyer to install it to the plasterboard wall (and also tought this "too late" and didn't want to re-think the wheel). also the chains could be also inside the cabin for better look, but they might tangle with the cables if not propely installed.

This is a good way to make a cheap video projector wall mount that will serve a long time.