CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

Zebu Fellenz · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 2567

Hi Guys,

I'll be picking up a 4x8' sheet of DW for christmas. My idea is to use contact cement to glue it onto a 3/4" sheet of MDF and then mount the whole thing on my wall. Does anyone have a good way to mount the MDF on the wall.

My best idea is to mount two 8' 2x4" on the back of the MDF and then setting these on top of two 2x4" mounted on the wall. both sets of 2x4" would have an opposite miter cut on them so they would nest toghether.

Erik

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 3:10 pm Post subject:

The angle-ripped 2x4 you're talking about on the top is called a French cleat. That's exactly how I mounted my screen.

French cleat (from Google):

Are you going 85.33x48 to stay on one sheet, or are you doing the two-sheet thing and going 96x54 like I did? Warning... 3/4" MDF is F'ing heavy. In hindsight, I think 1/2" would be more than adequate, and it would save a serious chunk of weight.

Here's a drawing of my screen assembly method:

The French cleat was inside the frame I used to space the screen out. Turned out very cool, but I'm certain the thing was close to 200 pounds. I'm not looking forward to the day I decide to replace it and have to carry it up out of the basement.

SC

Zebu Fellenz · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 2567

Ecrabb,

That looks just like what I want to do. I will be going with a single sheet 4' by 8' becuase I run a 2.40:1 screen with my G70 to fit in with the existing wear. My screen will be 96" wide by 40" tall.

So you think a 1/2 sheet of MDF will work OK if I have a subframe behind it.

Thanks,

Erik

ecrabb · Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 4:41 pm Post subject:

I bet it would, but I guess I can't say for sure. I just know the .75 was ungodly heavy. But, your screen will weigh much less - about 25% less, I think. I'd just take a sheet of 1/2" down and play w/it while you're at the box store and see what you think.

VideoGrabber · Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 933 Location: Michigan

Does this laminate tend to be ripply? I.e., not flat by itself?

I understand the reason for mounting to a substrate, so you can move the screen when needed. Versus just mounting directly to a wall, which would be cheaper, faster, and easier.

But wouldn't another option be to just build a wooden frame with a center support beam, then attach the laminate to that? Much less weight to have to deal with, and I'd think would be plenty flat, unless there's some characteristic of the DW I'm unaware of.

Just a thought.

garyfritz · Joined: 08 Apr 2006 Posts: 12088 Location: Fort Collins, CO

You can also mount the DW to house sheathing foam, like Gary Brown did (see here). Sounds simple, fairly foolproof, and it would be a WHOLE helluva lot lighter.