Correctly using M10 bolts for projector ceiling mount.

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syrez

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#150912 7-Aug-2014 14:21

Hi there!

I'm new in United States and have never lived in a house made of wood before. It took me a while before I knew there something called a 'stud finder'. Now I'm about to mount a projector on the ceiling and the instructions for the mount requires pair of M10 bolt which it shipped without.

I found a stud on the ceiling and the other one about 14-16 inches away. I'm assuming there's a wooden strip running between them, which will take the bolts.

The mount's ceiling plate is held by two M10 bolts which are about 6-8 inches apart.

My concern is, what is an appropriate type of M10 bolt that I can use? What if it splits the wooden strip?

I know this question qualifies for 'hall of shame' but I would plead my foreigner status. We have concrete ceilings back home =\ If anyone cares, the ceiling mount is Mustang Low Profile Projector Mount (MV-PROJSP-FLAT-B) purchased from Amazon.

Thanks!

BTR

1527 posts

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#1104125 7-Aug-2014 14:42

Welcome to NZ,

If you mounting it to a wooden beam bolts would be overkill unless you are planning to hang off the thing, take the mount into your local hardware store (Mitre 10, Bunnings or Placemakers) and ask a sales person there to point you in the direction of some suitable wood screen. Depending on the size on the mounting holes you may need to use "Tech screws"

On another note in NZ we use the metric system which you will find confusing to begin with but it will make sense over time.

Good luck and feel free to ask anymore questions if you get stuck.

eracode

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#1104180 7-Aug-2014 15:32

BTR: Welcome to NZ,

If you mounting it to a wooden beam bolts would be overkill unless you are planning to hang off the thing, take the mount into your local hardware store (Mitre 10, Bunnings or Placemakers) and ask a sales person there to point you in the direction of some suitable wood screen. Depending on the size on the mounting holes you may need to use "Tech screws"

On another note in NZ we use the metric system which you will find confusing to begin with but it will make sense over time.

Good luck and feel free to ask anymore questions if you get stuck.

syrez says he is new to the US and his profile shows him being in the US - not in NZ?

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

richms

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#1104387 7-Aug-2014 20:47

You would generally not use bolts into wood, you would use coach screws.

Richard rich.ms

eracode

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#1104544 8-Aug-2014 04:12

Was your mount made outside the US? I'm not sure that 'M10' is a terminology used for bolts in the US - it's a metric system term and refers to the 10 millimetre diameter of the shank of the bolt. You do need coach screws but 'coach screw' is a UK-based term not commonly used in the US. You will get what you need if you go to a hardware store and ask for 3/8-inch lag screws, say 3 inches long.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Bung

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#1104557 8-Aug-2014 07:18

Lag bolts will work if you have a timber rafter/stud to screw into. If you have to attach it to the ceiling between the timber it would be best to go into the attic and add some timber. Your ceiling may have plaster over thin wooden strips in an old house but more likely it will be plasterboard or rockboard.

The same mount is sold under several brand names. There is an install video on YouTube but predictably it glosses over the actual attachment to the ceiling.

syrez

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1104570 8-Aug-2014 07:57

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply.

BTR: I have 'Lowes' here and I think I'll take the ceiling plate there for suggestions.

Eraceode/richms: Yup, I am in USA =) the mount looks pretty generic and same model is available under multiple brand names so I guess it was imported. I recently heard people refer to coach screw and I'll look into that too when at the hardware store.

Bung: Now, I'm afraid I'm just wasting everyone's time. I'm a student here so I rent a cheap apartment which was built a century ago in New Orleans. The entire building is tilted to a side because the whole area is practically a swamp. The small door into attic is nailed shut so I can't even climb in to check what kind of 'wood' do I have up there. All I know is that my stud finder found a stud =\ Someone mentioned dry wall anchor but also added that I'll damage 'something' if I didn't get it right; but he didn't elaborate what could I do wrong. I think I know which video you're talking about; they just showed a guy drilling holes in the ceiling.

I really don't want to put it on a shelf but if you guys think that's the safest way to go then I'll do that instead..

(Also, my projector (Viewsonic Pro8200) weighs roughly 13 pounds and lets say the mount weighs 4-6 pounds)

Bung

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#1104622 8-Aug-2014 10:07

If the timber in the ceiling runs parallel to you screen you should be able to get both screws I to solid wood. If the beams are at right angle how critical is it for the projector to be centred on the screen? I would probably go with picking the spot you want and bridging across the studs either side with something on the underside of the ceiling to give a solid mount. The holes in the mount are possibly too close together to trust drywall anchors as the load would be concentrated.

I was in New Orleans in 98 just in time for the Hurricane George. We stayed in an old Civil War hospital. Old buildings on a lean seemed very common.

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BTR

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#1104749 8-Aug-2014 11:36

eracode:
BTR: Welcome to NZ,

If you mounting it to a wooden beam bolts would be overkill unless you are planning to hang off the thing, take the mount into your local hardware store (Mitre 10, Bunnings or Placemakers) and ask a sales person there to point you in the direction of some suitable wood screen. Depending on the size on the mounting holes you may need to use "Tech screws"

On another note in NZ we use the metric system which you will find confusing to begin with but it will make sense over time.

Good luck and feel free to ask anymore questions if you get stuck.

syrez says he is new to the US and his profile shows him being in the US - not in NZ?

Whoops my bad, misread it. Although the hole situation sounds like hard work not to mention your renting so any holes you make will have to be fixed when yo leave, why not just sit the projector on a table....

eracode

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#1105045 8-Aug-2014 17:41

BTR:
eracode:
BTR: Welcome to NZ,

If you mounting it to a wooden beam bolts would be overkill unless you are planning to hang off the thing, take the mount into your local hardware store (Mitre 10, Bunnings or Placemakers) and ask a sales person there to point you in the direction of some suitable wood screen. Depending on the size on the mounting holes you may need to use "Tech screws"

On another note in NZ we use the metric system which you will find confusing to begin with but it will make sense over time.

Good luck and feel free to ask anymore questions if you get stuck.

syrez says he is new to the US and his profile shows him being in the US - not in NZ?

Whoops my bad, misread it. Although the hole situation sounds like hard work not to mention your renting so any holes you make will have to be fixed when yo leave, why not just sit the projector on a table....

You're right - putting the projector on a table would solve the hole situation

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

Stu

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#1105046 8-Aug-2014 17:43

Heh.. I see what you did there

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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Bung

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#1105131 8-Aug-2014 21:03

A few New Orleans cockroaches stuck on the ceiling would hide any holes and look completely normal.

manly100

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#1105970 10-Aug-2014 17:35

use a stud finder and screew that straight into the stud/joist. easy.

Swanny

107 posts

Master Geek

#1106811 12-Aug-2014 00:09

You could also screw a larger sheet of plywood to the ceiling so it can find the solid joists/beams then screw into that.

Or just use a table/tripod....

syrez

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#1106824 12-Aug-2014 05:42

Hi all!

Sorry for the late reply.. I've been little under the weather. I think after considering everything, I'm going to 'shelf' it. The reason being, I found out that my landlord is kinda stingy about returning the security deposit; so it's just safer to drill one hole and get over with it. I'm not going to be ab;e to utilize the maximum screen size but considering all my options, this is the safest way to go.

Swanny, once I have everything set up, I'll post a picture of my living space. I don't have any space for a tripod =(

Earcode, haha, this 'hole' situation is about to be resolved.

Bung, dude!! my house has no roaches; just a minor rodent infestation.

so, like I said, I'll post a picture of the final placing once I'm done mounting the shelf.

Once again, thanks y'all.