Wall mounting multiple monitors
March 1, 2010 7:55 AM Subscribe
Question about wall-mounting flat panel monitors
I have three 21" LCD monitors, about 18 lbs each, that I want to mount side-by-side on the wall, with the middle one as flush with the wall as possible and the left and right ones angled slightly in towards the center.
My question is what kind of hardware do I need for this? I've found lots of multi-monitor mounting systems but most are post/rail/clamp type desk mounts, not wall mounts. There are lots of wall mounts for a single monitor or even a double one, but the studs in my wall are not going to be exactly the right distance apart for three (or even two) separate mounts to work, right? I want to minimize any unnecessary swing arm fixtures that would push the monitors more than a couple inches off the wall.
I don't mind paying for the right mounting kit if it exists, but if it doesn't, I've thought of trying to jury rig something with a wooden board that spans two or three studs and in turn supports three single mounts with the right spacing ...would this be stable? Any other suggestions/advice are welcome. Thanks!
I have three 21" LCD monitors, about 18 lbs each, that I want to mount side-by-side on the wall, with the middle one as flush with the wall as possible and the left and right ones angled slightly in towards the center.
My question is what kind of hardware do I need for this? I've found lots of multi-monitor mounting systems but most are post/rail/clamp type desk mounts, not wall mounts. There are lots of wall mounts for a single monitor or even a double one, but the studs in my wall are not going to be exactly the right distance apart for three (or even two) separate mounts to work, right? I want to minimize any unnecessary swing arm fixtures that would push the monitors more than a couple inches off the wall.
I don't mind paying for the right mounting kit if it exists, but if it doesn't, I've thought of trying to jury rig something with a wooden board that spans two or three studs and in turn supports three single mounts with the right spacing ...would this be stable? Any other suggestions/advice are welcome. Thanks!
Be sure to check out Monoprice. They have several options when it comes to wall-mounting LCD screens/TVs, and you won't find a better product for any cheaper.
They have low-profile mounting kits as well, which will get it as flush to the wall as possible.
posted by nitsuj at 8:00 AM on March 1, 2010
They have low-profile mounting kits as well, which will get it as flush to the wall as possible.
posted by nitsuj at 8:00 AM on March 1, 2010
Mounting a sufficiently large piece of 3/4" plywood is pretty common in this situation. Paint it the same color as the wall and it'll be hardly visible.
posted by KenManiac at 8:31 AM on March 1, 2010
posted by KenManiac at 8:31 AM on March 1, 2010
Best answer: Mounting them all on a pair of strips that are firmly mounted to the studs will be very stable. This is often how cabinets are mounted on walls. It is also how I mounted a pot rack to a ceiling - I used a pair 3/4" x 2.5" x 24" maple strips, which I screwed into studs in the ceiling and then I hung screwed the hangers for the rack to the strips.
When I recently mounted a larger screen, I used a fairly cheap flush mount kit (more or less this one). It was clearly designed to be stud position friendly in that you could put the wall piece into a stud and then hang the screen on the wall piece with about 6" of discretionary sliding either left or right of center. This is more or less equivalent to using a strip on the wall. The unit I installed had 6 lag bolts and I hit studs with 4 of them. I skipped the other two, because those 4 are holding that thing tight beyond belief.
Also, my unit had an integrated spirit level, which is a nice idea I suppose, but I double checked it with real level and it proved to be horribly, horribly wrong.
posted by plinth at 8:40 AM on March 1, 2010
When I recently mounted a larger screen, I used a fairly cheap flush mount kit (more or less this one). It was clearly designed to be stud position friendly in that you could put the wall piece into a stud and then hang the screen on the wall piece with about 6" of discretionary sliding either left or right of center. This is more or less equivalent to using a strip on the wall. The unit I installed had 6 lag bolts and I hit studs with 4 of them. I skipped the other two, because those 4 are holding that thing tight beyond belief.
Also, my unit had an integrated spirit level, which is a nice idea I suppose, but I double checked it with real level and it proved to be horribly, horribly wrong.
posted by plinth at 8:40 AM on March 1, 2010
Best answer: "I've thought of trying to jury rig something with a wooden board that spans two or three studs and in turn supports three single mounts with the right spacing" That is exactly how I would do it. More specifically, I would get a piece of 1 x 3 hardwood at Home Depot or Lowes that is about six feet long. This would span the combined width of the monitors and the possible location of the studs where you want to mount them. Locate the studs and mount the board at the height you want the monitors. Mount the center monitor hanging kit in the middle. Mount a one inch thick block on each end of the zone where the other monitors will go. Mount the other hangers to the original mounting strip and the spacer blocks so the outer monitors are facing slightly in toward you.
posted by Old Geezer at 10:34 AM on March 1, 2010
posted by Old Geezer at 10:34 AM on March 1, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Oh wait: I've thought of trying to jury rig something with a wooden board that spans two or three studs and in turn supports three single mounts with the right spacing ...would this be stable?
Sure, that's the standard way to do something like this. The rails might not even need to be 2x4s, depending on the weight and mounting hardware. Maybe get a handyman to set it up for you.
posted by DU at 7:58 AM on March 1, 2010