Screen Frame and DVD Cabinets (Step 4)
|
Figure 4 |
||
|
Key Points to Consider: Make sure in your floor plan that you left yourself room to access the rear of the screen. Also, if you are going to be installing a mini refrigerator you will need to leave 26-inches on the opposite side of the screen. The DVD cabinets will hold approximately 200 DVDs and allow two cabinets for space for miscellaneous items, e.g., remotes, 3-D glasses, laser pointer. |
|||
|
4.1 First begin by locating all of the studs in the ceiling directly over your stage. Matching the depth of your stage, between 36-inches and 48-inches. (Figure 1B) |
|||
|
4.2 Using your marks as a guide, attach 2x4s across the entire length of your ceiling using 1½-inch screws. Their position is equal to the distance measured from the front wall to the front edge of the stage. This will become the top of the upper bow. (Figures 1B & 4) |
|||
|
4.3 Next you will be attaching 8½-inch blocks of 2x4s to the 2x4s attached to the ceiling. They should be spaced at 2-foot intervals. Use flat tie plates, so that the blocks hang down from the ceiling. (Figure 4) |
|||
|
4.4 Finish the upper frame by attaching 2x4s to the bottom of the 8½-inch blocks using 1½-inch screws. (This may require assistance from a helper) |
|||
|
4.5 Next cut (4) eight-inch blocks of 2x4 and paint them black. Allow them to dry. Now attach one block at each end of the bottom of the 2x4s of Step 4.4.with 1½-inch screws. Make sure that they extend down at least 5. Measure out 3-feet from each block and secure the remaining two blocks. |
|||
|
Screen Frame
4.6 Next you will be attaching the left and right support beams for the screen frame. Begin by marking on the stage, the location of each side of the screen according to your floor plan. Remember: You need a minimum distance of 26-inches from the support beams to the sidewalls (Figure 6), and remember that the screen frame should be at least 20-inches from the front wall (Figure 1B)(behind the upper framing for the bow). |
|||
|
4.7 Using the distance determined between the screen to the front wall, attach 2x4s across the entire length of your ceiling using 1½-inch screws (this will be the top member). Next, you will be attaching the right and left vertical support beams to the top member. To determine how much to cut off of each support beam measure the distance from the top member to the stage floor and subtract 1Ύ-inches, not 2, and cut. Next, attach an A angle plate to both ends of the two beams (make sure that they face the sidewalls). Now place one beam on the mark made on the stage and lift the beam into place. Check for level on both sides (the 2-inch side and the 4-inch side of the 2x4) and secure it to the stage and to the top member with 1-inch screws. Repeat the process for the remaining beam. (Figure 5) |
Figure 5 |
||
|
4.8 Use a hammer to attach (2) new work rectangular boxes, one on top of the other, to the interior (left interior side) of the right beam. Make sure that the openings of the new work rectangular boxes are facing forward, towards the seats. The bottom new work rectangular box should be attached at a height of 5-feet from the bottom of the stage. The top new work rectangular box is secured directly over the first new work rectangular box. (Figure 6) |
|||
|
4.9 Bottom beam. On the left support beam, measure upwards 26 from the stage floor and mark. Repeat for the right support beam. Measure the distance between the two beams and cut a 2x4 to the measured length. Place the 2x4 between the left and right beams and tap into place (using a hammer) until the bottom of the 2x4 matches the marks made on the left and right support beams. Adjust for level and secure it into place with 3 nails. Attach a new work rectangular box to the top and center of the bottom beam with the hammer and 3. (Figure 6) |
|||
|
4.10 Top beam. From the bottom beam measure upwards 5-feet and mark. Repeat Step 4.9, with the exception of attaching a work box. |
|||
|
4.11 Support beams for drywall screen. Next cut (4) 2x4s to match the height measured between the top and bottom beams. Install beams at 14-inches out from the right and left support beams (increase this measurement if your front speakers are wider than 14-inches). Now from these beams measure out two-feet and install the remaining two beams. Use 1½-inch screws to secure all of the beams. (Figure 6) |
|||
|
4.12 Speaker supports. Measure the distances between the left and right support beams and the first drywall support beams. Cut Ύ-inch plywood to the two measurements in order to form two speaker supports. From the stage floor measure upwards 40 and attach the plywood between the beams using A angle plates and ½-inch screws. |
|||
|
4.13 The lower third of the left and right support beams need to be black. Paint the front and sides of the beams from the stage up to the bottom beam. If you want to use black acoustic fabric instead of black paint, thats fine. The bottom beam should also be black. |
|||
|
DVD Cabinets
4.14 The space available for the cabinets is determined by how much space that you have allotted for your audio-video equipment. I recommend, for your equipment bay, that you allow at least 40-inches so that you can stack at least two rows of equipment. So if you subtract 40-inches from the total distance between the left and right support beams, e.g., (9 4 for a screen 8-foot screen or 112) and then divide by two you will have the width of each cabinet ((112-40) / 2) = 36). The cabinets are just two boxes built and mounted at the bottom corners of the screen frame. (Figures 6 & 13) |
Figure 6 |
||
|
4.15 You now have the height (26) and the width of your cabinets all you need now is the depth of the cabinets. That ones easy. For the depth required to comfortably house DVDs, you will need to use 1x8s. Assemble the exterior framing of your cabinets using the 1-inch finishing nails. |
|||
|
Before you go any further make sure that your cabinet frames will properly fit properly underneath the screen framing. |
|||
|
4.16 Paint the entire cabinet frames black (except for what will be facing the rear wall) and allow them to dry. If you prefer a fabric interior cut and fit fabric or felt and secure with staples. Now attach the back panel with finishing nails. |
|||
|
4.17 Once you have assembled your cabinet frames you will need rear panels for them. For rear panels you can use whatever scrap wood you like, since you will be covering the side that will be facing forward in fabric. Just stretch it tight and staple it at the back of the panel using Ό-inch staples, trim the excess fabric. To install the shelves, start with the bottom right of the cabinet frame, measure and mark 9½. Measure another 9½ above the mark you just made. Repeat these steps to the left side of the cabinet frame. Next, measure the inside with of your cabinets and cut (4) 1x8s to the measured lengths. Match the 1x8s to the marks (check for level) and secure, (2) 1x8s per cabinet, with the finishing nails. You only get about two full rows, per cabinet; however, they will store about 50 DVDs per row (200 total). The top rows can be used for miscellaneous storage, e.g., remotes, 3-glasses, napkins, laser pointer, etc. (Figure 13) |
|||
|
4.18 Now move your cabinets into place and make sure that the front of the cabinets are flush and even with the front of the screen frame (even with the bottom beam of the frame). Place the cabinets underneath the right and left sides of the screen frame and secure them with 1½-inch screws at the top, the sides, and at the bottom. Youre done with them for now. |
|||
|
Center Speaker Support
4.19 Measure the distance between the two DVD cabinets and cut a 1x8 to that length, this will be the center channel speaker support shelf. The height that the shelf is placed is determined by the height of your center channel speaker, plus 1 to allow for clearance. Obviously, you want the center channel speaker as close to the bottom of the screen as possible, so place the shelf as high as possible (close to the bottom beam of the screen frame). Secure the shelf with A angle plates and ½-inch screws. Paint the front edge of the shelf black. (Figure 13) |
|||
Supplies needed: 
