So I'm trying to figure out what mount to go with.

I have a 42" Panasonic Plasma (TCP42X1). Listed at 57.4 lb. 26.1"H x 40.6"L x 4.2"W. Bolt spacing of ~15"H x ~12"V.

I'd like a swivel/tilt mount. Less expensive, the better.

The difficult part... my stud spacing seems a bit off. They're not centered over the mantle, which is below where the TV will go. Seems to be a 16" space (standard) but then a 28.5" space (grr)... see diagram below. Does this rule out a straight up installation? I'm not familiar with out adjustable the mounts are with respect to stud spacing/centering the TV. I'll reconfirm this spacing tomorrow, I hope.



mount options? installation options? I'm thinking worst case is having to mount a board to the wall and the mount to the board....

4/27/2011 9:37:27 PM

Cut the drywall out, install a 2x4" where you need it in the space, and while you're in there go ahead and notch/drill the holes for your power and a/v cable runs.

Patch the drywall back over, drill your mount holes, put on the mount and live happy.

Monoprice.com for your mount.

4/27/2011 9:56:08 PM

We put ours over the fireplace in our last home and the spacing was different around the mantle. Measuring 16" from either wall end didn't hit any studs. I wanna say I hit what looked like stacked 2x4s right in the middle and then found studs 12" off either side from this. Seems odd that yours isn't symmetrical about the center of the mantle.

4/27/2011 10:03:26 PM

Not sure I want to get into all that... this is an apartment. And cable runs might be difficult since they'd have to about 7' horizontally and then 3' vertically. And I'm not sure how I could get a 2x4 in there well enough to hold the weight, without really tearing shit up.

dammit, drew it off just a bit.

updated:

4/27/2011 10:05:15 PM

I'm very impressed that you drew this nice diagram. I would just get a peice of half inch plywood and screw it into the studs, then mount the tv through the plywood and into stud on one side and just through the plywood on the other. I am near positive that would hold. You typically don't sink a screw a ton more than 1/2" maybe 1.5 if you are using monster screws, and having the stud screwed into plywood should hold it up nicely.

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 10:26 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2011 10:26:00 PM

thought about that... just wasn't sure about plywood holding up. lag bolt the plywood to the studs then use what for mount to plywood? I feel like screws/lag bolts could strip right through plywood.

ha, this is what I had pictured... http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=17969481#post17969481

just counter sink the bolts into the 2x4s. paint 2x4s. only issue is that they'd extend beyond the sides of the tv.... I guess I could round the ends off, counter sink the lags that go into the wall and use some wood filler... but then I don't know how I'd remove it

[Edited on April 27, 2011 at 10:40 PM. Reason : .]

4/27/2011 10:38:13 PM

Plywood trick defijitely works. I installed two 47 inch units in a house with 24" on center studs. Predrill your holes, installed 2 lag bolts per side, paint to match wall, then mount up your tv.

4/28/2011 1:37:40 AM

hmm, ok. what did you use to attach the mount to the plywood? options for covering up the lag bolts going into the studs (they'll show on my setup)

4/28/2011 5:44:46 AM

^ 99.999% of mounts you buy will come with all the hardware, screws, little expanding anchor thingys, and anything else you may need.

In our case you couldn't see the bolts from the sitting area (plus they're painted to match wall). If you had to cover it I think I would either use a second sheet of plywood and countersink it or I'd look into some kind of decorative cover.

Maybe some of these chair bottom things, trimmed down then painted.
http://rematlanta.com/tableshocks-1-1-3.aspx

If you want to go gangster on it you can remove the section of drywall where the plywood is going, shoot it full of expanding foam (if it's not an outside/insulated wall), trim the foam and then put in the plywood in the hole. Use the drywall repair mesh to shore up the sides, spackle and paint it up. Step your game up to 1" plywood and countersink the bolt heads with the little plug covers, and maybe use 6 instead of 4 since we're intentionally weakening the plywood ($1 bolt vs $TV). Also wouldn't hurt to put a quick splash of paint on the inside the wall part of the plywood to help prevent warping as your house settles/expands during season change.

4/28/2011 11:06:45 AM

lag SCREW people. For which the minimum penetration is generally 4 to 10 times the diameter of your fastener. Do not lag screw anything into 1/2-inch plywood unless you want it to fall down.

That said, it might be acceptable to BOLT (with a nut on the backside) your tv mount to plywood and then secure the plywood to the wall studs with lag SCREWS.

I would use 2X as someone else has suggested.

[Edited on April 28, 2011 at 11:42 AM. Reason : *]

4/28/2011 11:36:30 AM

yes, slut is right. Lag screws.

The lag screws are used to hold the plywood into the stud, not for hanging the mount. The mount will come with appropriate hardware. Ours came from Pyle and had the butterfly style anchors for the mount. And they always include extras in case you're paranoid and want to shoot more in there.

Also, thicker the plywood the better; as mentioned.

4/28/2011 12:08:15 PM

If you're nervous about the ability of plywood, just throw up some 2x4s and call it a day.

4/28/2011 12:14:43 PM

lag screw, sorry

I know the mount will come with hardware; but isn't the mount held up by lag screws in a traditional install? The only mount kit I've seen that showed the hardware just showed some puny screws and anchors... those can't be what hold the mount up, can they?

Thus if I went with plywood, I'd need bolts & counter sinking, correct? If I go with 2x4s, couldn't I just use lag screws for both mount->2x4 and 2x4->stud? then get something thing to go over the 2x4s and cover the bolts (and counter sink into that, instead of the 2x4s).

4/28/2011 12:58:21 PM

yes

4/28/2011 6:22:03 PM