I recently bought a projector and am looking to build a shelf for it to sit on. I rent, so I really don't want to do anything with the ceiling. The configuration I'm currently using is just a standard bookshelf, but the thing is there is a window directly opposite my living room wall, so the projector is off-center. What I'd like to do, rather than placing the entire bookshelf in front of the window, is to place the anchors above the window, attach the sisal rope to those anchors, & then wrap the rope around a plank of wood. My projector weighs 5.5 pounds. Is this a decent set up? Is there a better method? I really don't want it falling, so if there's no way to be certain it'll be stable, what should I do instead?
Drywall – I want create some hanging shelves using zinc E-Z Drywall Anchors & Sisal rope. How much weight could this method bear
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Not possible by just going into drywall. The achors are not designed to bear that kind of load. The reason this won't work is because of torque. Drywall anchors are designed to support loads that are very near the wall (i.e. pulling, more or less, straight down along the wall). Your shelf will probably have the load offset from the wall by a few inches, which will eventually pull the anchors out of the wall. This is because of torque. The farther you go from the wall the more torque you have. While the shelf may hold for a while I would not trust it.
The torque on the anchors can be mitigated by putting in angle brackets. These effectively redirect the load from the edge of the shelf back to the wall. This is better, but I still wouldn't trust this shelf unless it is secured into something more than drywall.
If you have a plaster ceiling and it's in good shape, not coming away from the lath anywhere, there are some screw types and techniques that could reasonably hold weight like this. I don't recommend it but it's possible and you need to experiment to find what works well in your plaster. It varies. If you do this, also follow the advice below for the FIRST HOOK in drywall.
Assuming however you have a drywall ceiling:
The FIRST HOOK, the one that has the long tail of the power cord, switch, and plug dangling from it, should be a strong hook screwed deep into a joist. At least a #8x2" eye hook. This will take the strain of being wiggled and pulled when the plug or switch is handled by human hands. The cable should be firmly attached (eg tight wire ties) to this hook in order to prevent further downstream hooks from taking any stress from handling.
After that for the subsequent hooks: Options to hang lightweight things on ceilings and leave no, or minimal damage after removal:
- Removable sticky-backed stretch-to-remove such as 3M command strips. Those should hold the weight of this string and can be removed with no trace but sometimes the paint comes off with them.
- Use steel screw hooks or screw eyes (not cup hooks), find the thinnest longest one you can. I've seen #8x1.5" and M3x1.5". If you could find a #6x1.5" that would be great but I can't see one. Screw through the drywall into a joist without drilling. The purpose of the joist is not because you have a heavy piece to hang. It is to allow you to use a very thin screw that will hold well, and can be removed with minimal damage to the ceiling and no drilling. The hole left behind will be almost invisible without painting, with just some filler.
- If you don't want to find and use joists then find the smallest plastic anchors you can, and use them with small cup hooks to conceal them. Don't use decorative cup hooks without anchors. They are too short to reach joists and won't hold without anchors.
- If you just don't want to use a drill, buy self-drilling drywall anchors. I don't recommend this, however, because if you do hit a joist with one of these you end up with a mess. With very small plastic anchors (method #3) you can drill into the joist to accommodate them or cut them short at the surface.
Best Answer
There are ceiling mounts available for most projectors that let you attach right to the ceiling, that might be easier.
However, there is an adjustment that lets you use most projectors at an oblique angle to the wall, look for a "keystoning" adjustment in your projector's manual. This would allow you to get a perfect rectangular image with the projector in it's current spot.