Inexpensive, Collapsible PVC Projector Screen Frame | Backyard Movie Night 

I would add another set of unions in the middle of the long sides so everything packs down to the same manageable length. Nice job!

I told my wife that I wanted to do this and said, "I bet someone else already had this idea and already did a tutorial," and that was about 15 seconds ago. Thanks so much for this

The first half of the ru-vid.comUgkx3ICSK6nSknaL_45CU2NmFSoXjarGMDiJ book is everything about wood: types, tools, finishes, setting up shop etc. The second half is all about doing projects for inside and outside of the home. The color pictures are helpful. After reading a dozen of these types of books, this is probably the best overall (layout, color photos, plans). Only detraction is that many of the projects use a table saw/router/planer, which are usually expensive and take up space, so the plans are less friendly to newcomers and the budget conscious. But I know I can use a drill, circular saw or a jigsaw to make the projects.

I just bought a 150” screen for movies outside (and if I ever come into some money, I’ll build an extra room on my house to make an indoor home theater) but might do mine a little differently. I’m thinking about cutting the frame into smaller pieces and use fittings to put them together to the right length to make it easier to store away (barely any glue or no glue) until I need it. And I’m thinking about giving it a few pipes in the back like a cross or an X for support. I’ll have to figure out how to do the without them pushing on the back of the screen. Also, I’ll give it its own stand in the back so it can stand anywhere in the yard and not have to be tied to the house or garage. I’m just brain storming at the moment to see what will work. It might take a lot of engineering to get the right kind frame for it.

Great Job in editing. Really enjoyed the instructable.

I recently built one of these using a lot of what he did in the video. I had a 150" screen to mount and no way of doing it, and no fancy Pergola. I made this a collapse-able kind of frame so I could hang it from some paracord in my shed when not in use. I made the vertical legs with a coupler in the middle, glued on one side and a hole drilled through the other for a locking bolt. I glued 90s to the top, and Tee's to the bottom of each half respectfully. I used the unions to join the horizontal pieces to the verticals with the same methods described above in the video (@2:50). I then used two more Tees in the middle of horizontal piece with a hole drilled on the non-glued part for a locking bolt. I made an offset middle brace using a 90 at the top and another Tee at the bottom to create a middle peg that supports the sag created when putting tension on the screen. At the bottom of the lower Tee's on each side, I added 1Ft and then another Tee with 18" "feet" then capped the open ends. I glued the foot portion together and used another locking bolt hole to attach the feet to the rest of the frame and to keep things sturdy. I added a mid-point eye bolt on each side for tie down's using steaks like a tent almost. I drilled holes in the horizontal foot pieces and used those as anchor points for more steaks. Works great. This tutorial was very helpful giving me ideas on how to create a frame.

Thank you very much for this tutorial and the one of how to build a pergola.Fantastic!

Any suggestions on how to add legs/a stand? Unfortunately we don’t have a beautiful pergola to hang ours from. Lol. Thx!

i was going to say something about you not priming the pvc joints but since the pvc is not holding water you do have a point. a simple glue will be fine. this is a great video for what you are doing. everyone has different needs. my screen had a standing on the ground frame and i put brass grommets on it. then i attached it to the outside wall of my house.

BTW, Yes, Drive-in’s are a thing in Texas. We have 2 near us and like to go as often as possible. Love your project.

Great video. this was easy to follow.

Great job

Im about to build a frame that will br able to be hung or free standing. Mine should be similar but I'll use heavier pvc and use your union connector idea for some detachable legs.

Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but plan to later. Looks like a great instructable! Quick question: Did you build that pergola as well? Would love to see an instructable on that too! Edit: Just found the instructable and video for this haha.

Nice idea thank you

I’m a lazy guy. I’d just use the pergola as the frame!

Im looking at getting a projector and screen very soon I would like to know what projector I should get i would be putting on a shelf above my window to the opposite side of the wall it is 14 and a half feet away please help.

Did you use the thicker wall pvc pipe for this project build?

Hello, I have a 250" screen 218"x123"... I want to make the frame with 1" PVC piping with braces at every 5' making a total of five verticals... Do you think that would support the weight of the projection screen?

Thank you SO SO much for this! Is there a way I could do a version of this for one of those 300" screens? (22ft x 13 ft?)

That PVC pipe isn't strong enough for that length. The screen has creases in it. I use 1"x2" wood

i have a 2000 yard roll of 550 para cord.

The union fittings seem completely unnecessary and just add to the cost. You more than likely don't need any PVC cement either. It should hold itself together just fine, and when put together, the screen itself will hold it together.

Pvc pipe cutters would shave off another ten minutes

cost me 6300 for all the parts so much for under 30

Ok I made this the only problem is the middle needs more support what can I do not to show another pipe in the middle because it will show

Was going to make the same design, but with 4 unions, I was trying to keep it under $20 since I didn't know if I was going to like it or not, and tbh I'm not over the moon with it. I'd like to figure out how to add more rigidity to my frame, and I used a cross fitting and ran 4 braces from each side to the middle. Also, we can see the pvc braces through the screen, soooo. I might try your way with the rope, though. I'm using mini bungies right now; maybe that will add some rigidity.

I am struggling with a 180” screen. I am using 1 1/4” PVC and it’s sagging big time. I also don’t have a stand and making a stand that large has it falling out/over. My JWST screen is also very heavy, black on one side and really thick.

I will give this a try. thanks.

Haha I have the exact same projector I bought 2 months ago lol

Kinda ratchet. 😬 But good effort.