Design and Supplies

• 1). Research the method of projection and purchase the necessary components. Homemade projectors will always need a cabinet or box that includes a monitor, mirror or other reflective source, lens barrel, light bulb, fan and switches. Collect long pieces of wood for the box.
  
  
• 2). Buy a projector screen that meets your needs and matches your projection method. The main difference in screens is how much light they are able to reflect. This reflectivity is commonly available in less than five percent (matte white vinyl,) 15 percent (pearlescent, the matte white vinyl with a layer of reflective coating,) and 30 to 40 percent (silver or glass bead, made of thousands of small glass marbles in a transparent coat).
  
  
• 3). Measure the light switch, lens barrel and fan vents you purchased to use in the next step.
  
  
• 4). Draw a scale blueprint for your hometheatre projector box. Consider the method and placement of projection, lighting conditions, seating setup and the distance between the projector and the screen.
  
  
• 5). Cut the wood into four equal boards for the top, bottom and sides of the box. Cut two smaller boards to be the box's back and front.
  
  
• 6). Drill a hole in one of the small boards the size of your lens barrel.
  
  
• 7). Salvage a cheap reflective source such as monitors from a broken computer or overhead projector, removing them very carefully.
  
  
• 8). Secure the mirror mount to the projector box and attach the mirror as directed.
  
  
• 9). Use glue to attach the monitor to the bottom of the projector and the reflective surface cheated to the side. They should be facing each other.
  
  
• 10
  
  Place the light bulb near the mirror and a fan near the light (this prevents the unit from overheating.) Drill vent holes nearby.
  
  
• 11
  
  Install switches for the fan and the light inside the box.
  
  
• 12
  
  Assemble and line up the front, back, sides and top of your projector box.
  
  
• 13
  
  Wire the electrical components together, ensuring that the wires are taut and separate from everything else in the hometheatre projector box.
  
  
• 14
  
  Screw in the light bulbs.
  
  
• 15
  
  Hang the projector screen according to your blueprints, placing speakers behind it. Test the system to make sure it is working properly.
  
  
• 16
  
  Screw in the bottom piece of the box with the wooden screws. Now you have a functioning hometheatre projector!