CRT monitor case removal

[ratzz]

Hi guys,

I've had a search for this topic with little result, and wondered if anyone had removed their monitor case and mounted the tube in their cabs?

My cab will be tight for space, and although I have made a cardboard monitor(!) for sizing and layout, I think I could save even more space (and weight) by removing all the plastic casing.

However, let me point out that I am scared to death of performing such a procedure for fear of toasting myself! I've seen the threads and warnings about this type of thing, so I was wondering what you guys think.

Also, and the other big problem, would be how I mount it?

My project is a galaga / pacman mini style case, so it would be more of a horizontal (angle) as opposed to a vertical (if you catch my drift!).

Thanks chaps.
Ratzz 

[leapinlew]

These are all the problems that have lead me to not decase any of my monitors. I've tried a few times and the result has been a few busted monitors.

[mark shaker]

I've done it successfully, you just need a properly sized "universal mount kit".

They are kinda hard to find.

   - Mark

[DaOld Man]

I have mounted two out-of-case monitors to 3/4"MDF.
I had to used 3/4" MDF blocks and a few washers to make the front of the monitor flush with the outside of the MDF .
Here's a pic:

[Rabbi Bob]

I'm working with a defunct cabinet, so I kept the mounting bracket from the original tube.

Please excuse the following, this is my 1st attempt at attaching an image here.

Image 1:

• Be careful of the back end of the crt (!!).  This area will probably be the hardest to avoid touching or moving, however you can do the most damage to the CRT by pushing, bending, moving this area.
• The bottom tray will contain most of the circuitry for the CRT and outside of the plastic case it will most likely free float.  Do your best to secure this to either a rail or the cabinet body.  I was fortunate enough to rest the rear on the mounting bracket and also to attach it to the cabinet body via two screw points on the tray (red arrow)

Image 2:

• Unfortunately the 19" CRT did not fit properly in the same area of the 19" monitor I removed (the outer bracket molding on the monitor made up the difference).  I was able to create mounting extenders using a grinder, metal stock, bolts, washers and lock washers.  Currently the top extenders are angle at 45 degrees.  When I do my final setup of the CRT, they will be horizontal and the bottom extenders will be 45 degrees (there is a little bit of exposed dead space when viewing from the front that I want to get rid of).
• I used zip ties to hold the basic wiring harness that surrounded the CRT in place.  Don't use zip ties to hold the bottom tray in place.  I did during the initial mounting phase to see what I needed for spacing and I also turned the monitor on to test out the PC.  It generates some heat and I only noticed this after the fact when I removed the zip ties, which had started to slowly melt.

I like DaOld Man's approach above.  That looks solidly in place where it sits.   

It's not a pretty thing to do, just take your time.  I think as long as you use caution (I'm sure you've read the page here on discharging) and respect the device while you're working on it for what it can potentially do to you, you can do this without major incident.  I chose a clear work area and opted to lay down a small carpet piece to rest the monitor face on, then removed the plastic piece by piece slowly. 

[leapinlew]

Nice post Rabbi.

[ratzz]

Thanks for the response guys ... and thanks Rabbi Bob for the write-up.

At this point I would still like to go for it, and will read-up a bit more on the subject, and how not to fry myself while at it!

Ratzz

[Mark Thomas]

Did you ever have a go at this Ratzz? I'm thinking of doing a similar thing with an old PC monitor for a Bar Top project

[Mat]

I just did this yesterday for the first time.  I mounted the moniter to a piece of 11/16" plywood and then mounted the plywood in the cab using the factory brackets.  It took me a while to get the hole in the plywood to fit the monitor but it wasn't too hard.  The monitor attaches to the plywood using bolts, and the metal cage surrounding the CRT attaches with wood screws.

I ran into two clearance issues when installing it in the cab.  First, the bottom of the monitor scraped the bottom bracket on the cab, so I pulled it back out and hacked at it with some snips till it fit.  Second, the top rear of the metal cage contacted the back wall of the cab before the monitor was fully seated.  On mine it's not much of a problem so I'm going to put some 1/2" spacers in between the plywood and the mounting brackets.

Other than cutting the monitor hole, I made two other cuts:  A rectangle below the monitor to hold the monitor's control panel, and a hole that I can stick a screw through to hit the power switch.  Plus I also cut two handholds to grab it by when putting it into place.

Just realized this was a 5 year old thread...lol, oh well

[compute]

I can't believe I didn't think of this!  I've been trying to come up with a solution that didn't involve buying $40 worth of angle steel.  Looks like I'll be picking up a $10 sheet of MDF.  Thanks, guys!  Now I can mount a tube in my cabinet.

[capsule]

Yep, it's pretty easy to make an MDF panel that will support the decased monitor.
A lot of measurements and adjustements but once it's OK, just put the tube in and use the original brackets to screw it to your panel.

The only problem is manipulating once it's mounted on the MDF sheet since you don't have any back "cage" around the monitor, but just being careful will do

[Nephasth]

I can't believe I didn't think of this!  I've been trying to come up with a solution that didn't involve buying $40 worth of angle steel.  Looks like I'll be picking up a $10 sheet of MDF.  Thanks, guys!  Now I can mount a tube in my cabinet.

I picked up a piece of angle from Lowes for $5-10 to mount a monitor in what was to become my Arkanoid cab...