OmniMount ECSB Component Shelf for CRT TVs and Video Accessories
by OmniMount
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List Price: Our Price: $28.89 You Save: $31.06 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 3-4 business days Buy Used: from $27.00 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of OmniMount ECSB Component Shelf for CRT TVs and Video Accessories
Customer Review: Terrible instructions, terrible installation process, few configuration options
Summary: 2 Stars
The instructions tell you to make a pilot hole with a 1/8" drill bit when working with wood (stud mount), but use a 5/16" drill bit when working with concrete. However, the 1/8" hole is WAY too small. I STRONGLY suggest using a 5/16" drill bit for the pilot hole for BOTH wood/stud mounts as well as concrete. When I attempted to screw the screws into the 1/8" pilot hole, I could not screw them down all the way and managed to strip the screws a decent amount (my fault for applying brute force and ignorance). One upside is that the screw heads are of decent quality and I was still able to operate, despite the screws being stripped a decent bit. Once I made the 5/16" pilot holes, the screws went in prefectly.
Another instructional failure was that it asks for an open-ended wrench with no size specification given. When it comes to tightening the pivot nut onto the bolt holding the pivot arm, I had to use two adjustable wrenches to accomplish this (the bolt head and the nut are different sizes). Furthermore, the nut that screws onto the bolt has a hard filling just inside one of the edges of threading. This makes it EXTREMELY difficult to tighten the nut down tight enough so the pivot arm does not swivel unintentionally/easily.
The last issue at this point is that there are no configuration adjustments for the direction of mounting the glass on the pivot arm. What I mean is that on the pivot arm, where the glass mounts, there are three holes in a line (running parallel to the wall). The glass screws in ontop of the pivot arm, filling all three holes. Now, I bought two of these mounts to use side-by-side, and if I want to swivel them both inward toward one another, the glass will no longer face directly front, but to the side at an angle. To alleviate this, I plan to drill 4 additional holes in each of the pivot arms, right where the glass mounts. This should give me the option to mount the glass at a 45-degree angle in either direction, so when I do swivel the shelves in toward one another, the glass will still face forward and I can use the two shelves as one.
In conclusion, I like the look of the shelves (this is the only reason this review gets 2 stars instead of 1), but I would NEVER recommend this to any of my friends, based on the installation issues and the options for mounting the glass. It's not worth the $40 for each shelf.
It would be nice if we had the option to choose shaded glass, but I did not factor this into my review because I think it's purely preference and wouldn't reflect on the quality of the product or installation ease.
Customer Review: Looks nice, works great
Summary: 5 Stars
This product is very nice. We were apprehensive about having a glass shelf for AV stuff, especially with kids in the house, but it's proven to be a durable product and is visually unobtrusive. In fact, we're getting ready to order another one and I'm happy to see its still available 2 years after ordering the first one!
We have moved several times over the past few years and one trick I learned with all of this wall mount stuff: if you're mounting into a wood stud, throw away the bulky lag bolts the manufacturers include. At the risk of drawing fire here (and maybe voiding a useless warranty or two) I suggest using Omg FMTLOK04-50 50PK 4" Timberlok Screws for most wall mount products (into wood studs) where a 3/8" (or smaller) lag bolt is used. Timberlok has a 1000lb shear rating and 6000lb pull-out rating when used in standard 1,5" width lumber. The OmniMount shelf can be installed in 5 minutes with a level, pencil & four Timberlok screws.
You can get the 4" Timberlok screws at most home improvement stores but if you want/need the 2.5" bolts, you'll probably have to order them online from FastenMaster. The Timberlok screws install in seconds with most any respectable drill/driver, don't require pre-drilling, a nut driver is included in every package, they can be removed/moved in seconds and they make a pretty small hole than can be easily patched. These things are awesome!
The OmniMount shelf is a great product! If you don't like the size or the fact that it gets dusty or that it takes too long to install, that's your problem, don't blame the product. As mentioned elsewhere, the only suggestion I have would be some type of locking mechanism on the swing arm, but this has never posed any significant issues for us.
Customer Review: Perfect size for our movie projector
Summary: 4 Stars
This shelf is perfectly proportioned to accommodate our 15 pound movie projector. We found the extra distance from the wall and swiveling features to be exactly right to
allow enough room for the inconveniently located DVD tray to open on the back of our projector.
I was installing the shelf on a wood stud. When I followed the instructions to drill the pilot hole as recommended in the instructions, the first screw did
strip very easily. I tried using some similar sized bolts instead, but after breaking off two bolt heads (probably from excess frictional heat) when they were almost completely screwed into the stud, I abandoned those as well. I then had to reposition the backing plate to drill four new pilot holes, this time with one bit size larger than recommended, then used the smaller bit to drill the pilot an extra half inch deeper than recommended. It was still a tough job to hand tighten the screws, but it eventually worked. I wanted the shelf to be secure so I didn't want the pilot holes to be too large. I was also careful to take some breaks the second time around to allow the screws to cool off to help lessen the chance of breaking off or stripping the screw heads due to heat.
The good news is, the rest of the shelf was VERY easy to install. I hope that the welding on the projector arm can really hold the load it claims as that would appear to me
to be the one possible weak point in the construction rather than the back wall plate if it has been properly secured.
Customer Review: Omnimount Shelf - Rear Surround Speakers
Summary: 5 Stars
I looked all over the internet for a mechanism or shelf in which to mount my rear surround Paradigm Studio 20 V5 speakers, of which each weighs 24 lbs. This product is exactly what I was looking for. The build quality is luxurious; and when it is mounted correctly into a wood stud, it is extremely secure. I have only two suggestions being;
1) Don't bother using the supplied screws if you are going to mount the unit
into a wood stud as the screw head will strip and it will take you forever
to screw it down. I recommend purchasing four 3" bolts designed for wood
application and use a ratchet to tighten. I would not mount this unit
simply into drywall and expect it to support 30lbs, but after mounting it
into a 2 x 4, I would bet that it could easily support 50 lbs.
2) Others complained that the shelve swivelled freely after installation from
side to side. I purchased two shelve units and simply applied extra
torque on the nut and bolt which mounts the swing arm to the base plate,
and now there is adequate tension so that there is resistance when I move
the shelf from side to side; resolving any issues with the shelf moving
freely on it's own.
I would not hesitate to recommend this shelf unit as I will guarentee you will be extremely satisfied with your purchase.
Cobra
Customer Review: Good high tech, "clean" looking component shelf
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased two of these shelves in preparation for a project. I have mounted one so far, not sure if I will end up needing the second (but good to have just in case).
For those who don't read all the way through reviews, let me start with the one key piece of info: the 21 1/2" measurement is the distance it will protrude from your wall. In my case, I would have prefered it be less extended but I can deal with it. If you have space (extension from the wall) issues, make some careful measurements.
The shelf is very nicely made. It is sturdy as heck, and mounts with some seriously large lag bolts! You want to stud mount this shelf however - don't try using wall anchors! The weight of the shelf alone would make that dangerous.
I installed mine in about 30 minutes by myself. If you're handy with tools and have a drill, stud finder, socket set, and screwdriver - you're all set.
The reason I witheld on star on my rating was because of two things:
1) There is about 3-4 inches of wasted "air space" behind the glass shelf before you get to the wall. I would have preferred this be tighter to the wall, but that might not bother anyone but me.
2) The shelf swivels, and I don't see any way to prevent it from doing so. So it is possible for the shelf to be bumped and for it to swivel side to side (and bump your wall). You can stiffen it up, but you can't lock it in position.
I like mine and would recommend it.