Disgrundtaled Speaker Mounts

Materials: Grundtal toilet roll holder, wooden coasters, Drill with various drill bits, Hack saw (not required if you’ve got a rotary tool), Files, Rotary tool with cut-off wheels (not required, but VERY highly recommended), Sandpaper

Description: This is a set of speaker mounts made from Grundtal toilet paper holders. They were inspired by these.

I was originally going to make them out of wood, but after buying a ton of Grundtal kitchen stuff on a visit to Ikea and being impressed by the nice stainless finish, I decided to try and find some stainless steel items that could be modified into the basic shapes I was looking for.

After a bit of searching, I discovered the Grundtal toilet tissue holder and it fit the bill just right. The tube was the right diameter and there was just enough length of bar to accommodate my speakers.

First, cut a flat in the end cap of the tube. This will allow the mount to sit flush with the wall and give it stability, since the keyholes will be cut on a cylinder. This step can be done using a file or the rotary tool with cut-off wheels. If using the rotary tool, take care not to cut off too much. The flat must be flush with the cylinder wall. Start with a rough cut and make it flush with a file.

Once the flat has been cut, it’s time to cut the keyhole mounting holes. Measure from one end and mark two sets of points, one near the top and one near the bottom. Leave about a half inch between the holes in each set. Mark each point with a punch and drill the four holes. The smaller of the two holes should be the same size as the screws (shanks) you plan to use for hanging the speakers. Too much bigger and you will have a difficult time getting the mounts to hang level. The bigger of the holes should be big enough for the head of the screw to clear it. The bigger you make these holes, the easier they will be to mount, but bigger drill bits will tend to kink the thin walls of the cylinder, so don’t over do it. Once the holes are drilled, use either a file or a rotary tool to connect the two holes, making a keyholes shape.

The last step, making the arm, requires the most elbow grease. You’ll need to cut the plate to length and then round off the ends. One end already has a hole so only additional hole must be drilled. Rounding off the ends is probably the most work, especially without a rotary tool.

To make the platforms, I used a set of bamboo coasters. Stainless steel disks would be ideal here, and I may yet get some, but for now, the coasters will have to do. Drill pilot holes and use flat-head wood screws (preferably stainless) to attach the disks to the arms.

~ Pavel K, United States