How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 Steps

We list the things you will need and explain the process step by step.
By
Bella
Bella
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Bella is a skilled copywriter who holds a degree in English studies. Her lifelong passion for decor and interior design is evident in her work, which is inspired by the beau read more
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Tommy
Tommy
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Tommy is an expert consultant at HouseAndBeyond, with extensive experience in home improvement. A master of all trades, he offers invaluable expertise in areas such as carpe read more
Last updated: August 19, 2023
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Projectors are becoming a popular demand as each day passes by. This is because homes, schools, and offices have started incorporating it into their must-have gadgets. Everyone wants to have at least one at their disposal because of its numerous benefits. For example, enlargement of visuals. Rather than what phones or TVs offer, you can have a bigger screen.

Also, it helps to minimize the amount of pressure placed on the eyes as close-range visuals gotten from phones and TVs damage the eye.

This makes learning how to make a projector without a magnifying glass important as it comes at a low and affordable price. You can easily make one at the comfort of your home or office and start enjoying these benefits.

Read to the end to find out just how you can do this!

What You Will Need to Make a Projector

How to make a DIY projector without a magnifying glass is pretty easy and all the materials you need are just somewhere around you probably wasting away.

Below are the needed materials.

  • Cardboard or shoebox
  • Bulb
  • Pencil
  • Razor or X-Acto knife
  • Clean water
  • Smartphone
  • Phone stand
  • Tape or glue

Step-by-Step Guide

You can get one of the best high-quality and affordable projectors below $1000. In fact, you’ll find some superb projectors on the market that cost less than $200.  But if you know how to make a homemade projector without a magnifying glass, you’ll definitely be spending a lot less.

In this guide, we will share with you how to make a smartphone projector without a magnifying glass that can be used for movies, presentations, and just anything that the outstanding pico projectors do.

Step 1: Assemble the Needed Materials

How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 StepsFirst of all, you need to ensure that you gather together all of the needed materials listed above. They are all important as they have their separate functions.

It’s preferable that you get a cardboard or shoebox with dark interiors, but if you don’t have one at home, don’t sweat it. You can easily paint the interior with black paint (poster color will do) or make use of black tape. Also, ensure that the cardboard or shoebox you’re using is big enough to change the size and distance of the visual projection.

The bulb is also an important component, so it’s essential that you use a bulb that fits well. According to experts, the SYLVANIA LED bulb is the best as it is designed to function perfectly with any kind of energy and it’s not expensive.

You’ll need a pencil to make marks as you will have to make some cutting. It’s best that you isolate the area you’ll be cutting beforehand.

Amongst the needed materials is a razor or X-Actor knife. These two pieces of equipment are sharp objects, so it’s essential that you’re careful while handling them. It’s advisable that you don’t let your kids go near them.

The water you’ll make use of must be free from impurities. You are to pour water into the bulb until it is full.

You will need your smartphone to play whatever movies you want to watch. The screen of the smartphone is small and can’t give you the feel of a cinema, hence you’ll need the projector to give you a wider view.

The phone stand is needed to support the phone and prevent it from falling when you put it into the cardboard or shoebox.

Any tape or glue you use will serve perfectly well. It will be used to hold together every attachment that will be made when constructing your projector.

Step 2: Set the Bulb

How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 StepsBefore positioning the bulb, you’ll need to remove the end cover that’s normally made of metal. You can easily remove it with pliers, leaving only the glass part. Also, ensure you take out the filament. The inside of the bulb should be totally empty.

Now, set the glass part of the bulb into the center of the cardboard or shoebox (anyone you are using) side. When you’ve got the bulb at the right spot, use a pencil to make a flawless mark around the spot as you will be cutting it away.

Step 3: Put the Bulb in Position

How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 StepsAfter flawlessly making a mark on the right spot of your cardboard or shoebox, you will pick your razor or X-Acto knife and cut the area off. You’ll then insert the bulb.

You must ensure that the outline of the bulb is carved correctly in order for it to fit perfectly. While cutting the section of the cardboard or shoebox off, be cautious not to extend the cut more than the area you marked. If you know that you have a shaky hand, you can call for help from a family member or neighbor.

After fitting the bulb perfectly, use your tape or glue to make it stick to the cardboard or shoebox (anyone you are using). Wait for approximately five minutes to make the bulb stick properly.

Step 4: Fill the Bulb with Clean Water

How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 StepsAfter carefully and perfectly placing the bulb in the cardboard or shoebox, you will have to fill it with clean water. You must ensure that the water does not pour outside the bulb.

When you’re done with filling the bulb, you need to seal it. You can do this by using the bottle cap of a soda bottle.

You can as well use glue to ensure that the bottle cap stays in place and that no water spills out.

Step 5: Make a Phone Stand

How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 StepsA phone stand is an important pillar in making a homemade projector. Most reviewers even recommend the 2-pack cell phone stand as it fits appropriately with all types of smartphones and it’s also portable.

However, you can construct your own phone stand at no cost. To make an iPhone projector without a magnifying glass, do the following.

By the way, these procedures also apply to all other types of smartphones.

  • Find a huge piece of cardboard
  • Find a template for a DIY phone stand on any craft website and print it out
  • Cut the template out
  • Draw on the card with the template
  • Cut out the card and put the stand together
  • Glue the stand to the base
  • Apply two-sided sticky tape to the stand after it has dried
  • Cover the sticky tape with a plastic phone cover.

Now, place the stand inside the shoebox and check that it allows you to easily move your phone freely – forward and backward.

Step 6: Cover the Box Interior

How to Make a Projector Without a Magnifying Glass in 6 StepsAs of now, you have a projector without a magnifying glass. However, you still have work to do, such as covering the box’s interior with black paint or paper. You need a black color because it absorbs light rather than reflects it. A dark interior will improve the viewing experience you’ll get as it will deliver superior image quality.

You are to design the interior of the box with black paper or black paint. Paste them painstakingly to cover the entire corners of the box. Make sure you protect the bulb and smartphone from getting damaged as you’re painting.

After it has been painted, allow it to dry. Then, you have your full-packaged customized phone stand. You can go-ahead to transform any room in your home into a movie theater Trusted Source Home movie theater ideas: Projectors, popcorn machines and more | CNN Underscored From projectors to comfy couches, we’re helping you elevate the home-viewing experience beyond flipping a light switch, with picks from interior design experts. amp.cnn.com , make use of it as a great tool for physical educators Trusted Source Projector Uses in Physical Education - supportREALteachers.org Examples of the various uses of projectors in physical education. www.supportrealteachers.org , for office presentation, etc.

How to Use a DIY Projector

After you’ve made a projector at home without a magnifying glass, you need to learn how to make use of it appropriately. You’ll most likely be seeing an inverted image if it’s not properly set.

The bulb inverses the visuals, so you’d have to rotate the video you’re watching upside-down in order for it to be projected properly. This shouldn’t be a problem as every smartphone comes with an auto-rotate feature. If your phone can’t rotate, install a screen rotating app to help you orient your screen. Another option you have is to place your phone upside-down within the box.

After you’ve rotated the video correctly, perform a test run to see if it’s projecting high quality images. If it’s not, adjust the projector by moving your smartphone forward and backward till you get a high image quality.

It’s also essential that your smartphone’s brightness is turned up.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be an electronics geek to make a projector without a magnifying glass. It’s an easy thing to do. In fact, it’s done by kids in elementary schools all over the world.

In this article, we have explained how to make a projector without a magnifying glass in detail, explaining the step-by-step processes involved. We’ve also explained how to use a DIY projector appropriately at home. As long as you have the required materials, you’ll conveniently make your projector without using a magnifying lens.

Knowing all these will save you from spending a huge amount of money on a ready-made projector.

References

1.
Home movie theater ideas: Projectors, popcorn machines and more | CNN Underscored
From projectors to comfy couches, we’re helping you elevate the home-viewing experience beyond flipping a light switch, with picks from interior design experts.
2.
Projector Uses in Physical Education - supportREALteachers.org
Examples of the various uses of projectors in physical education.

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