Ed's Build Thread - Page 3

One question, what are my options for securing panels to the wall?

The walls will be panels full top to bottom. I was planning on stretching like Chinadog did but I think I might do panels now. Just not sure how to attach to wall after the are built.

Only thing I can think of right now is Velcro stapled to back of panels and attach thin firing strip to wall for stapling the Velcro loop strip to.

Have the cage covered. All went well. Only thing is I need to either paint the speaker borders or have a second piece of speaker cloth inside the cage to hide the white speaker border. I will try to drape a piece inside to see if that helps.

This is prior to cutting to sconce opening.


With the sconce opening cut.


With sconce added. Yep it fits.


Here are two with full sconce installed.




Now a full shot. You can see the speaker in this shot. I'll work on trying to hide it a little better.

FTW I added a second piece of speaker cloth to the inside of the cage. Check out the photos and the final result.

Inside of cage looked like this


Added a second sheet of speaker cloth like this.


Even with camera flash you can't see the speaker now.


And one final shot further back.


This week I will make the cages for the other three columns with speakers in them. As soon as I figure out how to hang frames I can start on a couple of the walls between my columns.

I was able to build and paint black the final four cages for my remaining pillars. Tomorrow I will remove the lights and speakers from the pillars and paint them black. Then I just need to stretch the speaker cloth over the last four cages and put them up. Making good progress little by little. I cant wait until I can stretch some fabric on the walls.

Here are two of the four I built and painted tonight.


Cage is added to a column.

After the blue paint that I did not like at all I think this is going to do it for me on the wall treatment.



The two squares on the right are photos of the material I have. Left boxes are solid color representations of them. Dark gray will be the wall color with the material stretched and/or wall frames.

Right now I am debating on two options.

1. dark gray walls with full maroon material stretched on the bottom half of the walls. Then make gray panels for the top that still show the gray walls around them.

2. dark gray walls and individual maroon panels and individual gray panels.

Thanks Chainsaw.

Got the gray on the walls tonight. Two coats pretty much covered everything with just a little paint left for touchups. After the first coat I was worried I did not go dark enough. After that dried it darkened up a little. Then a little more after the second coat. Really happy to see the blue gone and the walls one solid color. The paint is a little wet yet in the photos. If anything the color is a tab darker than what the photos really show.

It does have a little to it. I have an odd stage. It is sunken into my room. The entire stage and about 5 feet out from it is entirely black. So the fabric won't be close to the screen at all. We will see if thee fabric causes any issues on the walls. Some test fabric will go up next weekend I think.

Thanks for the comments and watching the build.

What a great weekend for my build. Loving the gray I painted. Seeing the room fully painted inspired me to get my butt moving on my rack and media shelves. Really happy with the rack area progress today.

Here is what I started with tonight.



After taking a few measurements I got the ball rolling by building a box and putting some shelves in it. I am using 1/2 inch MDF. Tacking together with the air gun and some glue.



Then I mounted the shelve in between the 2x4s. It fit perfectly.



You can see that I started to use 1x2 furring strips to frame the area out. The shelves are 36" tall and can hold about 15 cases per shelf.

Next I cut two pieces of half inch MDF 66" long and 4.25" deep. These I installed on the inside of the rack opening plus a piece across the top and bottom.




Finally I cut the other shelf pieces. This time I put them together in the opening instead of building the box first. I have three shelves in the right side. Not sure if I will put in a forth or not. I have several box music sets that could go in the larger opening like you see below.



Next I need to paint it all black and recut the shelves for the rack to fit the new opening.

As you might have noticed everything is flush with the wall. I have a couple of options for the final treatment.

1. Trim it out like most people do with traditional trim. Everything is visible.
2. Hide everything with hinged or removable panel that blend in to the final wall treatment.
3. A combo of the two. I could hide the media shelves and leave open the rack area.

Whatever I do it has to be durable enough for my kids to be opening or gaining access to everything on their own.

Next update you should see shelves back in the rack and everything painted black. Once I finish the rack area off there is nothing stopping me from getting busy on the material for the walls.

I should probably add that the opening below the left side shelves is my way to get into the closet. I am 6'2'' and 200lbs and I can just get in there when I squat down and exhale. All my cables run from that little closet to the front of the room and projector. I don't want to close that little opening up but it will be concealed off when the wall treatment is added.

Maybe a photo of me squeeeeeeeeeeeezing in there is in order in my next update.

Just a quick update the last few days. Quick coat of black on the shelves. It still needs another one or two.



But none the less The Dude approves.

I am on the fence about my treatment. I have enough material to go full stretch top to bottom. Dampening to to ear level when seated. But stretching material over that seems so permanent. I have changed my mind on so many things on my build that I am worried I will not like it in the end. So now I am leaning towards panels. I am thinking 2' x 4' sized. Spaced out nicely between columns and back wall but not complete coverage top to bottom panels. Then panel bass traps as well. This way I could try different fabric or even change it when I get tired of the color. All DIY for sure.

I would really like to get a room measurement before treatment and then after but I don't own the equipment. The software is free so I just need a pre amp, mic and spl meter. None of which is too expensive really. If I buy the gear then I can try different locations for the panels until I am happy.

My room is kind of odd shaped. I can really only have corner bass traps on the left fro and back corners. The the corners behind an AT screen yet to be built.

Zulu what are you thinking for panels on your build?

Sconces are from here http://www.lowes.com/pd_294377-43501...ntity_sold%7C1

Thanks.

Only 17 bucks each if you buy more than 3 at a time at my Lowes.

Not a lot of update the last week. I had to order some new cables from monoprice and I got a few things from the X10 website.

Is anyone using anything from 10X in their theater? I picked up some of the dimmers and I am pretty happy with them. You don't need to have the entire automation thing going on. Their dimmers work just like ay other dimmer but less expensive. Picked up their Nstinct remote to try out as well. Look for an X10 update when I have everything installed.

For cables I got a 35 foot cable for my sub so I can get it off my riser and up on the stage. Also a new optical cable for my Mac mini to receiver for digital audio out my Mac Mini.

Other major update that I need to get a photo of is the screen wall. I moved it up so I have 19 inches to place speakers behind an AT screen. I have yet to built the new screen but I just can't decide on what material to use. I can seem to get any response about using the Dazian Coated Celtic material. If anyone has used it I'd love to hear about it!

I am talking about using the Coated Celtic Cloth as screen material. The CCC is apparently the same what they sell for the screen material. I have only seem one person use it and it was a few years ago.

Okay forget the CCC for screen material. Possible since others have used it. I guess it let a little too much light through it so dropping it as an option.

Going with the Seymour A/V for sure Brad. I should be ordering next week.

Well I am stressed about my wonky stage now. I moved my screen wall forward to accommodate an AT screen. I have 21" from back wall to front of 2x4. Speakers fit real nice in the new space. Buuuuuuuuut, now I only have 11 feet from screen to front row seating center head. I was planning for 120' 16:9 screen. Have I just screwed myself on the 120" screen only having 11 to screen? I need some feedback on this one. I will be running an Epson 8350. Do I ditch the 16:9.

Things are really messy right now but here is a photo of the Polks in position waiting on the screen build to take place. I still need to frame out the screen area. The two vertical 2x4s are 105 inches apart. Let me know what you think. Stressing.....

Yes 120 diagonal


Thanks for replying Brad. I found a viewing calculator online. HTX preference is at 13 feet. That is about my back row but the back row is not the sound sweet spot. I will get enough AT material for 120" screen since I can't go any bigger and shoot against that before building the frame. Just tack the material up and check the size on that first. I think I will be fine. What I think is going to happen is it might make my wife sick. She can't watch the movies shot handheld like Cloverfield. I wonder if normal movie will make her sick?

Still interested in what others have to say.