DIY frame/mount + Draper HiDef Grey?

Hi everyone

Firstly what a fantastic resource this forum is ... but it can be daunting trying to find very specific information (as is the case with all large resources like this). I've done quite a lot of searching but haven't found the info I'm looking for so I figured I'd ask for some pointers in the right direction.

I've have my new PJ (Vivitek H1080FD) in my room and am reasonably happy with it as far as band for the buck (the RBE is a bit annoying but I think I can live with it). My current screen is a smaller 4:3 Screen Goo Digital Light Grey setup (I know you folks don't like Goo very much but it worked for my needs and was easy). With the new PJ I want to setup a 120" 16:9 screen and have been doing a bunch of research on how I want to proceed. I'm not really interested in going the painted route (Goo or DIY) if I can avoid it ...

I think I'd like to try doing my own frame + mount setup and use Draper HiDef Grey but I'm concerned over how to physically mount and tension this stuff. I spoke to a sales rep and can get a good price on the screen material itself but he cautioned that this type of screen material doesn't tend to do well if you do the staple/thumb tack route when mounting -- it's apparently very prone to ripping when using this approach

I hate to have to spend an extra $1000 for one of their mounting systems if I can build my own .. and it's literally over $1000 more for their cheapest fixed screen setup (that uses the exact same screen material)! ~$250 cdn shipped for the material vs. ~$1400 CDN for the same material in the Shadowbox Clarion frame! I know that a good frame is a good frame, but wow ... hoping that this might be a likely place to save some $$ and still have a really nice screen material to work with ...

Can anyone give me pointers on how best to mount and tension this stuff? I've seen quite a few of the builds here and was thinking that I'd do a "2 piece" type unit, meaning one frame to mount to and tension with, and a secondary frame to hang in front for my borders, etc. Apparently I may also be able to get some materials with grommets in them already but the price is also considerably higher and I can't get the HiDef Grey (which I've seen in the showroom with a very similar PJ and it seems like the right material for me).

Any pointers? I'm pretty handy with building things and have friends willing to help that are even better at this sort of thing than I ... so I'm less worried about being able to do the construction and more worried about ripping/splitting the screen material by not taking the right approach for mounting it!

I guess that answers that question! I've decided to move on and am likely going to pick up an Elunevision screen instead.

Yep I knew it wasn't a complete DIY solution I also figured that not a lot of peeps here had tried anything like that. I think the sales rep that I was dealing with was actually quite an a$$hat after having met him in person (sort of) ... I ended up driving to their location to pick up a screen that they had in stock ... but it turned out they didn't have it in stock, but it took almost an hour dealing with his lackey to actually find that out. They are an online dealer located near me that shall remain nameless .. but for some reason they change their name and web address every couple of years LOL... having dealt with them personally at their "show room" I understand why. THe lackey spent about 20 minutes trying to even get the Control4 automation system to work in order to turn on the projectors in the room ... none of which were even calibrated and one of the 3 wasn't even properly aimed at the screen.

My big issue with not doing another paint solution, especially the DIY solutions here, is the amount of time and energy it consumes. It comes down to expense vs. time spent on the project and finding the happy in-between for me. I have no interest in trying to find the appropriate paints and doing the blending -- I don't own a sprayer or paint mixer and honestly don't have time to buy either and get comfortable using them. I have a friend of a friend that does that sort of stuff and has the gear, but he's not cheap to hire and after crunching some numbers it didn't make sense to end up spending what I would have had to in order to do that..

But that said I also didn't want to spend a ton of money on a commercial screen -- or at least one that was massively overpriced. That said I do appreciate decent quality, I've worked professionally as a video editor for many years as well as having done a good bit of live video work for both concerts and corporate events and can tell the difference ... it's a vicious circle I tell ya!

My previous (still current) Goo solution was rolled on .. believe it or not you can get a decent quality rolled screen with Goo, provided you know what you're doing and use the right tools for the job

For the price of the screen I think the Elara is worth the risk. I know a couple of other people (who I worked with doing the live video stuff) that have them and gave me good feedback on them so I decided to take the plunge. If I'm very unhappy with it then I'll figure out where to go from there.

Thanks for the reply though MM

Thanks NicksHitachi ... if I'm unimpressed with the Elara screen I may end up going that route ... of course I may end up just using their frame too and replacing the screen material in it Their frames seem pretty nicely made.

I apologize for derailing the DIY bits ... I was hoping that a DIY frame would be enough to merit posting in here Maybe not!

I didn't realize that it had to be 100% DIY or nothing either ... and I DID read all the rules and such .. sorry folks!

Titles! That's the problem .. I don't read titles! LOL, whoops!

Well if I hate the screen at the very least I'll have a nice frame to take it to the next level with The entire price of it is still less than half of what some companies charge to upgrade their fixed frames to a nice one.

Thanks guys. If I end up going with a different substrate and painting it you can be sure I'll be back in this forum No offence taken at all MM and I apologize again for derailing things