The Plains Theater - Page 26

I looked through the manual as well, and I didn't see that specified either. Thanks for the input. I've played with that calculator until I was afraid they'd ban me from the site I never got it to tell me what I wanted, though. 30' throw with 25 uncalibrated f.l.

I may just have to pony up for that A-lens right out of the gate........... Decisions, decisions I suppose if I start looking for a used 6020 now, I might get lucky and save enough to cover most of the cost of the panamorph.

Wow. I really need to get a move on so I can pass another inspection

I've been reading up on this more, which oddly enough is not making the decision any easier However, I thought one difference between the 5020 and 6020 is the 5020 does not have native anamorphic processing. I may be wrong about that, so ill have to double check. Aside from that, the reviews put the 5020, 6020, and AE8000 all neck and neck with just a few minor differences. Now I don't remember why I had ruled out the AE8000 to begin with. Well, back to the calculator

^^^ On a completely unrelated note, I wonder when RT will be having a group meet at this place

I may have hit another snag. I have a sneaking suspicion that some of my hat channel is 22 ga rather than 25 ga. The last piece I picked up, I said to myself, "self, this piece feels a little heavier. I must be getting tired." then I said to myself, "self, this one isn't as flexible as the rest, that's odd." Then I said to myself, "self, this one's harder to cut........... UH OH"

Unless someone has another suggestion, I'm planning to pick up a cheap micrometer from the big blue box store, and see if I can consistently measure a difference. This is really going to suck if I'm right. I was really hoping to get my channel up this weekend and order my DW on Monday, and take a day off towards the end of the week to start putting it up. If I have to order more channel, it will take another week to get here.

Good ideas, guys. Ill try to weigh a stack or two of them and see what I come up with. I was considering the mic so I could pick out individual pieces, but the difference in thickness is only a few thousandths.

And unfortunately, no. There does not appear to be any stamping on the channel. That would make way too much sense.

I should change the name of my theater to, "Theater of Mysteries" 'cause here's another one. (The short version, I have some 25 ga that's thinner, but I also have some much stiffer stuff that's marked the correct size for 25 ga, you can skip to the last paragraph if you don't want the details ).

Last night I started trying to figure out this business with my hat channel. I was planning to weigh a stack of them, but when I started sorting them I discovered I had another distinctly different type of channel at the bottom of each stack. Here's a picture of the two types



On the left, the stuff I found last night, is much lighter than the stuff on the right, and it's much easier to work with. The stuff on the right is the what I've been using so far, and requires two hands, some grunting, and a fair amount of sweat to get it into the clips. I shot Ted an email this morning, and from what he can see, he thinks the stuff on the right is 22 ga.

OK, sounds right, EXCEPT, I picked up one of those cheap digital calipers from Lowes, and measured several sticks. The stuff on the left is pretty consistently at 0.021-0.024", and 0.026-0.028". I'd guess about .005" difference on average. I also found a sticker and a hand written note on one stick of the thicker stuff claiming it's 0.018", which would be right for 25 ga. hat channel.

Oh well. I used the heavier stuff on the ceiling, and I HOPE I have enough of the lighter stuff for the walls. I'm planning to call the drywall company tomorrow and see what they can do. If they can actually find enough of the 25 ga, I may replace the stuff on the ceiling. If not, well, it actually makes me feel a little better with the heavier gauge stuff on the ceiling. I've seen a few references online that recommend 22 ga on the ceiling and 25 ga for the walls. I know there will be a loss in performance, but I wonder if it would be audible.

heavier gauge = less flex.

I actually got my channel from a local drywall supply house. They were the ONLY place I've been able to find that could even get it. They had to special order it, and it looks like they found it stuck in the back of somebody's barn (mouse poop and all). They said they just don't use it anymore. The Home Depot's in my area don't even carry it anymore according the web page.

You got it.

Ah, there will always be hiccups. Although, I never thought getting the hat channel would be an issue

Oh the hat channel..... How I hate the hat channel

Yeah, I'm planning to take it down and replace it. I ordered the replacement channel today, and it's supposed to be in on Thursday. I'm going to wait and make sure I get the right stuff before I take down what's up there now. I'd hate to get out there and find out they sent the wrong stuff again. On the bright side, they're going to take back the channel that I haven't cut up already.

Here's a fairly recent update. I've actually got the channel on the front wall and the other side wall now (using the correct stuff BTW).



Still a little bummed out that I'm not going to get to start on the drywall. I don't know why that feels like such a huge milestone.

I've tried to take lots of pictures of he process. I was also thinking of making this thread into a coffee table book to leave on the back bar. I might have to leave a few posts out, though. Not sure my wife would approve of RT's groupies

Tony, I think I got the idea from your thread now that you mention it. This is something I've wanted to do for so long that I'm trying to document each step of the way.

RT, well, now you've let the cat out of the bag. Now my wife is going to be suspicious about the drain being stopped up so often