Pilgrims Pit - Design & Build - Page 14

Almost no progress. I have all my mdf cut into strips, and then life and work stepped in the way. My in-laws are visiting for another day, so I am hoping to get back in there on Monday and part of Tuesday (until our next houseguest arrives for a couple days).

I did take the plastic off the PJ for some demo sessions. Transformers on HD-DVD looks great (or at least the opening battle sequence did). As do some of the Pixar shorts on B-R.

Happy Holidays, all.

Just got the official word that my company wants to promote me and relocate me to Pennsylvania. So we are going to have to sell the house and the theater.

Since the theater was only 80% done we are hustling to get it into a marketable condition. So no more fabric frames (we moved the mdf and wood to the garage over the weekend), some custom things will be scaled down.

Here is the plan to get to sale-able:

1. Paint the screenwall black (done)
2. Fill openings in rear soffit & paint black (half done, won't be a bass trap now)
3. Put finished coats of blue on the walls (half done)
4. Wrap columns in fabric
5. Frame tops of columns with vellum paper instead of frosted glass (tested, looks good)
6. Add baseboards and other moldings (cover staples, add bottom piece to crown)
7. Either - build fabric screen wall and use some of my SMX, or make a non-AT DIY screen (leaning towards the latter but will require some tweaking of the CRT PJ - which I stink at)
8. Carpet, add a love seat for staging
9. Watch as many movies as we can assuming we aren't busy with move-prep

Could use some input on #7 - I am kind of torn since the false wall is a big part of the clean look, but it might be a waste of the SmX since the next buyer might not want it, and the next theater might have a different screen size.

We really debated what to do on this move, but it is the right answer from a career perspective, and it fits in our lifestyle. We kind of mourned the loss of the basement because a lot of thought and effort went into it. Things will start picking up in this thread since I want to get my place sold (or sold to the company as part of the relo). It might take a while before build thread #2 starts.

Yeah a bit disapointed it won't be all I wanted to be. But life is full of changes.



Thanks, it took a few days to get over the shock. This will be the second time this company has moved us, so I guess we should be used to it. But it will be worth it. 2.0 might be a 2009 issue.

I am vaguely aware of Parkland (I have seen wilsonart mentioned also). Any thoughts on a source for that? I am leaning towards the non-AT screens. We have a lot of other projects to do.

Thanks a lot. Those clipping files are priceless, I keep one too. If you are still looking for blue fabric, I might have some for you.


Thanks, this will be my third Commonwealth in a row (Virginia to Massachusetts to Pennsylvania), I think Kentucky is the only other one. I don't expect to be bored, but I'll let you know. Mind you, my fabric experience won't come until a couple days from now, unless you count ordering it and storing it.


Yeah that place is my $100 a trip habit, its awful. Thanks for the Parkland tips, plast seems a lot easier than B.O.C. - which I also considered.


Thanks - its in Carlisle area. I have seen that referred to as "South Central . . . PA" - I have been there on business trips pretty frequently over the last few years. Its pretty rural outside of Carlisle itself. Lots of trucks.


Okay - I guess I'll price/performance compare it to the Parkland. I'll do some reading up in the DIY screen area. I hope I enjoy the new locale also.


Thanks Chip. We are on the KISS path for sure. I have a list of ideas for version 2.0 - - mostly, ah, bigger or at least wider. Gotta finish 1.0 and sell the house first.

Opportunitist!


Well in theory my back shouldn't hurt too much since the company will cover movers. But in practice, even though we'll probably sell to the company, we don't do things halfway, so we will haul a bunch of stuff to storage to stage things.


Might be an interesting test case. My house is technically a "detached" condo. There are 3 identical units for sale already. One with a finished basement with a wet bar. The other with an unfinished basement (and a FSBO). I'll likely have an out since after a certain amount of time I can sell to the company at the appraised price. I hope the appraiser is an A/V nut.


Thanks, your space is cruising along. Yeah, I reached the conclusion to keep the SMX. The DC part comes from when I lived in DC and has survived one move, might as well keep it for another. Besides, then I'd change my join date and lose all my street cred.

I don't view this as a glamorous location. Therre are a few centers of activity, but its mostly farm country in my trips down there. Sounds like I should prioritize HT 2.0.


It looks like that place is closer to Philly, whose sports fan certainly have a fierce demeanor. Time will tell I guess.

Well we've been scrambling to get this place saleable. I have to admit, it is really bitter sweet to be building a theater for some one else. I harbor a secret fear that a buyer might rip it out.

Step one was to paint, starting with the screenwall going black (makes a HUGE difference)

And we added finish coats to the side since they won't be fabric anymore. We went with an eggshell finish since this is for resale. The box containing the sump hasn't been repainted:

Also been tinkering with the column sconces. I have some velumn paper up in this test shot. Gives the frosted glass look. I got some plexiglass that we'll add later:

Here is an under shot to see how much light will bleed into the speaker area, not too bad:

We started the fabric wrap of the columns. First cut the fabric:

Then tack (we'd lose the tacks over time. We are down to 3 after completing the wrap of 5 columns):

The fabric draps a little when tacked. IT is a real challenge to keep the fabric taught. The first column and a half took us about 2 hours. It got much faster as we got rolling:

We intend to make a separate entrance on the side for removing the speakers. It will be the side least visible when you enter the room to keep the clean line aesthetics. We were working on our fourth column when my wife asked if the speakers fit through the proposed service point. Turns out it depends on which column. Sawzall to the rescue.

Here is a nearly finished product (we used about 700 staples for 5 columns, the 6th one needed caulk, so its drying).

And two side by side (fabric needs to be trimmed) - one of these holds a speaker:

Well, my kludge DIY speaker stands were meant to be hidden behind a false wall. Now that we are selling, they don't cut it. Only cost $4, so not a big loss.



I am debating between these two, both sanus, priced within a buck or two of each other.

Option A is adjustable, but I'd set to its lowest setting ~28" (2" higher than current) -

Option B comes in various sizes, but I'd get the 24" one (2" lower than current)


The big if on these is whether I'll retain them when I sell the house. The first one I find sleeker, its metal vs mdf, and might be better in a non-dedicated space. The second one is probably closer to the correct height, and it will be easier to find a center channel stand that coordinates. Any thoughts?

I am not going to DIY new ones (or fix the old one) since we have enough projects. Should have updated room pics in a couple days. We added the crown, most of the baseboards, and column trim. Essential to-do's are the sconce covers (had a misshap here, so redoing), the DIY screen, calibrate/converge PJ and carpet (an estimator is coming in today).

A lot of the ones that look like option A are rated for 2-4 lbs. That one is rated for 10 lbs, which is what my current speakers weigh. If all the HT stuff comes with me, option B might be better, since I always intended to upgrade the LCRs.

My wife just chimed in in favor of Option B, also. Stong vote.


I am disapointed I won't get to impliment the accoustic design we worked on together. But I am kind of glad I hadn't had the time to go buy a ton of OC703. I have a few ideas for the electric boogaloo edition, Hope the next time is a tad bigger. I should get a couple months of enjoying my spoils and come up with more ideas, or at least I hope so.

Its for the right reasons, so I am pleased.

Can do. Probably won't be till May/June based on all the hoops you have to go through in this corporate re-lo. I hear Mechanicsburg is where the schools are good. . . .