[coolhand]

Hello Everyone! I finally dove in last week and got a PT-300. I am thrilled with my purchase and have become a hermit in my own home. I purchased a 5X10 Parkland Plastics sheet to use for my screen. I built a frame and used a staple gun to apply to screen to the frame. It looks great but has begun to sag and warp a little. I would very much like to redo the screen so it does not continue to deteriorate. The Parkland material appears to allow a lot of light through the material and with the problems I've had keeping it flat I want to get something to use for backing (has to be light, cheap and 5X9). I was looking into using an insulation foam to keep it light. Would that work? Any ideas? What glue to use?


Thank you so much in advance; you guys have been a great help in the drastic rise of my social standing.

 

[Carl Brinkman]

Your problem is going to be finding something in 5 x 10 size.


I built a screen using 2" insulating foam that comes only in 4 x 8 panels. Using 3M 77 spray adhesive I glued white vinyl to one side and gray vinyl to the reverse to experiment with the white vs gray screens. The foam keeps things perfectly flat but you do need to glue vinyl to BOTH sides or it will slightly warp over time with the stress only on one side. My screen now sits on an outdoor covered porch as it is used only for poolside viewing and is still flat.


The foam insullation is a perfect screen substrate as it doesn't warp and is very light weight so you can move it easily.

 

[chexi1]

Darn Carl,


You stole my thunder. And I thought I was so clever for using the insulating foam board. But that's a good tip on putting the plastic on both sides. I haven't done that yet, but plan to once I figure out how to best make one sheet gray.

 

[Carl Brinkman]

Quote:

Originally posted by chexi1 Darn Carl, You stole my thunder. And I thought I was so clever for using the insulating foam board. But that's a good tip on putting the plastic on both sides. I haven't done that yet, but plan to once I figure out how to best make one sheet gray.

Just buy a sheet of gray vinyl. At my Home Depot they have a gray material right next to the white Parkland material. It's not as dark as my Firehawk but it works better than white in ANY amount of ambient light.

 

[chexi1]

Sweet. Thanks Carl. I'll have to pick some up tonight.

 

[grog_lives]

With this set-up (2" foam and two vinyl sheets), how do you hang it on the wall? Also, what did you do for boarders?

 

[chexi1]

Right now, I don't have it hung on the wall. I can't, because the room I have it in has a window on that wall. I actually have it propped up on bankers boxes and resting against the wall... pretty crappy I know, but it will do until I build my new house.


As for bordering, I have some ideas, but I'm not ready to share them until I'm further in the design process.

 

[coolhand]

I already have a frame. Do you think if I attached the insulation to the frame I would still need to put something on the other side?

 

[chexi1]

Carl,


I didn't see the gray vinyl at Home Depot. I did find the Parkland screens and saw several wall panels near there (a glossy white one that might work well btw), but I didn't see anything that I would consider gray vinyl. Is it a flooring material or a wall material? Is it used as wall paneling, and in that area? Is it stiffer than the Parkland material?


BTW, I keep getting an occasional air bubble between the Parkland and the foam board, but that's probably due to my crappy job of using spray adhesive. Does anyone know of a good brush on adhesive that won't attack foam? There is a layer of silver material between the foam and the board, but I don't want to take any chances.