[Maestro J]

Current setup:

• room is kept dark but not totally light controlled (not a dedicated theater room)
• viewing wall is over 14' wide
• current screen is 110" Da-lite Pearlescent 16:9 (1.4 gain)
• projector is JVC RS1 ceiling mounted with a 13.5' throw
• seating distance is approx 13' (can be moved +/- 1')

My DIY experience is not that expansive and I don't have a huge collection of tools but I do have the basics. Have I tiled a backsplash in my kitchen? Yes. Can I build an a/v rack for my components? Nope, haven't tried.

So I am looking for something that wouldn't be too difficult to do and still be cost effective.

In order to get by the WAF, one thing this needs to be is cost effective. Would be much easier for me to purchase a new screen but I need to keep the cost down in order for this to get full approval. And since I just had to purchase a scaler to make CIH even possible with my RS1, price is certainly a factor.



The new scope screen must meet these requirements:

• at least 120" wide
• gain in the range of 1.4 - 2.0
• not too difficult to acquire parts/materials for and build

Also, I want to include masking panels for 16:9 programming on the new scope screen. My intention would be to hang black curtains at the very sides of the wall and a black valance over the screen for a polished theater look.


I have read through many of the threads on this forum and the regular DIY screen forum and a few ideas look appealing....thoughts or comments about these ideas would be helpful:

• if I wanted to use the curtains as my masking, hanging a dowel down from the curtain track that the curtains could slide into to create a straight edge
• gary murrell's motorized masking system (although motorized isn't required)
• my current wall surface is orange peel so using a goo paint to create the screen with a black DIY frame

Any comments about what I listed here? I might have missed something but you have the crux of it here.

I am certainly open to all suggestions. Thanks!!

 

[Cnd Joe]

What is the heigth of your CIH going to be?

 

[Maestro J]

I was thinking around 122" x 52". My current screen is 54" high so I don't want to lose too much height from what I have now.

 

[Cnd Joe]

Well, you could build your screen outta 2 sheets of drywall. I used 1/4 inch and a 4x12 sheet cost me $20 bucks here in Canada. You can easly buy 2x3's and attach them to you wall studs with 3'inch deck screws and then using silicone and a few drywall screws attach your new screen to that.


But if you want a screen with holes so you can mount speakers behind em then sorry, got no ideas for that.

 

[MrMill]

You could use wilsonart designer white matte finish #d354-60,you can get it up to 12'x5' ,it's very neutral for color but only about 1.1 gain. I've tried paints and boc ,this is much better and indestructable.works good with simple 1"x2" frame behind it for bracing to make sure it stays flat.you could even make a curved screen? Only cost me about 75$ total for my 96"x54"

 

[MrMill]

when you attach the frame to the back of the sheet ,use contact cement like you use on counter tops,just line it up before you drop the frame on the back, only one try.

 

[Maestro J]



Quote:
Originally Posted by Cnd Joe /forum/post/14255570


Well, you could build your screen outta 2 sheets of drywall. I used 1/4 inch and a 4x12 sheet cost me $20 bucks here in Canada. You can easly buy 2x3's and attach them to you wall studs with 3'inch deck screws and then using silicone and a few drywall screws attach your new screen to that.


But if you want a screen with holes so you can mount speakers behind em then sorry, got no ideas for that.

Won't there be a seam where the 2 pieces meet? Do you just tape it like you would drywall on a wall?

 

[Cnd Joe]

Yes there would be a seam and yes just tape it like you would drywall on a wall. My CIH was 45 inches so I didn't need 2 sheets. But I do recall hearing that you can find drywall in 5foot widths.


Don't got places like Lowes,HomeDepot,Rona.. you need to goto drywall distributors. They carry a wide range for the commercial drywall companies and should have np selling to the public.


I used the Black Widdow paint mix and am happy with it. Not sure what type of gain that is.

 

[Maestro J]

Cnd Joe...


BW is what I was thinking of using after reading through that entire thread. It looks like users of it are real happy with what they are getting in ambient light conditions.

I'll check into the drywall choices from my builder who built our house. We actually keep in touch with him regularly so I'm sure he'll help us out.

As for installing it on an already finished wall, I should just attach some 1x4's to the studs and they screw the drywall into them? Would that be easiest?

What did you do for a black border?

 

[Cnd Joe]

That sounds about right screwing 1x4 into the existing wall then screw the drywall to those 1x4. However I would not put screws in the middle of the drywall if you need 2 sheets. Whoever does the drywalling, just spread a good amount of silicone on those 1x4's and just screw the perimeter where the boarder is going to be, covering up the screw heads. If you need 2 sheets then just put screws where the bevel edges will be covered by the mud/tape. Silicone is really strong and with the ends being tagged by screws it won't come off at all.


For boader I went out and bought some MDF baseboards and wrapped them in black velvet. I used a nail gun to tag them into the drywall of my set up. I curved my screen and its width is 9ft. I went MDF baseboards cause they flex nicely which I would need on a 9ft curved screen. Stay away from Finger Jointed Pine as they tend to have warps in them. Ok if your installing them on the floor cause you can nail them tight to the wall, but maybe a pain getting a straight line for the screen.

 

[Nasty N8]

Dalite and other companies sell there material separate for another option. I built my first 104" screen with DaLite cinema vision material. and am in the process of building my new 120" scope AT screen with Seymour AV material. There are also some really clever masking solutions on here.


Nate