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Wilsonart: Fashion Grey vs. Platinum

5184 Views 20 Replies 9 Participants Last post by Audixium, Jan 22, 2009

Audixium

Discussion Starter · Jan 15, 2008

I've decided on a 120" DIY laminate due to the price/performance issue and the great durability (two kids in my house).

I will be using an Epson HC 720 in my living room that has light control issues during the day (20% of planned viewing - sports), but is pretty much completely dark at night (80% of planned viewing - movies, HDTV), with occasional task lighting at about 18 feet. This is my first PJ and while I am very excited I don't want to make any significant novice errors.

One of the walls perpendicular to the screen has a bank of windows (full 3" blinds, but some bleed during the day). I am going to paint the screen wall a dark brown. The walls are "tan/taupe" and the nine foot ceiling is, gulp, white.

Does the Wilsonart Platinum have a clear advantage over the Fashion Grey in my case? Will the HC 720 (1600 lumens) be able to light it up?

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mech

· #2 · Jan 15, 2008

I'm sure someone from here will comment on your room but I'll just let you know that Platinum is an excellent candidate. But I know of no one who's tried it yet.

Report back if you do! I'd love to hear about it! And if it hot spots, I may have found something a bit better than Behr 780. Haven't finished the readings on it yet though.

mech

riskpeep

· #3 · Jan 22, 2008

Audixium, I have nearly the exact same setup as you. (Including the kids and thus a need for durability.)

I'll be using a Panny AE1000 in a basement room that gets some sun during the day. At night its a dark cave. My PJ is at 16 feet. My color scheme is the same dark brown front wall tan side walls, and yep, the yucky white ceiling (still working on the WAF for darker walls all around).

I'm really interested to hear more about what you decide and how it comes out. I have the same concerns about the gray, only perhaps more so as my panny will only do 1100 lumens.

Audixium

Discussion Starter · #4 · Jan 23, 2008

Well, I just picked up my PJ today. Based on what I read over at the shack , I'm thinking that the lumens will be fine. It sounds like the Platinum is closer to neutral than Fashion Grey. All the screen shots I've seen online show the fashion grey outperforming the designer white. I'm convinced that I need grey for my room, so it sounds like I'm going to take the plunge with the Platinum. I might wait a couple of weeks so I can get used to shooting at the current "taupe" wall. Then, I'll build the Platinum screen, paint the screenwall, and be amazed! Right?

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jimwhite

· #5 · Jan 24, 2008

2

Hopefully

please keep us posted on the performance...

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Audixium

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jan 24, 2008

Jim - I will, and thank you for your service to our country!

jimwhite

· #7 · Jan 24, 2008

2

ummm... thank you for saying so

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eightninesuited

· #8 · Jan 26, 2008

Keep us updated on the screen. I'm getting the HC 720 as well. And was thinking about a DIY screen in a light grey.

TritonMan

· #9 · Jan 26, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by eightninesuited /forum/post/12940344

Keep us updated on the screen. I'm getting the HC 720 as well. And was thinking about a DIY screen in a light grey.

Same here.

Audixium

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jan 28, 2008

Ok - so after a few days with my HC720, the family and friend consensus seems to be that around 150" is the preferable 16:9 size. Can I custom order the laminate this wide?

mech

· #11 · Jan 28, 2008

Nope.

mech

Audixium

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jan 28, 2008

So nowhere around 75" as a width? Is 60" the widest available?

Kjelstad

· #13 · Jan 29, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audixium /forum/post/12951470

Ok - so after a few days with my HC720, the family and friend consensus seems to be that around 150" is the preferable 16:9 size. Can I custom order the laminate this wide?

5x12 is the biggest you can get. It is usually 3/4 to 1" over but don't always count on it. The best you could do is 61" x 144.5". They come in 2, 2.5, 3, 4 & 5' wide by 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 and twelve foot depending on your distributor. This is a pretty popular color though.

Have you guys looked at Nevamar (more expensive) or Poinite (Less) as they have a more smooth finish? I'm not an AV guy so I really do not know what is desirable.

Audixium

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jan 29, 2008

I'm going to watch for a couple of days at 120". If that won't work I might start brainstorming on how to make a laminate seam disappear...

Kjelstad - Welcome to AVS! I think mech has put together specs on the Nevamar products. You can find the info over at the shack (see my previous link, there is a sticky at the top of that forum). But I haven't seen anyone use it for full screen testing yet. Maybe the gurus will chime in.

mech

· #15 · Jan 29, 2008

Nevamar has been reported to be a little less durable. You can look for the data elsewhere. Google is your friend!

mech

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zora

· #16 · Jan 30, 2008

Why not just paint the wall? You would get the size you want and not have to worry about a huge frame. Look into the pigment-free grey paint formula over at HTS (I've played around with it and it looks promising.)

JP

Audixium

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jan 30, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by zora /forum/post/12973693

Why not just paint the wall? You would get the size you want and not have to worry about a huge frame. Look into the pigment-free grey paint formula over at HTS (I've played around with it and it looks promising.)

JP

My wife said the same thing last night "just paint it white". But this is a living room with knockdown texture on the walls (and ceiling). I don't want to go through the sanding and painting process. And I don't want a smooth wall in case we decide to sell the house somewhere down the line. And I have little greasy kid fingers that will surely hit the surface.

I was really hoping 120" would work. But I had to go back to 150"-155" last night. HDTV looks awesome. Primary seating is at 17', but the kitchen/island bar/breakfast nook goes back another 15' or so. At any location 120" looks like a big TV to me...but ~150" looks much more like a living room miniplex.

I'm wondering if I used the Wilsonart as a true laminate (gluing it to another surface) if I could visually make out a horizontal seam...

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jimwhite

· #18 · Jan 30, 2008

Quote:
I'm wondering if I used the Wilsonart as a true laminate (gluing it to another surface) if I could visually make out a horizontal seam...

... not likely

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Kjelstad

· #19 · Jan 30, 2008

Quote:
Originally Posted by Audixium /forum/post/12978207

I'm wondering if I used the Wilsonart as a true laminate (gluing it to another surface) if I could visually make out a horizontal seam...

Use a standard grade laminate and you would be able to. Well, I could

It would take a large jig to hold the pieces together and a router but if you know what you are doing you can make a seam disappear.

I don't like Nevamar because of the way it files, but if you are framing it I don't see a problem.

Oh, and thanks for the welcome. I just happened on this site looking up the number for Fashion Grey. I have a friend with a projector though so I will be trying this out.

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justlnluck

· #20 · Jan 18, 2009

Audixium, did you ever purchase the Platinum laminate?

1 - 20 of 21 Posts

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