DIY Screen on the Cheap

[dyazdani]

I started building a DIY screen tonight - goal is to get me by until the commercial screen arrives in a month or two.

Since this is a temporary thing, cost was a major factor in the design. Total cost so far:

• 2x4 pine: $19
• Fabric: $3
• Brackets: $10
• TOTAL: $32

Here are some pics to kick it off...
Dry fit test:


Corner detail:


Assembled frame being inspected:


Covered with center brace:


Center brace removed:

[dyazdani]

Next steps are to possibly paint a black strip around the outside (I sized the frame so that a 2" border would leave a 92" 16:9 viewing area.

The material ended up being more translucent after it was stretched out. It's likely worth another 3 dollars at WalMart and a few minutes labor for a second layer.

I'll probably add some legs tomorrow as well, it should just fit between my speakers.

[Hdale85]

Yea thats pretty transparent your going to lose a lot of your lumens through the cloth. Might concider a cheap black layer behind it or somthing, of course that might be kind of hard to put on now that the top layer is on like i said before blackout cloth works excelent. But a little more expenisve i believe i spent like 20 bucks on 3 yards or somthing to make my screen. I cant remember I know it wasnt more then like 30.

Edit: I just read that you said its not availible in your area Where do you live? its a pretty common material be wierd if someone didnt have it.

Edit: Just saw where you live Its in the states so I dont know. But oh well as long as you get somthing your happy with. Try and find a nice heavy cloth that feels somwhat like canvas.

[dyazdani]

I have to drive an hour to the nearest fabric store which I don't feel like doing, so I'm limited to what WalMart has...

I'm going to pick up another layer in just a few minutes.

[dyazdani]

Got the second layer of fabric installed and painted a border. I've built the legs and am about to install those too...

[aud19]

Looks pretty good Danish :T

[dyazdani]

Looks pretty good Danish :T

Thanks. The screen is still a little more transparent than I'd like - I may get some white paint to help that out.

[Hdale85]

Get this stuff called moviescreen or somthing i think its made by Bear or Silverscreen a lot of people use it mixed with some pearlessence stuff for their screen lol that might be more work then your looking to do though that border does look nice though doesnt really look painted.

Edit: is that a wrinkle i see in the bottom left corner?

[dyazdani]

Yep, that WAS a wrinkle - I had to fine tune a few spots...

I can't get Behr paint here either, the style is "Silverscreen" I don't think it is specifically for screens, but it happens to work well. It's another trip to WalMart to find something similar.

For now, I have to wait until the PJ is delivered. Just as sure as I run up town, the UPS guys would show up. :M

[aud19]

You don't have a Home Depot nearby.....?

[dyazdani]

You don't have a Home Depot nearby.....?

There is one HD 1hr west, one 1hr south, and a Lowe's 1hr south. I don't really want to go all the way down there just for this temporary deal.

[aud19]

You just need to move out of the sticks :lol:

[RobP]

Wow Danish, That screen has come along way in such a short time. Looks really good, the painted border really finished it off nicely. :T

[dyazdani]

Screen with legs, masked ready for the white paint! The PJ just got here!!!!!

[Lex]

well, it looks nice, but when light is cast on it, I still wonder if you are going to see those boards under there or as Dougie said, maybe loose to many lumens through the material...

[aud19]

well, it looks nice, but when light is cast on it, I still wonder if you are going to see those boards under there or as Dougie said, maybe loose to many lumens through the material...

Paint should help that :T

[dyazdani]

Paint should help that :T

Yep, just got back from WM with some light grey paint... cross your fingers.

[Lex]

so your gonig to try and paint the outer surface of the screen or behind as fill?

[dyazdani]

Outer surface...

[dyazdani]

All done! PJ is up and running too...

Screen isn't too bad, the only issue is that you can see bright(er) lines where the rows of paint overlap. i.e. thicker paint = brighter.

I'll take a nice picture when it gets dark.

[draganm]

isn't that a digital projector? If it is I don't think a white screen is ideal. Try some Goo systems gray paint, I would bet 20 bucks it outperforms the majority of commercial screens.

http://www.theaterthings.com/cgi-bin/theaterthings.cgi/results_cat.html?prodgroup=1&gclid=CPifkLr_ooUCFU6JCwodTmV0vQ

[dyazdani]

isn't that a digital projector? If it is I don't think a white screen is ideal. Try some Goo systems gray paint, I would bet 20 bucks it outperforms the majority of commercial screens.
http://www.theaterthings.com/cgi-bin...FU6JCwodTmV0vQ

Yes, it is an LCD PJ... The DIY screen is a light grey. The PJ came with a rebate for a free Draper screen, so I will not purchase anything until I have a chance to evaluate the freebie. I've looked at Goo Systems, only issue is that I need my screen to be removable, i.e. roll-up.

[irfan]

looks good. how is the image quality? any chances to take pics at nite yet?

i also need a roll away screen and have a draper luma HC gray pull down for now. its decent, but id like better black levels without darkening the whites too much. im thinking about doing the "rs_maxxmudd" DIY painting as seen on avsforum.

You say you need rollup but you built a freestanding one... will you try to paint a rollup? Im going to try it out.. i'll let you know if it turns out ok or if i just have a worthless luma after the test

[dyazdani]

how is the image quality? any chances to take pics at nite yet?

Fantastic - though I'm sure the DIY screen has a negative effect on the actual vs. potential image. Still, it is quite good IMHO.

You say you need rollup but you built a freestanding one... will you try to paint a rollup?

For the long term, I need a rollup - but I can get by with this one until the Luma comes in. It was the easiest route to go in order to get a screen up in a timely manner.

[Dean McManis]

That looks VERY impressive, especially for the low cost.

[dyazdani]

That looks VERY impressive, especially for the low cost.

Thanks! My Oppo DVDp will be in today, so I'm excited to see the difference in quality.

[RobP]

What hookup are going to use? DVI? I am anxious to see what the difference in PQ between DVI and Component.

[dyazdani]

What hookup are going to use? DVI? I am anxious to see what the difference in PQ between DVI and Component.

Yes, DVI to HDMI...