Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Screen fabric?

I've been looking into changing out my screen (which is a roll-down screen at 76" diagonal) with a fixed screen of a larger size. I've been looking at the Da-Lite "Perm-Wall" mounting with the "High Contrast Da-Mat" fabric at a size of 119" diagonal (which perfectly fits my available space, 58" X 104"). That's the least expensive fixed-screen shown on the Da-Lite website at $755 MSRP.

That's well above the price I'd hoped to pay, however. I'm not scared of making my own frame if I had a source for just the screen fabric. Has anyone else done such a project? If so, where did you get your screen fabric? What troubles did you run into that were unexpected?

Thanks,

Hey Beth - I wish I could help. The only reason I'm posting is because Jack said we should try and help you "or else".

Actually, I KNOW somebody on the forums constructed a screen with bulk-bought fabric. I seem to remember being surprised that the seller marketed through EBay. Lots of people seem to just be using paint on untextured walls, which would be cheaper yet. I always thought that would be kind of a cool, reverse way to go. Instead of pulling your screen down for use, you swing/slide/drop your artwork or other attractive covering out of the way to reveal the screen.

Sorry I can't help. I'm sure somebody smart will be along.

I built my own screen using nice oak 1 x 3's and corner braces. The material I purchased was Dazian Matte White Cinema Projection material that is secured around the screen using industrial stength velcro from Home Depot. I probably have about $100 or so wrapped up in my screen. There are also other options for DIY methods like Parkland Durotherm-Lite Panels you can find at Menards and other home improvement stores.

My screen is a 2.35 aspect ratio and is 51" x 120".

Thanks Tom. You've just avoided your monthly beating.

Beth, you probably won't get much response here, but you might find some at the AVS "Screens" forum. At the top of the page is a link to the DIY Screens Section where you should look first. Good luck.

OOPS! Thanks Randy.

Hi BethR,

At the CES in Las Vegas, I attended a demo for Screen Goo, a special paint available in several types, from www.goosystems.com. In the demo, the image quality was surpisingly good, but not as good as a couple of dedicated screens from Vu-tec and others.
The cost of the Screen Goo treatment was about $99 for a typical large image. Also check out the www.projectioncentral.com site for helpful info on screens.

Regards,

www.goosystems.com

www.projectorcentral.com

I used a DIY mix called SM/MM SilverMetallic/Mississippimud. Don't let the name fool you, actually many on the AVS DIY screen forum use it now. It has changed since I was into DIY screen technologies, however, in my opinion it beat Goo hands down in our audition we held a few years ago. I spent years testing various paint combinations with and HVLP paint gun. It was much fun, but very time consuming.

Matte White is Matte White. I'll put my Dazian up against any Stewart, DaLite, etc..

SirQuack: I checked into the Dazian and am very pleased with the price! I'm thinking of getting a sample patch of it and taking it over to one of my co-worker's houses.

He's thinking of buying Axioms and has an invite over to my place to do a listen. But he's got a Da-Lite screen and it would be interesting to drape some Dazian over a part of it and have a look at some of the Video Essentials patterns.

And another one of my sick and twisted co-workers (who I also recently found out is an Axiom owner) came up with a really perverse idea for a fabric that is very white and very matte and very cheap. Tyvek Homewrap. It sure wouldn't cost me much to try it!

I could build the frame and use velcro, just like SirQuack said. If it works, great. If not, I pull off the tyvek and drop the Dazian onto the frame.

Anyone have any comments about Tyvek?

Doesn't Tyvek have the brand name stamped all over the product?

I could be wrong but I thought I saw it being used on some new construction near me and it had the brand name stamped on one side...I am not sure how it would look from the other side...bleedthrough of Tyvek under Yoda or the Incredibles may not be desired..

Something to check into.

WhatFurrer