CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

[garyfritz]

I'm on my fourth projector, and I'm still shining it at a piece of curtain cloth from Joann. I really need to do something about a better screen. I've intended to build a torus for ages but I finally decided that's probably more hassle than I want.

As always, budget is a concern, so big-dollar names like Stewart are out. With the recent buzz about Wilsonart laminates I've been planning to build a DW screen. But I've seen other posts with people using e.g. Draper M1300 fabric, or even M2500. I'm trying to decide what's the best answer.

DW has the advantage of being near-indestructable &etc. Its gain is just about identical to the M1300. (I think!? Some places say M1300 has a gain of 1.0 ??) M2500 has much higher gain but I've heard several people say hotspotting isn't a problem even with flat mounting. Which seems hard to believe, but...

DW is inexpensive, maybe $90-100 for a 4x8 sheet. M1300 is about 2x more, but I could probably re-use my BO screen frame, saving some cost there. M2500 would cost about $50 more than M1300 for my screen.

Any recommendations? My inclination is to go with DW and assume 1.24 gain is "good enough" for my 85" wide screen, but I'm open to other suggestions.

Thanks!
Gary

[paw]

Gary, ask Gary. He use to have Draper (can't remember which one) and now has DW. But, you probably knew that.

[WTS]

Hurley screens, try one you'll like them, I did and the price is very good and you can get them to make any size you want.

[GEBrown]

[garyfritz]

Which Hurley fabric did you use, Walter?

[wallace123456]

Gary,
Not sure if you are set on using fabric, but, try these guys: Reico Distibutors. Tammy Milne 703-245-8984. The price they quoted me was way better than Home Depot or Lowes. (Related thread: https://www.curtpalme.com/forum_archived/viewtopic.php@t=1258.html )

wallace

[WTS]

Hi Gary,

I have a Superglo 1.5 gain with lace and grommets. They made it to the size I wanted. I can't remember exactly what I paid but it was about $150US. The guy I dealt with was Gorman White.

[garyfritz]

They don't seem to want business very badly. They post no prices anywhere I can find, and their "contact us" email address bounces as unknown!!

I'm curious but I don't feel like talking to a salesdroid on the phone. Walter, do you have an email for your contact?

[WTS]

Hi Gary,

I have it at home, I'll post it tonight.

[WTS]

HI Gary,

Here's the info I have;

Gorman White III
Hurley Screen Corp.
PO Box 296
Forest Hill, MD 21050
P: 410-879-3022
F: 410-838-8079
E: gwhite3@direcway.com
W: www.hurleyscreen.com

[VideoGrabber]

Also, toll-free 1-866-HURLEY1, in case you do feel like talking to a "salesdroid".

Walter,
> They made it to the size I wanted. <

What size was that? (Oh, and the Superglo is about the only model they don't explicitly list as "cleanable". Is there any reason for that, or just an oversight?)

[WTS]

My finished framed screen width is 82"(16x9). I do recall Gorman saying the screen could be cleaned using a brush/vacuum. Looking at the website suggests it can be cleaned. The supported superglo is the same screen material but it has fiberglass backing to make it a solid material.

I did alot of research and talked to alot of people before I bought a screen. Bill Blue was the one person who convinced me to go with the Hurley. Like he said, Hurley has been making great screens long before Stewart was even a sparkle in his fathers eye. They have screens in some of the most presitjous theaters in the world not to mention Disney, Have a look at their short list of who uses Hurley screens.
Bill said I wouldn't be dissappointed and I'm not. I contacted a few outfits that handled both Hurley and Stewart and asked for their opinions on comparing the Superglo with the 130 and they didn't say much except to say the Stewart was alot more expensive. This just tells me that there was probably more to that story than what they were letting on.

I could have gotten the same size screen in a 130 from a local supplier for about $500cdn(which was a steal of a deal because they didn't mark it 500% before they sell to the client) compared to about $220cdn for the Superglo. Everyone says how great the 130 is and I have no reason to not believe them but I can say I see zero wrong with this Hurley screen. I've never had to clean it yet and I've had it for about 2.5 years now, it just doesn't seem to collect dust.

[Mr. Green]

Hi Walter,

I'm in Calgary also, how long did it take to get your screen? How did they ship it (air or ground)?

What projector are you running? I will be running an NEC 9pg+ or Xtra and I want to get everything lined up at once. I need a screen that can roll up and out of the way as this will be in my living room, not in a dedicated theatre.

Thanks in advance.
Cheers,
Chris

[WTS]

Hi Chris,

My screen isn't a roll-up style and I'm not sure if they make roll-ups, unless of course you've already checked with them and they do. Off hand I don't remember how it was shipped. I would say it probably took a week or so to get here.

[Mr. Green]

Drat!

Only the glassmatte and glassbeaded come in "roll up". Guess I'll be looking for something else... What do you think of these?

http://www.futureshop.ca/catalog/proddetail.asp?logon=&langid=EN&sku_id=0665000FS10064990&catid=

or

http://www.costco.ca/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=10288815&whse=BCCA&Ne=4000000&eCat=BCCA|79&N=4009848&Mo=39&No=37&ViewAll=40&Nr=P_CatalogName:BCCA&cat=22377&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1&lang=en-CA&Sp=C&topnav=

or

http://www.eastporters.com/estore/cart.php?target=product&product_id=8&category_id=4

or

http://www.eastporters.com/estore/cart.php?target=product&product_id=107&category_id=32

Any input would be appreciated.
Cheers,
Chris

[WTS]

Hi Chris,

I don't anything about the quality of those screens so your guess is as good as mine. I wouldn't use a roll up screen myself.

[Mr. Green]

Yeah, I'd like a permanent fix, but not in my living room. Roll up is my only bet. It should amazing when I'm done. Best of all, when it's not needed, it's out of the way.

[WTS]

Sounds great, hope it works for you.

[VideoGrabber]

Mr. Green commented:
> Roll up is my only bet. <

Not necessarily. Even in your configuration, with the need to get it out of the way when not viewing, another option might be a swing-up screen on a solid panel (or stretched over a frame). It could be nearly flush to the ceiling when not in use, and the backing could be the same color as the ceiling, to blend in, or have some decorative pattern or weave. Then you avoid all the issues that roll-ups present.

Something to consider though, if not for you, then for others in similarly constrained situations.

[armstrr]

double post