Talstarone's Home Theater Hang-Out

[progers13]

Tals has been unusually quiet today...I hope that's because he's making good progress with the screen installation!

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by progers13

Tals has been unusually quiet today...I hope that's because he's making good progress with the screen installation!

Well actually the Screen isnt up and wont be up today.

It will definitely be tomorrow,but things didn't turn out like I had hoped today.But actually it has turned out for the better that the screen wasn't mounted today.

I have mentioned before that I plan on following vega's lead and have a Dual Screen Set-Up.So to do that I purchased some brackets from Elite(the same company that made my(and many others)screen)
And by using these brackets I will be able to mount both screens on them.

So since I was going to be mounting my screen on the wall instead of the ceiling,I was only going to have one bracket screwed into a Stud.The other Bracket I was going to screw into the Sheetrock using plastic anchors.

Well my Dad and I started talking about the added weight the second screen would add to the brackets and to the screws supported only by the plastic sheetrock anchors.

So my Dad decided unless we wanted to completely re-do it when the second screen was added we needed to go ahead and mount it to hold two screens with No problems.
So he went to Lowes Home Improvement and got a solid board 84 inches long X 4 inches high X 1 inch Thick.

So we will attach that to the wall starting at the first stud the one bracket would have attached to.So running the entire length of the board(every 16 inches)we will screw it into the stud behind it in the wall.That will secure the board to all the wall studs from the start to the end of the board.

So when we attach the brackets to mount the screen tomorrow it will be a one time proceedure.Now the first bracket will be screwed into the board as well as the wall stud.And the second bracket will be attached to the board(thats secured to all the studs)for much more support then just the plastic sheet rock anchors would have provided.

They may have been fine for one screen. But my Dad wasn't confident that it would hold both screens,and the extra stress of pulling out a screen as well.

So now when the brackets are attached tomorrow and the screen mounted,it will be done for good.
So later on down the road when I add the second screen i wont have to do anything more then attach the screen to the brackets that are already there.

So,it didn't get completed today.(My Mom had a 1:30 Doctors Appointment today and there still not back).But my Dad has already got the board and all the screws so its a go for tomorrow.

And the reason I will be using 2 different screens in time is Thanks to a Great Idea from fellow member,vega.
One screen will be used for movies with the 16:9(1.85:1)aspect ratio.
And the Second screen will be used for Movies with a 2.40:1 aspect ratio.
Which more and more,of the Big Releases seemed to be filmed in.

So for around $250 total I will have a Dual Screen System.Which means no Black Bars,and Letterboxing on any movies.That will make me extremely Happy.

And,I would like to say once again.Thank You,Vega;for the outstanding Dual Screen Idea and Set-up.

So,one day longer,but I can know for 100% sure that everything will be as secure as humanly possible.Whether its with one screen or two.
So this is one delay I can live with.

[Deadset]

Originally Posted by talstarone

[B]Well my Dad and I started talking about the added weight the second screen would add to the brackets and to the screws supported only by the plastic sheetrock anchors.

Your Dad made the right call! It's best to get it done solidly and securely the first time so you don't have to redo everything. Glad to see you are making progress.

Remember - every day a little bit is done, pretty soon before you know it, you'll have the entire theater setup and ready to go.

Thanks for the update Tals - enjoy the rest of the day!

[Hammie]

Todd,

Smart plan with the board.

It would be nice if you could cover the board with black fabric. You could have little slits for the screws to go through and then a little spray glue to seal the screw slits up.

Just a thought. I would also try to have equal overlap on each side. this will give it a more professional look because it will be symmetrical.

Good luck!

[progers13]

Thanks for the update Tals. I'm sure it's disappointing to have it pushed back another day, but it really sounds like it is for the best. You wouldn't want to have to fix it all later when you add the 2nd screen because you didn't plan for it properly now.

So are you still on track to get through both Transformers movies this weekend?

[vega2K]

Originally Posted by talstarone

So when we attach the brackets to mount the screen tomorrow it will be a one time proceedure.Now the first bracket will be screwed into the board as well as the wall stud.And the second bracket will be attached to the board(thats secured to all the studs)for much more support then just the plastic sheet rock anchors would have provided.

They may have been fine for one screen. But my Dad wasn't confident that it would hold both screens,and the extra stress of pulling out a screen as well.

So now when the brackets are attached tomorrow and the screen mounted,it will be done for good.
So later on down the road when I add the second screen i wont have to do anything more then attach the screen to the brackets that are already there.

So,it didn't get completed today.(My Mom had a 1:30 Doctors Appointment today and there still not back).But my Dad has already got the board and all the screws so its a go for tomorrow.

Well it sounds like you are really thinking things out, which is the way to do it!

I am sure you already thought about this and have accounted for it, but just in case - remember that if the second screen you get down the road is bigger (longer) than the first, the support rings will be further out to the left and right when compared to the first. This means that the bracket supporting the first will not coincide with the location of the support rings of the second screen and you will either need another set of brackets or a different way to hang it. Of course this is not an issue if the length of the first and second screen will be the same. I hope this makes sense.

Congrats! Almost there!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Hi Todd!

Looks to me, like others have said, progress was indeed made and correctly so in light of your 2 screen scenario. This I think then was a good day. Never fun to have to delay things, but when it's the right thing to do.... you know!

Don't ever feel pressured Todd! We woud love to have you have things up and running now, but we are more concerned about you doing it right and under your terms. It is your system......not ours.

In the end you're going to have a system that others (including myself) could only dream about. You've done an amazing job planning this all out and it is going to look fantastic when done! I just know it!

John

[D]

Kudos to your Dad Todd! Wise decision buddy! D.

[Travis]

I feel because of the time difference I'm always coming in at the end of conversations. Want to just say the same as everyone else said, Good idea, Dad is right and glad progress is being made.

[DMC86X]

Whats up Todd?? I just wanted to stop in and see how its going bud. Anyway did you get your copy of Star Trek yet man?? I ask because I ordered mine from Walmart.com last week and it said it shipped Sunday and that i should receive it by the release date. Well its late thursday night and still no tracking info and they wont return my Emails. I wouldnt reccomend dealing with WM.com to anyone. Hopefully it will be here Friday afternoon. Well anyway hope the screen project is going well. Later man.

[MikeDaWiz]

Alot happened with your setup today Todd. Sorry about the delay, but good call your dad made. Of course i wouldnt have known better. I always ask my father about home improvement stuff because i am not a handy man by any definition. I can't wait to see the finished product bud!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Good morning Todd!

Have a great day today my friend.

John

[talstarone]

Thanks everyone for the numerous votes of confidence .

I agree with my Dad's choice 100%. And I think it will be for the best.No chance of having a nightmare of waking up and the entire screen is falling off of the wall into my Speakers and A/V Stand.

So,today it will be completed.And I would cover up the board,lou.But after the second screen is installed,I will build and install a valance to go in front of both screens and the board the brackets are mounted to.

This valance will be covered with the Movie Themed Carpet I have seen with pictures of movie reels,popcorn tubs,and tickets.So I hope to be able to purchase a couple of square yards of this carpet to cover the valance(I installed flooring for 16 years working for a company my Father owned.So like carpeting my sub riser,carpeting the valance wont be difficult since I have the neccesary tools).

And if the movie carpet isn't available I will just get a dark colored short pile,plush carpeting to cover the valance with.And I will have it centered as much as possible on the wall its mounted to.

Sadly the room I am using is the worst design for a room to be a Home Theater thats possible to have.The door leading into the room opens up onto the wall the screen and front Soundstage Speakers are on.So I will try to position the board as best asthetically as I can with the room limitations.

Because in the area free of the opening door I have to work with the positioning of the wall studs.So I will have everything centered and finished off once I add the second screen and then install the valance to cover the screens,brackets,and boards.

So it will look good now when this portion of the job is completed.Especially once the correct sized curtains are hung.But even today with the Black sheet in place it will look more then acceptable.Especially compared to a white sheet and thumbtacks.

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by John72953

Good morning Todd!

Have a great day today my friend.

John

Hi John,my Friend .
I Hope you have a Wonderful Friday ahead of you.
Then,a wonderful weekend as well.

I see you're up a little earlier then normal this morning.Having trouble sleeping or did you wake up early already having all the sleep you needed?

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by vega2K

Well it sounds like you are really thinking things out, which is the way to do it!

I am sure you already thought about this and have accounted for it, but just in case - remember that if the second screen you get down the road is bigger (longer) than the first, the support rings will be further out to the left and right when compared to the first. This means that the bracket supporting the first will not coincide with the location of the support rings of the second screen and you will either need another set of brackets or a different way to hang it. Of course this is not an issue if the length of the first and second screen will be the same. I hope this makes sense.

Congrats! Almost there!

I almost did forget about that part of the dual screen set-up,vega,my Friend.
But the way these brackets are made I can add an extension to each bracket,on the end.So I can handle a screen up to 6 inches wider with the brackets I have now.

And if that wont do the job for the second screen,I have another solution to use.I can mount another set of brackets to the set up and mount the second screen to that set of brackets.
I will make sure one screen is far enough forward of the other screen to be able to be extended and not come into contact with first screen case.

So we gave that some thought before the last plans were finalized.
So Thanks for the Heads Up and the Kind Congratulations.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by talstarone

Hi John,my Friend .
I Hope you have a Wonderful Friday ahead of you.
Then,a wonderful weekend as well.

I see you're up a little earlier then normal this morning.Having trouble sleeping or did you wake up early already having all the sleep you needed?

I start a little earlier than normal on Fridays Todd, which is cool as I get home at a decent time and before the weekend traffic starts! I'm really hoping that my TT belts arrive today so I can test them out and see if that fixes my problem. With the way things have gone for me this year I am not overly confident that it'll work. If it doesn't, then I have to completely rethink my upgrade path.

John

[Fors*]

Good idea with the board to mount the screen Todd. You are lucky in your space for the fact you can add a 2.35:1 screen with your 16:9 one. I was barely able to fit my 16:9 screen, so no 2.35:1 screen for me. It will look very cool with no black bars on the top and bottom....and the valance is the right aesthetic thing to do.....sounds like you got yourself a good plan there!

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by John72953

I start a little earlier than normal on Fridays Todd, which is cool as I get home at a decent time and before the weekend traffic starts! I'm really hoping that my TT belts arrive today so I can test them out and see if that fixes my problem. With the way things have gone for me this year I am not overly confident that it'll work. If it doesn't, then I have to completely rethink my upgrade path.

John

My Friend,you deserve a Great Conclusion to 2009 with the way the first 11 months of the Year have treated you.

So I have all the Hope I can muster, to have the New Belts Being All your Turntables were in need of to get them back up and running like new.
I would imagine having access to all the albums you have on vinyl would put a smile on your face knowing you could listen to any of then anytime you felt the need or urge.

Hopefully the belts will be there today or tomorrow at the latest.I know they are coming from across the Pond,but they should arrive sooner or later.

And I hope your Day at Work is a Great One.One of those days when you look at the clock and its already a couple of hours later then you thought.And I am really glad to hear you can start your Friday Earlier and Have it End Earlier.

Nothing worse to start a Weekend(or just end a Friday)then to sit in rush hour traffic.Have it end up taking you an hour longer then normal just to get home.

So Have a Great Day,my Friend.You Deserve a Day Where Everything Goes As Smooth As Glass For You.

[talstarone]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Good idea with the board to mount the screen Todd. You are lucky in your space for the fact you can add a 2.35:1 screen with your 16:9 one. I was barely able to fit my 16:9 screen, so no 2.35:1 screen for me. It will look very cool with no black bars on the top and bottom....and the valance is the right aesthetic thing to do.....sounds like you got yourself a good plan there!

Thank You Kind Sir.

I can take No credit for the board addition.That was strictly based on the wisdom and years of experience my Dad has in doing things like this.

At first I was just thinking,yet another delay.But after having a few minutes to think it over without emotions entering the equation I know it was the Right Move in the Long Run.

I hope you are waking up to a Great Friday Morning.For some reason I thought you had today off of work.Was I wrong in thinking that?

[Jwilly019]

Morning Todd,

Good to see some progress being made in your theatre, even if it's not as much as you (and all of us ) had hoped. Better to do it right the first time then have to tear it down and do it over again when you add the second screen.

Justin