screen holder

[jason gessner]

it is just about time for me to fire up the back yard movie theatre again, but this summer i would like to have a slightly better setup.  Previously, we have hung a big bright painter's canvas from the back balcony using some bungee cables.  This is ok, but the screen is not flat and is susceptible to a stiff breeze.

I'd like to make a frame and stretch a canvas with grommets into it.

I was thinking of using some conduit material to build the frame.  I don't need it to really support much more weight than the screen, so i figure 3/4" or 1" conduit would work well.  I took a look at home depot today and it is fairly cheap, but i don't know how to connect the pieces.  Should i add threads to them and get some couplings or use some screw-on-couplings?

I also want to put this into a relatively sturdy base so it is nice and stable on movie night.  I should also be able to take it apart for easier storage.

Has anyone built anything out of this conduit material that can offer me some tips?  Does anyone have other ideas?

-jason

[Kevin Crowley]

Conduit is fine definitely use the connectors or use PVC and no glue..  Make the frame about 12" larger than your canvas and use bungees cords or thin rope.  That's essentially how that do large projection screens for shows.

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[Joe Buck]

I built a DJ light stand once out of conduit (with a porcelin screw socket base in the bottom of silver gallon paint can as the "Can lights" hung from it.)  It went up 8 feet on the sides, and spanned 10ft over the DJ table.  it could hold quite a bit of lighting equipment.

I thought about PVC but it was too flaxible for my needs.  I used 1 1/2 in elecrical conduit just for the stiffness.  Since i was hanging lighting equipment from it, 1in was too flexible/bendable. At 1-1/2", It was still very portable and easily storable. I don;t know how big your screen is but the extra 1/2in in conduit size doesn't add much size or weight or price at all and you'd be able to get a really goods stretch.  I used compression fittings all the way around with a 8in or so diameter 90 bend condiut at the upper corners and a compression fitting base at the bottom of the legs.

Compression fittings & 90 degree bends like these: 

    

there are these for 90 degree corners, but they won;t get you much structural rigidity.  but they might work depending on you needs:

and finally there are compression fitting base plates for the bases and I can't find a picture right now.  but they work really well.  I used an "X" of wooden 2x4 but a plywood square would work just as well, i suppose.

The electrical conduit isle and the hardware store is like a giant erector set with a piece for every need!  Worked for me and my needs at the time. Those needs being:

MOJO Productions

DJing your Dances, Parties and Small Revolutions.

1996-1999

-JoeBuck

On Sun, May 5, 2013 at 1:50 PM, jason gessner <ja...@multiply.org> wrote:

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[jason gessner]

Excellent info! Thanks. :)

-jason

[Dont let google be evil]

I was just looking at a projection screen yesterday that I was strongly considering tossing -you can have it if you want.
-and if it's not gonna work for you, you can dispose as you see fit.

...and a friend buys grommets by the barrel-full (literally) , and I should be able to press a bunch for cost (I think, like .15per for rilly huge ones) -depends on what dies he has in a press at the time

...or whatevers

WaffleCone

[Adam Cohen]

You could just use weights to stretch it from your balcony.  Maybe some tent spikes to stretch it laterally.

[Adam Cohen]

Also try reflective paint.