Blackout Cloth (BOC) and other Screen Materials

[wbassett]

This is the last sticky thread. If anyone can think of anything that should be covered with a sticky to go over the basics and provide information and specs on a method that was not covered, send me a PM and I will get a thread going.

This thread is one that I am going to need some help with. If there is anyone that is out there that has extensive experience with cloth based screens, including AT screens and even the basics of painting a cloth screen or working with canvas, and if they would like to be a main contributor to this thread let myself and Mech know.

[tbase1]

I've used blackout cloth and as a matter of fact....I have a 5'X10 sheet left over..unused. However, I like sintra pvc better.

[wbassett]

This thread really needs some updating and data.

BOC is a very popular screen and is relatively inexpensive. I built an extremely light weight screen that uses spline to hold the BOC in place. It was both a success and a failure-

It was a failure because at first my frame bowed inwards on me so it ended up not being straight, but the BOC was relatively taut. After bracing my aluminum frame, it no longer bowed, but now the BOC had deep grooves in it from the previous mounting with the spline. I couldn't stretch it by myself and run the spline at the same time. I'll have to spend the whopping $20 something dollars next time I'm out by Joannes and get some more BOC.

Success- It was a success in the sense that with some help I know I can get it tight since I managed to the first time around. The biggest success though was the weight... with the BOC mounted on the aluminum frame I could literally lift the entire screen with my pinky! Granted, it will would need a trim border, but even with that the entire screen would come in probably around 15 pounds, not bad if you ask me.

One of these days I'll get back to these types of screen development designs. One thing I also wanted to try was to get my wife to sew a folded over seam along the edges and leave the corners open for a cabling system to mount and tighten the screen.

I've always said one area that seems to get negelected is a better framing design and making screens lighter as well as making assembly more like we see with commercial screens.

Theoretically, once this is worked out, it would be possible to spray a BOC or canvas screen with something like BW and send it to someone with a frame system and they just put it together and hang it... and start watching flicks the same day!

That aside though, many are interested in BOC and although I hear people talk about it being 'easy', I personally don't think the stretching and mounting is very easy at all, especially for one person.

There are also many different types of BOC and some seem to perform better than others. These things are on the plate for some testing, but I can't say when any of us will be able to get to it. tbase if you want to throw a mini (or big) review up in this thread of your experience with BOC that would be excellent!

I actually have a question about BOC.

I was thinking of hitting up Joannes for the blackout - but i'm setting up a large screen (about 7 feet width and 10 feet length) so the 54'' width of the fabric (which is the same width everywhere) won't work for me. Is it possible to get the two sheets and sew them? If so, do you just take a needle and thread and sew like you would normally sew fabric? Are there additional steps i'd need? Do I need a sewing machine?

Or should I be looking for some fabric larger? It's a charity event, so we're on a budget here - we will most likely be using the screen again though for future events within the township.

Thank you everyone

-Pat

[wbassett]

You can special order larger width material, but the cost usually goes up dramatically.

RoseBrand sells larger width BOC, in fact for 110" wide BOC it's $15 a yard, which is a great price and more than wide enough for your needs. So for 10' wide and 7' high screen you'd need four yards which will cost you $60 plus shipping. Rosebrand most likely will sell you less than four yards since you only need 10' wide, but the extra two feet will give you some fexibility and playing room for stretching and attaching it to your frame. It's always better to have a little larger than you need than not having enough.

You could sew it, but then there is a seam to content with that most likely will be visible.

They also sell actual projector screen material. Rosebrand deals with the stage and theater community and they are a very reputable company and will work with you to make sure you get what you need. The difference between BOC and their screen material? Ready? For 86" wide screen material it jumps from the $15 a yard for 110" wide BOC to $79 a yard for the projector screen material. What's the perfomance difference? Most likely very slight.

[Harpmaker]

oates151 wrote:

I actually have a question about BOC.

I was thinking of hitting up Joannes for the blackout - but i'm setting up a large screen (about 7 feet width and 10 feet length) so the 54'' width of the fabric (which is the same width everywhere) won't work for me. Is it possible to get the two sheets and sew them? If so, do you just take a needle and thread and sew like you would normally sew fabric? Are there additional steps i'd need? Do I need a sewing machine?

Or should I be looking for some fabric larger? It's a charity event, so we're on a budget here - we will most likely be using the screen again though for future events within the township.

Thank you everyone

-Pat

I'll start off by saying "I don't know". Now I'll give you a few guesses.

It might be possible to sew two pieces of BOC together to get the size you want, but it would have to be a very strong thread and a type of stitch that would take the strain.

The final BOC sheet would have to be stretched or the sewn area would bulge or pucker.

I would think a machine would need to be used to get a straight seam, and by someone who knew how to use it.

I don't mean to sound cruel or uncaring, but at public events as this a perfect screen image shouldn't be expected (I assume it's also an outdoor event).

The further the audience sets away from the screen, the less imperfections will show.

[wbassett]

Another option is if there are any boating shops in your area see if you can get sail canvas.