Fellas....Douglas_schroeder above.. sent me his instuctions for his DIY screen, scroll down a couple of lines....and there it is. Thank you Doug.
You can find instructions on Home theater websites, such as Home Theater
Forum. I would definitely not utilize a plastic material as they show on
that website.
What I did:
Cut STRAIGHT lumber (1x3" or 1x4") with mitered cut. like making a big
picture frame.
Spray paint wood flat black, and cover with flexible fuzzy black cloth.
Adhere cloth to wood using double sided carpet tape. You'll have to work
hard to get it stretched tight and without puckering.
Lay another layer of carpet tape ontop of the seams.
Screw together the four pieces of frame using flat right angle brackets.
For the screen, use 54" wide "blackout material" (used in drapes to prohibit
light penetrating through fabric). It has a smooth side; use that smooth
side for screen.
Use "rail and spline", the same as for making screen windows in doors, as
your system of attatching the screen.
Get the plastic "rail" and cut to length. Affix them to back of screen frame
using screws. Lay out the screen fabric (being careful to have smooth side
toward viewing side) and use the "spline" (looks like flexible miniature
plastic piping) to lock in the fabric into the rail. (go to Home Depot for
rail/spline; they'll know exactly what you mean in the millwork department.
Make sure the rail is set back enough from the inner edge of frame, so that
when attatched, the screen fabric is about 1/2" past inner edge! Makes it
easier to hide uneven stretching at corners.
When it's stretched properly, the screen turns out flawless, without a
wrinkle! Mine was so tight, that the wood frame started to twist! So, when I
hung it, I drove two drywall screws into the bottom of the frame to keep it
straight/flush with the wall.
It's really not hard to to. It took me two nights, working fairly slowly at
it.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving,
Doug
