Diy scrims?, ? About screen material.

[Michael Carter]

Man - open-ended scrim frames with black net (or white diffusion) are insanely handy and I don't see a lot of killer ways to DIY 'em. Solids are easy - sheets of black foamcore work well, you just don't get the aiming ease of a pin.

If you can live without the open end, you might be able to use something like an aluminum picture frame? Even a sheet of 1/8 plywood with a big hole cut in it (which would fit in a grip head).

Those really are one thing I wouldn't bother with DIYing (unless you can weld and have access to some steel rod stock). A PVC frame with a sheet of ripstop and some superclamps will make you a really nice butterfly, but how many nets do you imagine needing on set? (9 times out of ten the look I'd use a net for ends up being a solid or a piece of foam core, but the nets are great for removing hot spots, etc). Google Canvas Grip (they sell sets and pairs on eBay as well).

[David G. Smith]

Man - open-ended scrim frames with black net (or white diffusion) are insanely handy and I don't see a lot of killer ways to DIY 'em. Solids are easy - sheets of black foamcore work well, you just don't get the aiming ease of a pin.

If you can live without the open end, you might be able to use something like an aluminum picture frame? Even a sheet of 1/8 plywood with a big hole cut in it (which would fit in a grip head).

Those really are one thing I wouldn't bother with DIYing (unless you can weld and have access to some steel rod stock). A PVC frame with a sheet of ripstop and some superclamps will make you a really nice butterfly, but how many nets do you imagine needing on set? (9 times out of ten the look I'd use a net for ends up being a solid or a piece of foam core, but the nets are great for removing hot spots, etc). Google Canvas Grip (they sell sets and pairs on eBay as well).

That is the question that really is nagging me... How to do the open faced nets, without them buckling at the ends. I am going to get some screen material and some PVC type tubing/rigging to be able make something up in a pinch, especially like I noted above, to rig something to help knock down smaller lights and practicals. But I may just end up getting a couple of ready made open faced frames. I think having two really good ones would be enough for most of the stuff I do. I am going to see what I can come up with DIY first, to get a taste for it. I guess a long trip to Home Depot is in my future.... I do love those.

BTW, I went to the Canvas Grip site... Now what size should I get? 18"X24" or 24"X36"? I am inclined to get the bigger ones, but am not sure.

[ggrantly]

David,

If you want good DIY material, think aluminum expanded metal or perf metal. The McNichols links are just for reference. To buy this material, go to a sheet metal shop or supply shop and have them shear it to shape. Many will have something in stock. Try something like 14ga for thickness. It will cost some, but won't break the bank. Cover the edges with electrical wire harness split loom, or again from a sheet metal shop, have them run some S-lok trim. Marine supply house also have a product called trim-lok which is very nice, but expensive. The nice thing about this is that it will last forever, and then some, and be very durable.

http://www.mcnichols.com/products/ex...rial/aluminum/

http://www.mcnichols.com/products/pe...rial/aluminum/

If you have any questions about this, drop me a PM.

Grant

[Michael Carter]

David,

If you want good DIY material, think aluminum expanded metal or perf metal. The McNichols links are just for reference. To buy this material, go to a sheet metal shop or supply shop and have them shear it to shape. Many will have something in stock. Try something like 14ga for thickness. It will cost some, but won't break the bank. Cover the edges with electrical wire harness split loom, or again from a sheet metal shop, have them run some S-lok trim. Marine supply house also have a product called trim-lok which is very nice, but expensive. The nice thing about this is that it will last forever, and then some, and be very durable.

http://www.mcnichols.com/products/ex...rial/aluminum/

http://www.mcnichols.com/products/pe...rial/aluminum/

If you have any questions about this, drop me a PM.

Grant

Even a 24x36 from Canvas Grip is under 30 bucks... are you sure that's really going to save any money? And once you have a sheet of diamond lath or expanded steel, how are you putting it on a stand? Guess you could just clamp it in a grip head... it's going to be heavier than a flag though...

[David G. Smith]

You know Michael, I think you have convinced me.... I am going to go with a few of the scrims from Canvas Grip. They really aren't that expensive. I am going to pick up a roll of some type of screen material to have available, but I think that having a few real scrims would just save me a lot of headaches. Thanks everyone for their input.