[DeathRay64]

This may be a little off topic but I thought it would be fun to start a thread that was about the extremes that we have gone to for our hobby. I don't know If this is the best place for this but I thought some people might post some stuff that should be protected. Move it somewhere else if you like.

I would like to see pictures or hear stories of how far people have gone to produce their projector.

Personally my every waking hour is consumed with thoughts on how I can make my projector great and I don't even live in a house big enough for one. I consider this a hobby first and foremost. Actually I will probably be a little sad once my projector is completed. The wife asked me "Where are you going to set that thing up? We have no room." My response was "We'll move".

Yeah, I've got it bad. How about you?

[Norlander]

Hi DeathRay64, I moved the topic to General Discussion; fits here a bit better I think .

I must admit I love this project, it does not consume my every waking moment , but I think about it and plan a bit more then I should at times.


Cheers,
Lee

[brainchild]

I got it pretty bad, wish I had more time to build :/

[DR_BEV]

not a day goes by that i don't think about my projector.. especially when i'm in electronic stores. i actually compare my picture to the big screens

again, i think about it too much, my wife has TOLD me this on a few occasions.

[RotorDemon]

I killed a bunch of people at home depot and made a run for it with some Particle board, hinges, and some screws.

Yeah.. I think I have it.

[OKflyboy]

Quote

I killed a bunch of people at home depot and made a run for it with some Particle board, hinges, and some screws.

[AllThumbs]

The concept of buying a perfectly good LCD monitor, then ripping it apart to put it into a home-made projector was so insane that if I asked my wife about it, I already knew what her answer would be. Our agreement is that any purchase over a certain dollar amount, we discuss. This project is way over that limit. So I had to do this low-cost.

I pulled three non-working LCDs that were designated for disposal (recycling) at work and rebuilt them into two working LCDs. The heart of my projector is currently a 13" Sony CPD-133. It has a contrast ratio of 200:1, and a response time of 35 msec. I realize this is way below spec, but free is, well free.

I was able to build the pj for primarily the cost of the lens, the Norpro, the lenses, and some minor tools, or a little over $200. The wood I already had on hand.

I did some routing with a table saw, since I lacked a router.

I got so frustrated over having everything but a little piece of tempered glass that I just got a piece of Lexan and used that. At that point, I was so ready to have a working pj that I didn't cut it and frame it, but rather used the whole thing as a big heat shield.

I did this entire project in the garage without my wife knowing what I was building in there. She figured it out the day before I had it working.

As expected, this pj won't be going in the living room. We have nothing stable to mount it in, and our six-month-old will start getting mobile soon.

My wife loves it. As soon as the budget allows, we will be upgrading the monitor.

[pitman2]

For about two weeks after I joined the forum, my friends and family were concerned that I was always in a bad mood and I was always destracted. Realy I was just dreaming up ideas for this project! I guess that I look like this when I'm concentrating.

[blueisback]

Have to admit - I do check the sight several times everyday - even now that I've read just about everything here.

I'm on vacation, so finding this project at the beginning of July was perfect for me. I don't have to feel so guilty about the amount of time I spend planning and researching my own project.

I'm a little luckier than some. A little older. OK shape financially. Kids pretty much grown. AND my wife is spending some cash on things like new carpets, curtains, painting rooms, extending the deck. My "home improvement" request for the the onset of my senior years - a music and entertainment room with a big screen projector. The PJ project not only promises to give me my big screen dream, it's got me excited like a teenager on his first date!!

[cnorth5863]

Thats what's Great with this project; It spans all age groups, all countries. We got people from the US to Aus, from Seniors to teenagers. All of us are doing this because we all wanted/want the largest screen for TV and Movies. Its a great project.

[nickestorga]

im a teen 13 years old and i made a working LCD projector as a graduation present from my uncle. although i have yet to go out on a date . lol.

nick

[cjab]

I got the bug.

I don't know why but the only tim eim usually on the computer is late at night. Its 3 am right now here. My parents think I'm crazy cause if they ever wake up to get a drink or anyhting im sitting here, with the glowing screen gazing at the projects and forums.

I havn't built anyhting yet, I plan to first get a old ohp and a cheap lcd panel. Show my parents how it works and how it can be achieved, (after showing them so many results models, and explaining they still dont think its as good as it sounds.)

From there (i acn get ohp free, panel cheap, both in a couple weeks.) I hope after showing them that, to get 'funds' and a credit card number so i can order stuff off the net. And will begin the 7" projector.

I was in future shop today, and was gazing at the lcd controls that they have for xbox(only like 3" diag) I have af riend that works there, can probably get one for half off. I might just buy one, experiment with the lcd nad make a really crappy projector to get started.

[vukich]

Yeah, I'm hooked. My wife says that I'm obsessed, but that's ok because it's true. I have been wanting a large tv or projector for a long time and I stumbled on this site. If I were to buy a projector I would probably have to save for a couple of years, but I can afford to build one soon! So anyway, yeah I've got the bug too.

[Krulke]

VERY BAD, first one isn't finished yet. And I'm already thinking of the next one....

[BeauP]

Doh me too!!! I have 2 in progress a 15" and a 7"..... sigh I need more money and time to do this. The 15 actually projects.... but I need to order the ffc extention cable and a M59 for the 400 watt bulb (using a 175 for testing).

[my-Fi]

Considering I've been glued to the Forum since I bought the guide, my imagination has gone crazy with ideas...yup I think I got tha bug., and I'm really surprised how fast it hit me.

[Olofson]

Guess I got it pretty bad - and I haven't even received any of the hardware I ordered... Except for the FX 5900XT video card (with video in) for my HTPC - it got here right after I typed the last sentence.

Can't concentrate on my job or anything! :angry: I'm just hanging around various projector related forums and thinking about pj designs all the time.


Ok; next self control test:

"Do not install the new video card and DVD writer in the HTPC right away. Do some work first."

How do you rate my chances of success?

[SethAce]

I've got it bad, I really really do I goin nutz. But, however the pain will soon cease I got my lenses and all the rest of my eq last night and tonight should be the showcase.. now the only problem the waiting game till I get off work.. damn you 3 o'clock...



But yeah I'm glued to the forum since I don't have anything to work on during the day atm.. watching a shop for one of the higher ranking people I'm pretty much stuck here without much to do so here I sit waiting for replies..

[Sean]

I've got it real bad, I've already built my projector and am very happy with the output.. but I find my self every time going on the internet ending up in the forum reading posts, sometimes for hours at a time

[baldy]

how bad ? quite. i have just got here and after a couple days of reading i was quite inspired.
this is a great site.
the concept itself is very clever and the innovations that folks come up with are nothing short of amazing.
it's times like this that i very much appreciate the net.
it seems i am going about my daily routine only half paying attention recently... my mind wants to review the plans over and over.
---
i will be making a "basic" projector.
bulbs are here. thinkin ahead i got 2.
mogul bases are here. yes, 2 again.
"old school" ballast is here.
lexan for heat shield purchased within last day.
fan is here.
display is here, unopened... it's a mag that no one seems to have done yet.
perhaps i'll use camera to document the breakdown to help out as other helpful folks before me have.
received lumenlab "your package was sent" email and am anticipating getting lenses shortly.
friend has table saw i can use once i get display broken down and have accurate measurments for box.
still need reflector.
need white paint too.
---
the "lumenlab_virus_2004_v1" has a grip on me.

[korndog]

Bad has never felt soo good. I just bought the membership two days ago, and im hooked. I lay in bed at night thinking, me and my wife go over how our day has gone and i cant stop talking about my pj. as a matter of fact almost everyone i talk to i try to explane my pj plan, nothing but blank looks. yea i got it bad, im new to projectors but not the computer concept. My first wack at it will be with a 7" lcd and 3 folds. My total has just passed 600$ usd. I was planing to spent about 300$ total. I still need to get a projector screen. Yea beaing a nerd kicks ass. WE KICK ASS