Pull down screens - aging problems

[snocrash]

I have a Da-Lite Model B -- and from everyone I've spoken to, I'm not alone in witnessing the normal problem of pull down screens eventually getting ripples in them.
(more like waves than ripples -- i.e., not caused by the roller. Probably caused by age)

Is there any method to flatten out a tired pull down screen ?

(I've tried the 'ol hair-dryer on superhot :-)

-sc

[SSB]

What do you mean by waves? Do you mean horizontal or vertical lines?

Here's my brand new Model C ... as you can see it has feint horizontal lines and it doesn't hang perfectly flat. Does yours look anything like that?

http://www.aoos83.dsl.pipex.com/screen/light.jpg

[snocrash]

Yes.. that's exactly what I'm talking about.

But, dude... that's really bad wavy for a new screen :-(

My screen is like 2 yrs old and has developed the problem... but when I got it it was dead flat (for a while - until people started touching and punching it)

Now the question is... how do we fix it ?

[SSB]

Thankfully I've got the retailer on the case and it looks like a replacement is due. I have to give credit to AV-I for looking after me extremely well. It seems I've just been unlucky in the screen that I received.

[petrolhead]

I had the same priblem with my Draper Luma, Sevenoaks exchanged it for me after I complained to Draper

I am now an electric and the look of your screen has put me off DaLite

[SSB]

Yeah, shouldn't have to have screens replaced. But for the time being, I'm giving da-lite the benefit of the doubt. Having read reports of duff screens from pretty much all the major manufacturers (bar Stewart) I'm pretty philosophical about it all. If I get a second duff screen from da-lite ... that philosophical approach is bound to disappear though! :D

[AndyDD]

Guys,
I'm about to purchase a projector and was thinking of spending around £350 on a pull down screen. From what you're saying etc. here should I spend extra on a motorised one?
I asked the saleman in 7oaks yesterday about wavey/rippled screens and was told it would not happen to a good quality one, and the problem would only occur on office type portable presentation ones.

cheers,
Andy

[SSB]

I can't see the motorisation thing making a huge difference TBH. If the screen material is incorrectly fixed, too thin or of a poor quality, you'll get problems irrespective of whether it is manual or electric. So, the manufacturer is likely more important than the mechanism.

I'm pretty confident that my replacement da-lite will be spot on (he says, praying to the God of projector screens).

[AndyDD]

I spoke to a salesman/owner of a shop in Ashford (Kent) today who said I need to spend £1500 minimum!!!
Still trying to work out what to get, although now know it's 'safe' to get a manual pull down.

[Off The Fence]

Yikes!

Unlucky :( .

My one's fine (couple of horizontal waves, but nowt *nearly* as serious as that looks).

At least AV-I are looking after you well. I was a bit concerned about buying from them originally (as they don't take credit cards), but it sounds like their aftersales is pretty good...