This thread is for any useful links you may have that may be useful for the project to be aired and shared. Anything not monitor or lighting-related can be listed here. Blackout cloth, canned air, scan converters, utilities, bargains - whatever it may be, if someone else could benefit from it, then please post it. Thanks.

Steve

I'll start:

Rustoleum Aluminium spraypaint:

http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/produc...llic%20Topcoats

The 'Rustoleum 2115' would be useful for screen treatments..

Xbox/PS2 component cables:

http://www.whitedog.co.uk/catalog/product_...products_id=397

I was searching the other threads for cooling and our friends in the US are talking about timers for keeping the fan running after the lamp is switched off.

I found one of the ideas they have here on a UK computer site. It's made for the computer case fan, but some electronics wizard here might figure out a way to use it for our pj's.

Here is the link

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo...roductID=121486

The price seems reasonable, so if this works it would be a great addition to our projects

Let me know what you think

Gary

Up-scalers:

http://www.scancom.ltd.uk/up_converters.htm

SCART to VGA Sync Blaster from Maplin Electronics:

http://www.maplin.co.uk/?userid=SearchEngi...getmodule=37141

Could be interesting to try out!

Temperature Module

www.Maplin.co.uk


£12 if you buy it with the probe, which you can then use to keep track of your lcd temperature. It also has an alarm and an output for when its over a certain temperature, so I think it could be used with a relay to keep the fan running until a certain temperature is reached.

Just found this site which I think is the business. Its got loads of useful bits and pieces which will be useful in our projects.

Apologies if its already been posted but I got no results after searching for it across all forums.

http://www.rapidelectronics.co.uk

Cheers

Matt

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Module...rldID=&doy=1m11

This looks like one cool little dvd player, Divx and Xvid files copied straight to disc without authoring, this will play them and more....

Just like to put in a shout for Lampig.com, just got off the phone to them, told him some parts i needed and the guy knew it was for a homemade projector!! all sorted, i bought the MH 400 and Z6HS and asked for a compatible capacitor, with VAT and courier charges came to about £40!!!

Real Friendly service! go get your parts!

Same here, LAMPIG rule, they are definitley a very friendly service, i would also recommend EYE IWASAKI for your lamps, very nice guys always friendly to help out!

P.S. Both Lampig and EYE IWASAKI knew i was building a projector! KUDOS!

couldnt have put it better myself. Both guys knew i was making a Projector, only thing left is some tempered glass! any ideas?

Any normal glasiers will be able to supply you with tempered glass. Some might tell you that the size is too small, but just call another one.

ok cool thanks for the advice, neally ready to build! thanks for all your help guys!

http://www.lidl.co.uk/gb/index.nsf/pages/c...tal_Thermometer

Looks like a good little temp. monitor and cheap aswell

Whatever you do DONT use Business Post, for next day delivery it takes them 6 days! :angry:

For those looking for tempered glass might I recommend "Borofloat". The spec. is available at:

www.schott.com/borofloat

And a UK supplier is:

http://www.newcastleoptical.co.uk/contact.htm

Give them a ring. Very friendly people!

I think Borofloat is unsuitable as it has improved UV transmission!!
http://www.us.schott.com/tgd/english/products/boromenu.html

Hello just ordered a 48" by 48" piece of Lexan XL10 (Blocks UV AND IR) from the states it's very good and much better than tempered glass. If anyone wants any let me know and I'l post on Ebay

Hi,all,just ordered an FS mirror from these guys,not cheap,but friendly,dont take credit cards,had to send a cheque by snail mail.
Vacuum Coatings Ltd
They are located in East London.
12"x11" £33,inc vat & delivery

Just found these guys supplying the same PCAC fans as in the LL store.

www.extremepcs.co.uk Product code is 291023. I've no idea how good the service is yet.

UPDATE:

You should read my coments on the service at extremepcs on this thread before you decide to order.

http://www.lumenlab.com/forums/index.php?a...st=0#entry70523

Hi everyone.
i have purchased these items and am waiting for them to arrive,
this may or may not be of great use, but i hope so as i am planning on building a few projectors. please let me know what you think, everyone who has built a pj before. and please let me know what other tools you think i may need. i literally have NOTHING else. thanks guys


w*w.maplin.co.uk

this is also included in free postage as it is over £35. total cost as below around 65 quid.

Product: L65BJ £59.99

500W impact drill, variable speed with 13mm key chuck, 5 drill bits and hammer function
400W jigsaw, single speed and 2 wood blades
135W sander, 187x90mm and 10 sanding sheets
Also included is a robust work bench
Everything you need for your workshop at home!


Product: QT58 £5.99
Cut smooth accurate holes through up to 1 inch thick wood and plasterboard
Includes 12 cutting heads from 3/4 inch to 5 inch diameter and all the bits you need to connect them to your drill

Well if you literally have nothing else then I would say you also need:

- Some screw drivers, including precision ones for stripping the lcd

- Some no more nails

- Something to cut straight with (ie circular saw or tenon saw). Some saw you can cut straight with a jigsaw but I'm not so sure.

- A tape measure, decent sized steel ruler and decent set square.

- Tools for the wiring. You could just get away with some pliers here for cutting and stripping the wires if your going to use terminal blocks but I think a soldering iron and heat gun with heat shrink tubing is better.

- Some latex gloves for handing the fresnels and the lcd.

Also possibly some clamps, some electrical tape and a laser pointer.

Thats about all I can think of but other little things will crop up that will have you poping down to B&Q for during the build.

thank you for your help redrum. i will pop down to pick up some of those tools mentioned.

also im in twickenham middlesex. if anyone needs mdf i used a company called VB located here, they delivered 20 minutes after i paid over the phone, this is also where i would like some feedback please.

i ordered a sheet which is 4 foot by 8 foot of 18mm mdf, is this enough and is it suitable for the project.. it sure seems like enough standing up against the wall... but im not sure once i start cutting it up...

can i use the 400W jigsaw, single speed and 2 wood blades
that i purchased to cut the wood into the required pieces?
thanks

That sounds like plenty of MDF to me. Personally I use B&Q Supercentres because they cut the wood for you (first 3 bits free then 50p each after that). You can use the jigsaw, I'd have a look at this thread, especially jersey john's part about using a guide with the jigsaw.

Just thought all you UK projector builders should know ... I went to B&Q today to get my MDF cut and the guy there cut all my peices for nothing. Just buy your MDF from them then draw your design at home, take it back and if you ask the guy nicely there will be no charge Wonderfull Service!

Anyone need some Lexan

Then phone these guys

Davis Industrial Plastics Ltd
Dialog Unit 1
Fleming way
Crawley
West Sussex
RH10 9NQ

01293 552836

They cut to whatever size you require, and their prices arnt too bad either.

Aero1103

Thanks for the MDF tip. Anyone got any ideas on this tft, specs seem ok, no idea whether it'll be easy to strip tho.

hi,
if you use lexan margard it blocks UV and is temp stable above 120 cent, have not tryed it yet but look like it could work

and you can buy blanda bowls at ikea milton-keynes, i bought some saturday.

sean

dont know if its suitable for stripping down but i like the various connectors avaliable on this 15" lcd tv rom dabs

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx?Quick...mp;v=2#infoarea

Audio line-in
Composite video/audio input
S-Video input
SCART
VGA input

Argos has just cut the cost of the 14" vusys monitor (1280x768, VGA only input) to £69.9. It's not available for home delivery, but my local store actually had one in stock (Ilford, but apparent Enfield and Edmonton at least also have some, check the argos site).

I'm typing my post on it right now. Haven't taken it apart yet, but this guy has, and there don't appear to be any FFC issues.

Thanks for the heads up on this monitor EDZ.
I got one and did the strip here are a few pics!

Click to view attachment
and some more

Click to view attachment

AND ANOTHER:_

Click to view attachment

ALSO GOT THIS DOUBLE PVC SLEEVE BnQ ALL STORES HAVE THEM SHOULD BE GOOD FOR THE LENS MOUNT, STANDARD LL. LENS
IT'S 100mm ACROSS SO SHOULD DO THE JOB I THINK?


Click to view attachment

Just want to share with you all a few more sources for bulbs and ballasts.

firstly http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/
does great deals on bulbs... got a 400w sylvania tube MH CT65k for £18. plus they offer to sell compatible ballsts, and caps aswell(great for those new to pj'ing and not entirely sure what is what)

also http://www.dealec.co.uk/acatalog/index.html does a wide range of ballasts ranging from teh v. cheap (the heavy beasts...all i can afford just now to some top end designs).

both of these sites have excellent technical support and helped me immensely. spent a fair bit of time on the phone as had no real idea at first about connections but was talked through the whole process by their technical advisors! you'd think i had shares in them or something

really can't express enough how helpful they were with me and hope someone else finds them useful!

rob

Id never really thought it an option but this kind of thing might make a build easier if you want scart input.

Its a 15" widescreen LCD at 1280x768 with scart input at ebuyer for £109.37

lexan from plastic online ltd

http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/plasticonline_redltd

i just bought a 300x500mm sheet for £6

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Plastic-Online_2M...8QQftidZ2QQtZkm