Ok so I'm starting my 17inch project after reading many posts.

Parts:
LCD: Hyundai L72S
Lumen Parts: Ultimate Light Kit, 1005 S15 Lens Kit, WK120V 120V Wiring Kit
Reflector: Ikea Pot lid (might get napkin holder or norpo)


Need help w/ the reflector, for some reason I had it in my head I needed an Ikea bowl, which I did buy but realized it would be a problem with the small flat spot on the bottom. I also thought this lid might work. What is the general consensus, is this a bad idea? Also, is it possible to polish stainless steel?

The lid most likely won't work.

The reflector needs to be perfectly spherical. So you're right about the bowl with the flat spot. It wouldn't work well either.

Ok thanks for the input. Has the Ikea napkin holder been compared to the norpo / bain marie bowl for a 17in LCD and the S400DD light? Are they similar in size, etc... Also, has anyone tracked down the norpo bowl in the San Francisco area?

Considering that I can see an image of you in the lid I'd say it's spherical. It's just
very shallow.

Based on your pic I estimate the size of the lid to be 5 inches in diameter with a depth
of .75 inch. Doing a bit of trig on the dimensions comes up with a focal point of about
17.42 inches. You could place it that far behind the lamp but the gain would be so small
it wouldn't be worth it.

Alright guess I’ll be heading back to Ikea tomorrow. I'm working on the dimensions of the box and am thinking of cutting my frenzels down a little. Would it hurt anything if I just left them as they are? I'm thinking this means more light will be spread out in the box and it will be weakend, then again with bigger frenzels more of it can be gathered....hmmmmm

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it wont change the amount to the LCD - there will just be light hitting where the LCD isn't if you do not cut them to a smaller size. hope that makes sense!
The LCD can only take as much light as you give it - based on its size!

That makes sense, but could larger frenzels help to offset the lumen drop-off at the corners of the LCD? Would I be getting a bigger and more even light spread across the panel and thus less dim corners in my final projection?

i dont think having a much larger fresnel will get you more light at the corners.. as long as the fres. is large enough so you can get the collimated light at the lcd corners you'll be ok..

Got my PJ frame built and the frames for the Frenzle/LCD sled. Was going to make this a horizonal one, but now i'm thinking verticle. Wonder how hard it would be to simply add a mirror? Anyone have a simple solution for calculating the angle of the mirror and lens placement? I might use a plastic mirror.

Dunno if this would help but here is the box data:

Inside box dimensions = 15.5W x 28 5/8L x 14H (inches)
External box dimen. = 17W x 31.5x 14H

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hmmmm.....
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Just don't water that plant