Ok, I figured I should start a plog. I started building my projector months ago...haven't finished yet (college keeps getting in the way). I'll post pics of the enclosure when it looks presentable.

I just peeled off the front anti glare sheet after only 1 hour using the wet rag method. Very easy, came off in one piece. I started peeling the polarizer off but I quickly realized this and seperated it from the AG (my LCD has a small border around it, and I didn't peel the polarizer past it, so it will not affect viewing).

Interesting thing about the rear film (not sure if I should call it "AG" or not, might just be protective plastic), I tried peeling that one off without even soaking it. I just took a razor to it and it started coming off! BUT then it tore about 2 inches in, so I decided that I should soak that side too, which is what I'm doing right now. More to come...

Finished taking all of the plastic coating off on the rear side. The panel doesn't diffuse the light anymore when you look through it and it's more transparent. I tried it in the projector and it's brighter (but I'm also trying my parabolic reflector for the first time too, so it's probably due to both improvements). I'll post pics once I get my camera--Sunday at the earliest.

Rocky,

Is the rear plastic coating shiny or dull? My LCD has rear plastic coating and it looks shiny. I was told that it is a polarizer.

well, it had the same effect that the AG had on reflected images--looking at the reflection of say, a lamp, looked the same. So I wouldn't consider my rear coating "shiny". Yours may be the polarizer. Mine was stuck on top of the polarizer, so I had to carefully seperate them without lifting the polarizer on the screen. If you start peeling something off and it looks gray, stop, because that's the polarizer.

A way you can test to see if any coatings are diffusing light trough your panel, if you have a laser pointer around, is to shine the laser through the LCD (while it's off) and look at the beam on a white wall a few feet away from the LCD. If you see a diffraction pattern (multiple points of light instead of just one dot that you would normally see) then it is not diffusing the light (a good thing). The pattern of dots will be horizontal (assuming the panel is held as you would normally view it) and if the room is dark enough you will also see a line of dots vertically. However, if you do have diffusive coatings like anti glare, you will just see a smudge, if anything at all. Hope that helps.

The front of the panel has this film consisting of 4 layers all adhesed together by the polarizing manufacturer for LCD's....antiglare>TAC>polar>TAC...then adhesed to the LCD. Thereafter, another polar film behind the LCD consist of 3 layers....TAC>polar>TAC which is then adhesed on that side to the LCD. When removing the antiglare (a/g) this is securely adhesed to the TAC. After removal that leaves the polar (PVA) exposed. So, when removing the TAC on the rear polar you then also exposed it's polar (PVA).

To see if either side is affected by a/g, place a lamp or a bright flashlight above either surface of the LCD as it is laying down. If you can see the clear reflection of the light image on either side of the panel then there is no a/g on it, if you can barely see an image then you have a/g.
sim

Here's a pic of a preliminary test I did last night...Click to view attachment

By the way, I noticed that by placing the Ushio bulb vertically it burns brighter and whiter than when horizantal. I used to get a green tint when I had it horizontal.

I'm hoping to get the enclosure done this week so that I can finally enjoy some movies.

Does anyone know of a source for large diameter lenses with a similar focal length as the LL one? I'd like to find one larger than 2.5" so that I can capture more light, because I can see that I'm losing some light that's not hitting the lens.

Hi Rocky its looking promising.

Im also using a parabolic, your build is getting futher than mine.... im starting over xmas.

Can i ask, which Parabolic reflector you are using?

Rocky: Am I to understand that you have your Ushio placed vertically and find it works more efficient that way?
sim

I am using a parabolic reflector from here: http://scientificsonline.com/Product.asp?p...hcd2=1135624759

and yes, I have the lamp oriented so that the ceramic base is on the bottom, and the tip of the bulb points up (I'll take a pic of the inside when it's done).

So here's the update:
My enclosure is 90% done.
During my tests today I noticed that placing the LCD so that the light goes through it as it would normally gives a brighter projection than when placed backwards. But, I still need MORE LUMENS. I want white scenes to be so bright that it hurts my eyes!