Dj's United > DIY Starcloth

Dj's United > "TALKING SHOP" > D.J and Karaoke Chat

Chrispy

Dec 21 2003, 07:56 PM

Sorry it took so long to post up these pictures, for those of you who followed my DIY Starcloth Post at the end of October, where I atttempted to save some money on the £700 commercially available ones, by making one myself

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Well it has been complete for some weeks, but it has been some time since I had a venue small enough to get away with using the Ultimax stand I designed it for. However, last night's 60th Birthday in a diving club was the ideal photo opportunity, so out came the standard width Ultimax Stand, and the starcloth!.

(Ignore Richard, the gormless looking D.J in the 1st picture)

user posted image

The pictures don't really do it justice, as it was a fully lit room at the time the pictures were taken. However, the starcloth looks very effective when the lights are dimmed.

I am more tha happy with the result, and it is ideal for hiding wires etc, and far less hassle than lightboxes. I simply stow the cloth away using the inside of a spare speaker cover at the end of the night!.

I was quoted £570 for a commercially made starcloth + £130 for the actual light unit which contains the lamp and colourchanger. The entire project above cost me no more than £200 which even by my maths is around a £500 saving

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Anybody who wants to read about the entire project can do so by Clicking Here

Ian Stewart

Dec 21 2003, 08:16 PM

looks good, as a post note, I have found a source that will supply star cloths at £50 sq metre, and have been quoted £127 to make a custon built cloth for my pro DJ stand.

kazzachi

Dec 21 2003, 09:13 PM

Ian.... I think crispy will now be absolutely crest fallen! How long did it take you to make crispy! ...... now you have done the first one, the second will be so much easier and quicker... so as soon as its ready let me know and ill give you my addresss!

Chrispy

Dec 21 2003, 09:33 PM

QUOTE

Ian.... I think crispy will now be absolutely crest fallen!

Kazz, I keep hearing about this from several sources, but have yet to see what they look like or anybody using one, perhaps Ian could post up a picture, or email me with one?.

I know that there are some custom cloths around which use fairy lights or bulbs woven into the cloth, but that isn't what I was after - this is a starcloth in the conventional sense, which slowly changes colour and flickers and only has fibres travelling from the cloth rather than wires.

I would be very interested to see if this manufacturer provides the colourchanging effect complete with halogen light source. There is a ploy behind some of the cheaper suppliers in that Sometimes you can find a cheap fibre optic cloth, but they then charge you £300 for the compatible light source!

QUOTE

so as soon as its ready let me know and ill give you my addresss!

Sorry Kazz, this was a "one off" in the true sense of the word, I won't be making any more!

DJTREV

Dec 23 2003, 10:59 PM

On the subject of Starcloths.
I did a gig a few nights ago for a Marque company; they had rigged a marque up in a warehouse for the company party. They had a starcloth on one side of the tent and apparently they can supply them to any size. I will make some enquiries and post any useful info on the forum

Eskie

Dec 24 2003, 03:19 AM

Chris, from looking at the pics it would seem that the starcloth frame is about 2ft high and thus not covering the cables etc from the back of the mixer etc. I was just wondering why you chose to make the frame this height?

Dukesy

Dec 24 2003, 05:20 AM

I think 'richard' looks ok.

Chrispy

Dec 24 2003, 09:39 AM

QUOTE (Eskie @ Dec 24 2003, 03:20 AM)

Eskie. It's not actually on its own frame. It uses the frame of the Ultimax Stand and the top support bar of the lower frame to "hang" - hence the height. The starcloth is attached using velcro which is stiched into the entire legnth of the top edge of the material. The mating half of the velcro strip is the adhesive backed type which runs the length of the Ultimax bar offering more than adequate support. The material is quite thick, and fairly heavyweight hence the need for support along its length rather then on the corners.

The cloth also has a wrap around which folds around each side of the stand, hiding wires from view of the audience who may be seated at the side of the Rig. More velcro mounts secure the edges of the cloth on the DJ side of the stand.

The top support bar of the ultimax frame is slightly lower than the equipment itself, hence its slightly lower than the wires coming out of the equipment mounted on the top. I am in the process of building a removable "shelf" to hook over the lower bar of the stand to mount this flightcase, since it only contains amplifiers and doesn't need constant access. This should remove the visibility of most of the remaining wires.

Dynamite Discos

Dec 24 2003, 06:07 PM

Where did you get the lightsource from - or do you stock these yourself chris? i think it looks excellent - might give it a go myself. better than a boring old tablecloth

aclassdisco

Dec 27 2003, 05:12 AM

Chris it looks great. I'm V impressed

I want to show you mine though, not as pretty but V effective. Although some members would disagree with the ethics and wot not, although I have options depending on the function.

A fully lit room - what by candle light.
It's cos you used the flash to take the pic, you can tell cos of the notice board and your cases.

Ross.

Chrispy

Dec 27 2003, 12:47 PM

QUOTE

A fully lit room - what by candle light.
It's cos you used the flash to take the pic, you can tell cos of the notice board and your cases.

And the english translation of this meaningless gibberish would be what exactly???

DJTREV

Jan 13 2004, 03:29 PM

Sorry it's taken me so long to come up with any info on the Starcloth.Mind you its not good news I'm afraid. I was really hopeful that I might have found a good affordable product.
The quote I was given for a 9x3 cloth with fibre optic flashing lights was £350. I suppose I was being a bit niave(?) in thinking I might get one for about £150!!!

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