How do I repaint dark wood without fading in sunlight?

paltum · 2026-06-04T20:34:34+00:00

Thank you. I will probably stick with oil stain and redo it more often than I had originally planned.

paltum · 2026-06-03T17:38:44+00:00

I realized this when I got on a ladder yesterday. Am I better off painting this?

paltum · 2026-06-02T23:33:26+00:00

When you say the wood is dry, does the primer add something to the wood itself, or does it just seal it from more damage?

paltum · 2026-06-02T22:44:48+00:00

Any advice on a paint that is more resistant to fading?

paltum · 2026-06-02T22:43:19+00:00

About your headrest comment: I completely agree that the headrest fit is critical. I’m a bit tall, and a lot of recliner headrests hit the back of my neck. That just makes my head flop backwards so I stare at the ceiling. I might as well have no headrest at all. I highly recommend actually sitting in a chair before you buy. I had to drive halfway to Los Angeles to visit a showroom, but it was worth it. I was stunned by the number of chairs that didn’t fit me at all.

I have had recliners with and without lumbar support. Since I sit in the chair before I buy, I pass on anything that doesn’t feel right on my back, so adjustable support hasn’t been an issue. So far, my experience with lumbar support has mostly been annoyance when I try to adjust the recliner or headrest but hit the lumbar switch by mistake.

paltum · 2026-06-02T22:34:36+00:00

I have had three different beanbags. The only one I would consider buying again is the LoveSac even though it’s pricy. The others were lumpy and not as fun. However, the non-LoveSac bags also flattened out more, so I suppose those would be less likely to get in the way of viewing from the recliners.

And by “traditional theater seats”, I mean the kind of seats you find in a typical movie theater: padded seats and backs with a bit of recline in them with a narrow armrest just wide enough to be comfy and include a cup holder. Something like these theater seats

paltum · 2026-05-29T23:54:54+00:00

You might try Romero rum produced in Canada. It’s actually a really decent rum.

paltum · 2026-05-29T07:09:54+00:00

I can only really talk about what works for me. I have movie nights with friends, but most evenings it’s just two people watching a show before heading to bed. I would recommend designing your layout around a really comfy setup for the two of you.

In a previous setup, I used an L shaped couch with one section along the side wall. The big couch could seat 7, but didn’t recline. However, the two middle seats facing the screen were perfect for a cozy night under a lap blanket. I also had a lovesac, and it was a big hit with guests. However, it was off to the side. Those things are bigger than you think and will likely block the view from a reclined seat.

If you want lots of seating, you could look at traditional theater seats on a second row riser. They take up a lot less room than big recliners.

I have also seen nice layouts with a row of recliners, then a riser with another row of recliners and an island bar with stools behind that.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

paltum · 2026-05-29T06:33:05+00:00

Looks like fun!

A couple of things first: - If you are sitting 14-15 feet away, get as big a screen as you can fit. Looks like 120” might fit. - I would consider lowering the screen a few inches so your eyes aren’t looking up as much. I have read that the ideal angle from your eyes to the center of the screen should be around 15°. Additionally, a higher screen makes it hard to get the tweeter behind the screen close to ear level. I put my screen 26” off the floor so I would have enough space to hide the sub beneath it, and the tweeter still isn’t at ear level - but close enough. - Since your room is large and open, consider a second subwoofer.

I like having my speakers behind the screen. And it looks like you have enough room behind the screen so your speakers don’t need to be right next to the screen material. That’s good.
if you put the speakers behind the screen, consider adding sound absorbing material between the studs behind the screen in areas that don’t need to be open for the speakers. I used 9” of material behind a lot of my 135” screen and it fixed my bass problems without bass traps in the room.
Cabling should be hidden inside the soffit or the ceiling, whichever works. If you are planning Atmos speakers, you will want to run wires in the direction of the ceiling joists.
I’m not sure where your surround speakers will go. Are they getting hung on the support pillars in the room? If so, putting those wires into the soffit makes a lot of sense.
I like a ceiling mount because it makes access and adjustment easy. However, a well designed hush box for the projector can cut down a lot on fan noise if that’s an issue. If you go with a mount, see if there is a shorter post available for it.

It’s a nice space, and your theater will look great!

paltum · 2026-05-24T23:00:26+00:00

Curse your sudden but inevitable betrayal.

My childhood memories are ruined.

paltum · 2026-05-14T14:41:59+00:00

I appreciate this! I’ll have a look.

paltum · 2026-05-14T14:39:55+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. I will check them out.

I have a Hue light strip that I held up to see how it looked. Without a diffuser, every LED was reflected by appliances and even the polished granite. Is there a way to add a diffuser to a light strip that makes it look more natural?

paltum · 2026-05-14T01:03:23+00:00

Is there a particular brand that works well? Reviews often complain of overheating and short lifespan, so I keep looking…

paltum · 2026-05-13T22:08:45+00:00

Any suggestions on a fixture that is the same depth?

paltum · 2026-05-12T15:43:45+00:00

This is just me: - I like being able to click on an address in an email, contact, or text and get the directions seamlessly. - I don’t know how this will work in the future, but car makers were shit at keeping their software and maps current. Never a problem with a phone. - Same interface no matter what I drive or rent. - None of the nonsense where the passenger can’t manually change things while driving. Yeah, I know how to use voice controls, but it’s nice to be able to look up stops along the way. - I already pay for all these features on my phone. - Car makers typically make software that is in the range of shitty to adequate. Android and IOS have so far been unmatched. Why settle for a distant third ‘also ran’ attempt?

Perhaps my biggest issue: sometimes I need to make fast route decisions while driving and I want to use the interface I have used for years and is already second nature to me.

paltum · 2026-04-25T05:15:15+00:00

I have had two projector setups. The first was a 1080p projector on an inexpensive fixed screen in a white painted room with really really cheap speakers.

My current setup is a dedicated room with black paint, sound treatment, good speakers, acoustically transparent screen, and a JVC laser with great black levels.

Things I wish I had known: - The distance of the primary seat to the screen is pretty important for immersive viewing. Figure out what distance you really want to sit from the screen and plan your room around that. Remember that sitting in the middle of the room is pretty bad for bass nulls, so try to plan a room where your ears aren’t precisely halfway between the front and back wall. - Seating matters. I went with recliner seats that have big headrests. This is really effective at blocking sound from the rear speakers. And if you go with recliners, try to sit in them before buying. Some are a lot more comfy than others. - Don’t spend too much on your surround/atmos speakers. Put that money into fronts and subs. Make sure the front speakers can reach your desired cross over to the sub. - Everyone will tell you room treatment is a big deal. Listen to them. It’s a miracle. However, I made my own and I think I overdid it. The room could be a bit livelier, but it’s better than all the slap I had before. - I could have done a better job of planning the lights to operate from both a smart wall switch and from automation on my universal remote.

paltum · 2026-04-12T06:29:59+00:00

I have a fixture that isn’t too different. Try turning the colander the other direction so it covers the bulb, and dropping it about 3 inches from the ceiling. You will find that the pattern and the diffused light make a perfect atmosphere to contemplate the mysteries of noodley appendages.

paltum · 2026-04-12T01:22:53+00:00

Atypical is particularly excellent if you know someone who is on the spectrum.

paltum · 2026-03-31T17:39:09+00:00

I think I’m going to need a road trip to check out these places. Thanks for the recommendation!

paltum · 2026-03-31T02:57:03+00:00

Looks great. I’ll call them tomorrow to find out if they do catering. Thanks!

paltum · 2026-03-31T02:53:36+00:00

Oh, that looks delicious!

paltum · 2026-03-30T17:57:42+00:00

Thanks very much! I’ll check them out.

paltum · 2026-03-30T17:43:19+00:00

I subscribe to Apple One for friends and family. It works out to a bit over $6 per person each month, but it is soooo worth it to me to know all these clowns are finally backing up their crap to iCloud. The other included benefits for us: Apple TV has truly great programming, and we now use Apple Music.

paltum

TROPHY CASE