Fabric question

I'm wondering if anyone would care to chime in on this. I'm ahem...concerned with the choice of fabric I used on these: I have nine broadband's and four floor to ceiling traps all finished! (a few more to make). All 2" 703 with 1x4 frames for broadband's and 1x2's for the traps (4" 703) with landscape fabric on the backs. I tried the "talk" test as Ethan has advised others (talk into a plain sheet of 703 etc.), but couldn't really hear a difference? I used the following fabric (which probably doesn't help much): http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog.jsp? ... rce=search It's almost like a lightweight shirt type of material, pretty transparent (can see the frame). Anyway I did the breath test against burlap/Muslin and it seemed comparable? If I were to do it again I would have chose Muslin, but it doesn't help me now. Maybe its fine I dunno. I'm willing to take it all off :roll: , buy some Muslin and just apply fabric to the front (frames showing) and then nail some trim pieces over the existing staples (since there will be a TON) which would look nice in the end. I guess what I'm asking, if this IS too reflective or really not a good choice am I loosing a significant amount of absorption with this fabric or what other potential problems are possible. Thanks for any thoughts.

I'm sure that's fine. If you "talk into" the completed panel, does it sound like you're talking into a total void, the same as talking into the raw absorbing material? If so, you're all set. --Ethan

Ethan Winer wrote:

I'm sure that's fine. If you "talk into" the completed panel, does it sound like you're talking into a total void, the same as talking into the raw absorbing material? If so, you're all set. --Ethan

I did perform that test and seems fine. However, I started looking into this more and started to wonder and then get concerned since it isn't as open as a weave as say burlap, but neither is Muslin. I just thought I would ask. I certainly didn't want all the time I put into this to be diminished in anyway. Thanks.

there is another test that's been known to be used, and in my opinion is easier to read... so to speak... Take the plain fabric in hand, press it over your lips, and attempt to blow through it. If you can blow through it as if there was no fabric there it is almost completelly transparent, if you blow into it, and it feels as if you're blowing into your arm (can't push any air through) then it is the exact opopsite of trasparent, and opposite of what you want... When I made my broadband absorbers I just went to my local wal*mart, went to the "discount" frabric section, and did that test when no one was looking. picked out a whole bunch of transparent fabric, and only spent about $30.00 for 11 pannels. (4ftx7ft)