Hi. - can anyone recommend a substance / material that can be pegged 4 or so inches in front of a 150 watt hardware store lamp to scatter the light nicely without bursting into flames if I leave it there?

Ideally inexpensive and readily available!

Thanks gang

What about something like this?

LEE 250 HALF WHITE DIFFUSION SHEET - John Barry Sales (http://www.johnbarry.com.au/lee-250-half-white-diffusion-sheet-1488.html)

Obviously, "spun" is ideal, but baking paper is far more readily available. Every grocery store has it. its cheap as chips and designed for heat. Different brands are different thicknesses, so some experimentation is in order. However, if you live with a woman, there's a good chance you already have some in your house.

Over time/heat it can yellow, so you can keep some of that around as a "warming diffuser" and cut off a fresh bit to return to neutral.

cheers!
-a

Lee Filters web site. Lee Filters USA | Welcome (http://www.leefiltersusa.com)

Search "Spun"

Still in production in anything from full stop to quarter stop.

Won't yellow like baking paper.

Take care of it and a full sheet should last you a decade or so.

And Rosco is the OTHER well known filter company (Rosco is far more available in my market)

Rosco International (http://www.rosco.com/)

Dry sheets actually work quite well in a pinch, and are made of material designed to be flame retardant. I've stapled them together to create large sheets.

One word of caution, get the unscented ones or your studio will smell like a laundromat.

Rosco US : Filters : Roscolux (http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/roscolux.asp)

Roscolux #100: Frost

We use it about 6 inches in front of 1000wt open face Arri lights and have never had any trouble with them burning. (they are designed for this use) Been using the same sheets for about 6 years now without issue.

Here it is from B&H for $6.50 per sheet (we bought 2 sheets and cut them in half)
Rosco | #100 Filter - Frost - 20x24" | RS10011 | B&H Photo (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/43720-REG/Rosco_RS10011__100_Filter_Frost.html)

I think any form of silks will work too. If you want to go on the cheap, you can get the frosted drafting paper (feels thick and plasticy) from an art supply store. I've had those in front of Arri 1k's without a problem.

Thanks for the tips, gang.