Stealth-ish Cabinet Build

[TCH]

My goal is to build a cabinet that goes in my shed that doesn't draw any attention from the occasional glance by a guest or from the kids. That said, no guests or kids should be back where the cabinet will be located. Our shed is 10' x 30' and there is a room walled off in the back 6-8' or so. The cabinet will be back there behind a closed door. I started out with an old metal cabinet I found on a sale site for $20. It had several wooden shelves in it that were just sitting on lips. they pulled out easily.



This cabinet has seen its fair share of use and abuse over the years. Some of the seams are loose and they leak light. I went around all the seams with Duct tape to seal them up and block any light.





Next step was to fit the fan and filter on the top metal shelf that was spot welded in. Well, when I got the 6" Vivosun fan and carbon filter in, I quickly realized that I went way overboard because they are HUGE, in relationship to the space I will be using them in. The top shelf had to come out. I drilled out the spot welds and pulled the shelf with relatively little damage to the cabinet.



I decided not to use any duct work due to the size of the fan/filter combo. I vented the exhaust right out the side of the cabinet. I have no idea where my 6" hole saw is, so I improvised a little and drilled a bunch of holes in a circle and perforated it. Enough of the fan sticks out now that I can attach something to it to keep anything from going into the fan and hopefully muffle the sound of the moving air a bit. I'm taking suggestions on that. It's tight, but it's like it was made for it.










I test fit the Viparspectra 300w LED panel. it will hang in front of the filter and be a little bit out of center. My question here is: Is it ok if the cables for hanging the light are in contact with the filter material? Or do I need to reconfigure how the light hangs to not contact the filter at all?



This is where it currently stands. once it is all finalized with mounts, holes for intake, and anything else that's needed, I will line the inside with Reflectix. Any suggestions are welcome.

 

[KrazyG]

Love a cab build! Subbed up.

 

[KrazyG]

My question here is: Is it ok if the cables for hanging the light are in contact with the filter material? Or do I need to reconfigure how the light hangs to not contact the filter at all

I can't see why the cables touching the filter would cause any problems unless it's rubbing. You could place rods across the wood supports just below the filter and hang the light from that.

 

[TCH]

I can't see why the cables touching the filter would cause any problems unless it's rubbing. You could place rods across the wood supports just below the filter and hang the light from that.

the problem there is that I would lose 8-10" of vertical space. I can't really sacrifice that, I don't think anyways.

 

[KrazyG]

Put key rings through the mountings where the clips go and put the rods through the key rings or just put one rod through the hanging cables pull them up and cable/zip tie when you get the height you need. Just an idea

 

[TCH]

but that shelf is still 8-10" lower than the filter. I can still raise the light from where it is pictured right up to the bottom of the filter. if I hang off of the existing shelf mounts, the highest I can go is the bottom of those. I think the right answer is to build a frame that trachea to the top of the cabinet and goes around the filter. this does 2 things. allows me to use the full height. it also centers the light in the cabinet. I do fab work by trade so I can throw together an aluminum frame made from drop material in a short amount t of time, but I was just trying to be lazy. lol.

 

[TCH]

passive Intake ideas? the plants will sit in a tray (cut off bottom of a 18 gallon Rubbermaid tote) in the bottom of the cabinet. It takes up pretty much the whole area. Any kind of vent, I would want to seal off to rodents and bugs if possible.

 

[TCH]

got the screen for the Scrog made. Bonus, I got to use the Kreg jig I bought last year again. I told the wife I needed it and we would use it again after the initial use. haha.

I am still looking for ideas on a passive intake. How do I know I have enough intake so I don't choke the fan out? if there's not enough intake, will it burn up the fan?

I also need to figure out how to light seal the door. because of the years of abuse this cabinet has taken, the door is a bit shifty and I don't know that weatherstripping will work.

 

[KrazyG]

Your passive intake I would have two 4" holes with car sun shades as filters, that way you can block one til you get your desired pressure. As for light seal you could use car door seals they should fix to the lip on the cab.

 

[TCH]

Your passive intake I would have two 4" holes with car sun shades as filters, that way you can block one til you get your desired pressure. As for light seal you could use car door seals they should fix to the lip on the cab.

what are car sun shades? I'm not following.

 

[KrazyG]

what are car sun shades? I'm not following.

Sun screens, they stick to the windows fabric mesh type of thing, cost pennies. I use them cause there cheap and filter light pretty good.

 

[natureboygrower]

hey bro @TCH to seal your cab(lightpoof) i used the brush style weather stripping that goes around car garage doors.i tried the solid rubber kind,but i couldnt get a tight fit.i cant load pics right now,obvious glitch in the matrix.

 

[TCH]

hey bro @TCH to seal your cab(lightpoof) i used the brush style weather stripping that goes around car garage doors.i tried the solid rubber kind,but i couldnt get a tight fit.i cant load pics right now,obvious glitch in the matrix.

This might just be crazy enough to work. did you get the screw on type?

 

[TCH]

Sun screens, they stick to the windows fabric mesh type of thing, cost pennies. I use them cause there cheap and filter light pretty good.

the things that stick on with suction cups? or are they adhesive?

 

[KrazyG]

Yeah the ones with suction cups. I just cut them up fold'em over and tape over the intake.

 

[natureboygrower]

yes @TCH.the screw on type.i cant upload pics,check out my posts,i posted a picof my cab in the bodhi thread

 

[natureboygrower]

like this @TCH

 

[TCH]

like this @TCHView attachment 4027624

I like it. I'm gonna have to see if there's a way to make them work on the inside of my cabinet. did you just get them at a local hardware store? thank you.

 

[natureboygrower]

I like it. I'm gonna have to see if there's a way to make them work on the inside of my cabinet. did you just get them at a local hardware store? thank you.

i had them left over.i dont throw anything away lol.the home depot had the solid rubber,couldnt find the brush style there.if your local doesnt have them,is there a garage door installer around you? you could probably buy a 8' section or two

 

[TCH]

i had them left over.i dont throw anything away lol.the home depot had the solid rubber,couldnt find the brush style there.if your local doesnt have them,is there a garage door installer around you? you could probably buy a 8' section or two

haha. I don't throw anything away either. my wife reminds me quite regularly. unfortunately I don't have Any of that stuff lying around. I'll hit up home depot, lowes, and menards. surely I can find it. if not, I'll look up a garage door guy. thanks a ton.