Cooler Lid Construction Question

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sadielady

Active Member
Hello All--

First post- at least under this name and during this grow. I am in the process of building my new DWC cooler rez! I am using 2 inch insulation board for a lid and am having some trouble with what would seem to be a simple problem... I am using 6in net pots and have tried cutting a few different holes and am having some trouble getting a nice snug fit with the net pots.

If anyone has any tips or tricks to getting a nice size and fit for these 6in net pots in 1.5in insulation board I would really appreciate it!!

I am 1-2 days away from my clones being ready and this is one of a very short list to get my tent ready.

Thanks for any help!!!
 
TruenoAE86coupe

TruenoAE86coupe

Moderator
I just use a hole saw this is why i use 3" pots, a 6" hole saw is really expensive.
My thought would be 1st draw your circle, then cut the top layer off with a knife (if its the reflective kind, not so needed on just the white sheet.) then use a sawz-all blade with your hand and very slowly cut out your circles, its gonna take a bit like this.
Other option, jig saw, but i know not everyone has one laying around, i just like tools.
 
S

sadielady

Active Member
wayno30 said:
your having trouble cutting circles in styrofoam?
Click to expand...
No trouble with the cutting just trouble cutting to get a nice fit. At first I wasn't thinking and just circled the outside of the net pot. That obviously didn't work and the pot just fell through. I am able to cut a hole that will allow the net pot to fit through and be snug on one side but the other side (where the net pot has sloped inward) is a gap. Are you cooler people just leaving the gap or are you carving the styrofoam at an angle to fit the slope of the net pot? I guess it just looks sloppy
 
TruenoAE86coupe

TruenoAE86coupe

Moderator
I cut the holes at an angle, not too much just 10 degrees or so, then i taped the hole damn thing up with white outdoor duct tape. The stuff at home depot.
 
unohu69

unohu69

Well-Known Member
I trace around the pot lip, then free hand a circle 1/8-3/16" (depending on how wide the lip is, inside that line, cut that. simple....

just paid 35 clams for a 4"hole saw at homedepot, it was worth it.
 
BeaverHuntr

BeaverHuntr

Well-Known Member
unohu69 said:
I trace around the pot lip, then free hand a circle 1/8-3/16" (depending on how wide the lip is, inside that line, cut that. simple....

just paid 35 clams for a 4"hole saw at homedepot, it was worth it.
Click to expand...

This!^^^^

If you arent getting a snug fit you can tape around the top of the net cup for a snug tight fit,
 
S

sadielady

Active Member
unohu69 said:
I trace around the pot lip, then free hand a circle 1/8-3/16" (depending on how wide the lip is, inside that line, cut that. simple..
Click to expand...
BeaverHuntr said:
This!^^^^

If you arent getting a snug fit you can tape around the top of the net cup for a snug tight fit,
Click to expand...
Thanks to both of you for your helpful and straightforward replies. I traced the net pots again and added an interior cut line which provided a much nicer fit. After taping the board it looks and fits just as it should.

Thanks a lot! It is great to be back growing and back on roll it up!
 
S

sadielady

Active Member
Now only a couple minor tweaks and the continuation of my test runs should provide a nice home for the six new ladies to move into. Hopefully you will be able to check out the lid you helped construct in a grow journal coming soon!

Thanks again everyone
 
maineyankee

maineyankee

Active Member
sadielady said:
Now only a couple minor tweaks and the continuation of my test runs should provide a nice home for the six new ladies to move into. Hopefully you will be able to check out the lid you helped construct in a grow journal coming soon!

Thanks again everyone
Click to expand...
Best of luck in your grow(s) Sadie :-) BTW: I too am kind of anal when it comes to stuff like that ... I just want to get a very clean and professional look in my DIY Projects. I think that sometimes we should all take pride in our work :-)

Peace and Love
MaineYankee :-)
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Better late than never :

Use the bottom of the net pot to make/trace your circle, not the lip.
Wrap the WHOLE lid, including the inside of the holes, with ALUMINUM FOIL TAPE NOT DUCT TAPE.
Duct tape can be permeated by the water, but not aluminum foil.

View attachment 1968384
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
Make sure your lid overlaps all 4 sides of the cooler at least a 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch to protect from light leaks until the weight of your plants take over holding it down more too.
 
S

sadielady

Active Member
This is exactly what I ended up doing but I fucked up twice before I got the fit I wanted. Covering the entire thing in the tin foil tape was super annoying. I actually did two layers of outdoor duct tape for added reinforcement before covering every inch of it in tin foil tape
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
After each grow, I only use a strong Peroxide/H2O mix to clean the salt residue.
No other chemicals.
You can use Dawn dish soap too.
Gentle enough for animals...........lmao
 
Flo Grow

Flo Grow

Well-Known Member
I have 2 sets of lids.
A set of 2-holes, and a set of 4-holes.
All 5 inch too.
Plus enough left over for 4 more lids.
I'm gonna make lids with 3 inch net pots next, and retire the 5 inchers.
After almost 2yrs doing it this way and multi grows, the 5 inchers are too big and a waste.
I wouldn't go smaller than 3 inches though, my big sexy girls won't like that ! lol
 
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