CUSTOM PVC FRAME A.K.A. Topolite 4x4 - DON'T BUY

SpawnOfVader

SpawnOfVader

Well-Known Member
Should have taken before pics but the negative pressure during a single grow was enough to bend the poles inward. SUPER CHEAP TENT (under $100 on amazon)...

I'm cheap so instead of buying a new tent I just built a frame out of 3/4 inch PVC. It actually fit!

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The extra cross bars are to prevent it from sucking in as much with the negative pressure. Also made some custom framing for the right side to mount the DIY heatsink mount for my drivers (next project.... coming soon).
 

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FYI: 120' 3/4 inch PVC (standard sch 40)
4 PVC X
14 PVC T
7 PVC offset X

I'll have to come up with a cost estimate, had to get the fittings from a different source than the PVC pipe to save $$ (formufit fittings, like 90% of the project cost right there)

Didn't glue it in case I needed to change something. There is a 1/2" Teks screw at EVERY joint where a fitting/pipe meet
 
BobCajun said:
What were you using for a fan, a jet engine?
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Terrabloom 6" fan... 400 CFM running at 50% power. That tent was seriously the cheapest piece of C*** I've ever seen. Should have returned but I was in a jam and needed it that day. The poles on my 3x3 tent were noticeably thicker than what the 4x4 came with.

*they didn't completely collapse inward yet but the joints where the two side poles connected were bending inward. It wasn't like the metal itself curved inward...just crappy design.
 
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Pretty happy with the final result. The grid in the ceiling will be especially useful. It's almost dead accurate so it gives nice guides for placement of the lights and more mounting points (so I can run the vents along the top edge as seen in the photos instead of wasting space).
 
SpawnOfVader said:
Should have taken before pics but the negative pressure during a single grow was enough to bend the poles inward. SUPER CHEAP TENT (under $100 on amazon)...

I'm cheap so instead of buying a new tent I just built a frame out of 3/4 inch PVC. It actually fit!

View attachment 4669087

The extra cross bars are to prevent it from sucking in as much with the negative pressure. Also made some custom framing for the right side to mount the DIY heatsink mount for my drivers (next project.... coming soon).
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Thanks for the tip. Been looking for a place to buy this fitting.

formufit.com

3/4 in. 4-Way Furniture Grade PVC Tee Fitting - White | FORMUFIT

FORMUFIT 3/4 in. 4-Way PVC Tee Fittings in White are an easy solution for offset or tiered structures made from PVC pipe. These fittings give your project the extra dimensions it needs. This Furniture Grade PVC 4-Way fitting connects 3/4 in. Size PVC pipe at four points on three planes for...
formufit.com formufit.com
 
JoeBlow5823 said:
Thanks for the tip. Been looking for a place to buy this fitting.

formufit.com

3/4 in. 4-Way Furniture Grade PVC Tee Fitting - White | FORMUFIT

FORMUFIT 3/4 in. 4-Way PVC Tee Fittings in White are an easy solution for offset or tiered structures made from PVC pipe. These fittings give your project the extra dimensions it needs. This Furniture Grade PVC 4-Way fitting connects 3/4 in. Size PVC pipe at four points on three planes for...
formufit.com formufit.com
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Yea Formufit makes every weird fitting you can imagine...they basically turn PVC into an erector set!
 
SpawnOfVader said:
Yea that is substantially cheaper. I just went with formufit because I've used their products before. Will definitely give those a shot on future projects.
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Im betting they come out of the same factory. Increments of 4 or 10 is a bit more difficult to work with but they are so much cheaper who cares....
 
BobCajun said:
That does look sturdy, good work.
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Thanks! Also took the time to organize the cabling on the outside (since I could screw into the PVC- used rubber washers to make it light proof again.

Was originally going to do this out of Aluminum (might eventually still) but I needed a way to organize my crap without screwing into the wall (I rent).

Its fun to get back into DIY... need to save up some $$$ to start on my LED strip grow light build.
 

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JoeBlow5823 said:
Im betting they come out of the same factory. Increments of 4 or 10 is a bit more difficult to work with but they are so much cheaper who cares....
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Everything does... I was looking for parts for my off brand bicycle last week (rear derailleur hanger - super tiny weird "frame specific part")... and go figure the only one that I could find that was a perfect match came off a Trek
 
SpawnOfVader said:
Thanks! Also took the time to organize the cabling on the outside (since I could screw into the PVC- used rubber washers to make it light proof again.

Was originally going to do this out of Aluminum (might eventually still) but I needed a way to organize my crap without screwing into the wall (I rent).

Its fun to get back into DIY... need to save up some $$$ to start on my LED strip grow light build.
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Hard to see in the picture but there are small 2x4 pieces as spacers between the frame and the two longer pieces.
 
SpawnOfVader said:
Actually it made me feel better about buying a cheap bike and upgrading the critical components. Half the shit is the same as is on the high end bikes.... just with a different brand on it.

And I didn't have to spend near as much.
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Just sad that even though everything is basically the same shit, they claim its all different brands and models.
 
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