Grow Box Salvage and Resurrection Build 250w CFL

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #1

Hey Rollitup community, ive been building grow boxes for a while now as a side job (look up Relentless Systems) and because i have been busy the last 6 months i couldnt keep a personal grow. Right, now i do have 2 plants that are growing into my desktop light and yesterday i wanted to build a grow box for myself and start growing again.

My plans were put back together my old grow cabinet but it was in terrible condition with random holes cut in it. I currently didnt have wood to build myself one or parts so i had to use salvage parts or parts laying around. I realized that i had a half built grow box that i made a while back that i was using as a desktop in my wood shop, it just didnt have doors. So my plans were to use that grow box with my old grow box doors. For the lighting i would use 5 light sockets and 5 splitters to have 10-24 watt CFLS. For ventilation system i will use 5" pc fans i have laying around.

This picture shows the half finished grow box that i was using as a table top in my wood shop, and the 2 doors from my old grow box.

 

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #2

First thing i needed to do was to remove the hardware from the doors. (hindges, handles)




Then i needed to measure the size doors i would need to fit the new grow box and cut them to size. The doors measures 36" wide, they would be cut to around 24" wide.


After cutting.



Also added some coaster pads to the base of the box so the box could slide and had some height for the doors to open. These must be placed evenly or the box would be lopsided and the doors wouldnt be aligned right.

 

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YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #3

Next was to reattached the hinges to the doors and install them to the new grow box. These hinges were easy to use since you can easliy adjust the height after installing if you doors are off. Might use these style of hinges for the growboxes i produce.

 

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #4

Before i continued work on the growbox itself, i started my lighting fixture. My plan was for 10 cfls, 5 sockets, 5 splitters. Each bulb will shine down at 45 degree angle. This way takes up alot of vertical space but can fit more bulbs in a small space.

First thing to do was think of a designed. I was going to build a 22"x3"x13" housing unit to house and hold the sockets. Then you can screw in the splitters and bulbs at the bottom of the housing.

First thing to do was to cut, measure and cut out holes for the bottom of the housing to hold the sockets. I then glued metal round fitters that actually hold the sockets in place, this keeps the sockets from contacting wood. Then fit in the sockets. Finished grow light fixture will be continued later on.
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YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #5

Before i could paint the grow box, i needed to take it apart. Since for ventilation i was planning 2 exhaust and 1 intake, i needed to router 2 more ports because the original box only had 1. Top panel has 2 ports, and the bottom back panel has one at the top. I also needed to bondo some imperfections in the box. After routering the ports i put the box back together minus the doors to sand and get ready for paint.

 

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #6

After a light sanding of the exterior i wiped it down with a damp cloth. Since it was 80 degrees outside i brought it to the back yard to paint. Im using a semi flat/satin black paint for the exterior and a flat white exterior.
In the picture there looks like white spots, those were actually tiny flowers that were falling onto the panels from my neighbors tree, fortunately they did not stick.




Finished painting the exterior and interior. Came out better than i thought it would since the doors were veneered and thought it would be hard to paint over it.
The base isnt painted since it will be layed with laminate hard wood.

 

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #7

This is the finished 10 CFL grow light fixture. All is needed is to screw in the splitters and the bulbs. Really simple,



This is the grow box almost done, i put in the light fixture, it is held in by level pegs, you can adjust the height of the light by just putting the pegs at the different level. Also put the hardwood laminate and fans. All thats left is to mount the doors back on and wire the fans to a power adapter

 

kotijuusto

Active Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #8

Really really nice and simple box. What kind of fans were you thinking to put there? I have two (2) Noctua NF-S12B-FLX fans in my cabin and 200 wats of cfls and temps are 25 when lights on. I love them, (fans i mean) they are computer fans so they work with 12v and are really quiet and powerful 100.6m³/h! I dont know about cfm's but about 60.

 

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #9

Nearly finished but this is it. All i need to do is wire the fans to a power adapter and install a locking mechanism. The fans i currently have in there are a bit weak since they were generic ones and were the only ones i had laying around. I will eventually replace them with better ones, the temp with newer fans should be around 78-82 degrees. Have not measured what the temp is now.

I will probably keep the grow journal in here, i will be growing some mixed lemon haze and white widow hybrid. They are already more than 2 months old just waiting for a grow box to start flower.

Im not sure if i can post links here but if you interested in a grow box, look up Relentless Systems, you can pm me any questions also.

 

YungMune

Well-Known Member

Jun 5, 2011

• #10

kotijuusto said:

Really really nice and simple box. What kind of fans were you thinking to put there? I have two (2) Noctua NF-S12B-FLX fans in my cabin and 200 wats of cfls and temps are 25 when lights on. I love them, (fans i mean) they are computer fans so they work with 12v and are really quiet and powerful 100.6m³/h! I dont know about cfm's but about 60.

Click to expand...

Thanks, in there are 120mm generic clear led fans, they run really slow i would say about only 30 cfm. The newer fans arnt special either but will put out about 70 cfm. 3 will be enough for 10 cfls, since they can handle a 150 HPS and keep the temps at 82F.