Using clear pvc tube instead of glass for "cool tube"?

been trying to figure out the best way to make a cheapo but strong cool tube.
have plans but i want to change one thing instead of glass tube, how about clear pvc.
please point out any foreseeable problems.

Dr. Green Merkin said:

been trying to figure out the best way to make a cheapo but strong cool tube.
have plans but i want to change one thing instead of glass tube, how about clear pvc.
please point out any foreseeable problems.

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What kind of light are you planning on using?

sounds like a utter disaster alltogether.

I just can't see it being a good idea and i'm a cheap ass mother fucker myself. I made mine from a pyrex bake-a-round, and it works well as long as your not trying to run a fat ass MH bulb as its only 3.75" in diameter. I have even seen where others have done it with the glass sheilds from hurrican lamps and the decorative glass tubes that you can put around a candle. One of that latter shouldn't be more then 10$ and for 20 you can get the bake around and know that you have pyrex on your side. Even if you could use PVC without a fire i don't know how much light it could invisibly be blocking, but i urge you not to do it. Fire BAAAAAAAAADDD

PYREX Bake-A-Round

Thats the cheap cooltube...

Dr. Green Merkin said:

been trying to figure out the best way to make a cheapo but strong cool tube.
have plans but i want to change one thing instead of glass tube, how about clear pvc.
please point out any foreseeable problems.

Click to expand...

bro, if u wanna do a diy 'cheap' cooltube reflector.. go on ebay and search for: pyrex bake-a-round.. they are like 8-10 bucks and its a glass tube.

thanks everyone. Plastic Tanks, Plastic Buckets, Plastic Bottles, Labware, PVC Pipe - United States Plastic Corporation ® sells the clear pvc. it was just a thought. im glad we can share. as for what kind of light i was going to use: 1000w hps. bad idea right. thanks again. will be looking for bake around or hurricane glass. any other ideas on veritcal diy lighting please direct me. thanks.

Really if you must have a air cooled light and cant afford a true reflector (as cheap as $62.00 some places), then the pryrex bake a round is the only real option, as it is heat resistant, you will melt the PVC clear through or start a fire with it, also I am sure it would have adverse effects on light output.

also price wise if look at it per foot, needing two feet of pipe, you could just buy a cooltube.

The bake-a -round does get brittle after a few years of use though, mine shattered last week! boo-hoo

Clear PVC? WTF? Are you sure it's not acrylic? Yes ditto everyone else pyrex bake-a-round is def the budget way to go.

Everyone is right, PVC is an accident waiting to happen, what if the fan quits working, you might have a meltdown and possible fire.

Also, have you priced clear PVC, it ain't cheap.

Going to the fireplace section of the hardware store and getting the glass tube discussed in many DIY threads is pretty cheap, safer, heat resistant, and definitely the better way to go.

Good luck on your project.

Also no one has mentioned that the PVC can only handle temps up to 140 F so it will most likely melt on you.

Right! PVC's HDT (heat deflection temp) is quite low and cannot handle sustained heat like that. I'm a newbee grower but Thermoplastics is my trade. Even a Polycarbonate can't handle that constant heat. There are some polymers that have an HDT of over 500F but they are not clear. Don't use PVC or any plastic!!

could you use plexiglass / lexan with CFL's ?

i want too use lexan/plexiglass too cover above my growspace and coat it with mylar too reflect. HPS and MH/HID put out alotta heat i know, but would it be safe with my CFL's ?

i want too warm the plexiglass up and then bend it into a reflector shape too place above my CFL's and make more use from the light they give off.

Tamzi

plexiglass also blocks quite a bit of light. keep safety in mind. the cool tube has to be able to handle the heat of the lamp in the case of a fan failure. I wonder if I could build a metal reflector around a sheet of glass and seal it with some kind of high temperature glue? that sounds like a better plan.

piFFstAr407 said:

bro, if u wanna do a diy 'cheap' cooltube reflector.. go on ebay and search for: pyrex bake-a-round.. they are like 8-10 bucks and its a glass tube.

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They are not that cheap. more like $15-20 plus $10 shipping ( I just bought 2 a couple dats ago). But still cheaper than a real cooltube and a lot safer than any type of other alternative

I have turtles as pets (I use uv lamps on them) and have always been under the impression that a glass or plastic "difuser" blocks most of the uv coming from the bulb so have have always made sure my fluro battens dont have the diffuser. i know the HID lighting would be different but I haven only ever used it in a reflected enviroment not a sealed one so would it be the same priciple as the Fluro battens?...

Cheers kwaka

^^^ yeahh.......also everyone that is lookin to make a cheap cool tube that is not for a huge light but for lets say a 150w.........go to a walmart and go to the camping section and just get a replacement globe for a lantern. Just make sure its from a lantern that uses a wick so it would be able to handle heat. The ones i found and will be shortly using are a lil shorter lik 6' or so thats why i would think this would be for a smaller light. Hope it helps.........Wake And Bake!!!!