My Cute Little Grow Closet!

R

rollchil

Member
I picked up the habit from my ex who has now gone and since it wasn't amicable and his friends were our "providers" I must grow! I do have his 750W power drill, some 100mm ducting, a fan and a 400W HPS from when he used to grow teeheehee. He has my Totoro DVD and laptop so he isn't getting them back!

DIY is not my strong point so I was hoping you guys could help me out here.

I bought a cheap wardrobe from Argos and put it together but now I think I need to make a couple of holes in it for ventilation :( I wish I didn't put the thing together first. My one friend who is into DIY (not many girls do this.. would you believe..) suggested I could make the hole myself and now I have an "Arbour" and "100mm Holesaw" coming.

Could you guys let me know if a weak little girl with no DIY experience and a 750W drill would be capable of wielding such a thing in order to drill through the ceiling of my wardrobe? Any tips you could give me would be great. I'm thinking maybe I could call a handyman over to do it.

Another thing.. the wardrobe is cheap and leaks a lot of light :( All round the edges.. in the crack between the doors. Any idea how I can cover these?

Finally.. my wardrobe is only 6' by 2' by 1.75' and this light is 400W. Lots of people told me this is too powerful a light for my space.. can I turn it down to 250W somehow?

Thank you all in advance! xx I will post pictures when I start.
 
hibbzy

hibbzy

Active Member
wish i could help u out but im new to this myself but hang in there and im sure some of the regulars will soon be along to help also searching this site is very helpful for most of ur needs
 
TechnoMage

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
Your biggest problem with a 400w in that small of a space is going to be getting rid of the excess heat. Hard to do if you don't have an air cooled hood or something like a cool tube.

I've never been a fan of standard hold saws, I use one of these for cutting holes in my cabinets.
http://www.holepro.com/drillpress.html
 
R

rollchil

Member
Kail Johnson said:
I would recommend if possible that you get a cool tube from a hydro store, it will make your life sooooooooo much easier when managing temperatures and you will be able to get denser nugs from having the light closer.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help! I was looking at cooltubes.. I'd rather not have to replace the lamp. I used to smoke about 20g a week with my bf.. I think he smoked a fair bit more than me before passing so I figure 5-10g a week will do me. So keeping the plant very short and away from the light won't be a problem (maybe?) I really only want to grow such a small amount.

I have bought a 4'' extractor fan to use to remove smells (a ruck can fan I bought from a hydro store) and help with the heat.. but with a cooltube would I need to install a second extractor fan purely for cooling the light?
 
TechnoMage

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
I totally understand trying to grow in a small space. My flower cab is 36" wide by 21" deep. I started with CFL, moved up to a 250w HPS and am now running a 400w HPS.

From the outside
Closed 7-5-2011 8-39-36 PM.jpg

The inside showing my ventilation chain.
In the cab 7-30-2011 5-08-56 PM.jpg

Cutter I used to cut holes
Cutter.JPG

The type of hole it leaves
Clean.JPG

I don't know how stealth you need to keep it. My fan keeps the heat down but it's loud. My level of stealth is that someone looking through the window wouldn't see anything suspicious and that there is no odor.

Without using something like a cool tube, CFL is going to be easiest to keep cool. Get yourself a digital thermometer and test it out before adding plants. If your temps are over 80 degrees Fahrenheit then you still need to make changes.
 
EMWUZX

EMWUZX

Member
Use tin foil to cover the leaks, works like a dream. CFLs are great for small grows, easy to use, cheap, use little energy, produce minimal heat, and are easy to position. Switch from 6500k(Vegitative) cfls to 2700k cfls(Flowering). Put a hole in the back to place the fan in. For a small space i prefer one large, potent plant, rather than a bunch of little potent ones. Get a carbon filter to do the reverse job of the fan, keep air circulation, and reduce smell(i dont use one personally, but i suggest it). Back to the tin foil, line the whole thing with it, i recommend white paint much more, but you need to cover the leaks. Put it on 24 hour lighting for veg if your using cfls, 18-6 with any other light(i suggest you just go get some cheap cfls). You could do alot more, but these are just some suggestions. Hope i could help:blsmoke:
EDIT:use the dull side of the tin foil, so you won't burn your babys
 
R

rollchil

Member
TechnoMage said:
I totally understand trying to grow in a small space. My flower cab is 36" wide by 21" deep. I Mstarted with CFL, moved up to a 250w HPS and am now running a 400w HPS.

From the outside
View attachment 1758883

The inside showing my ventilation chain.
View attachment 1758881

Cutter I used to cut holes
View attachment 1758885

The type of hole it leaves
View attachment 1758886

I don't know how stealth you need to keep it. My fan keeps the heat down but it's loud. My level of stealth is that someone looking through the window wouldn't see anything suspicious and that there is no odor.

Without using something like a cool tube, CFL is going to be easiest to keep cool. Get yourself a digital thermometer and test it out before adding plants. If your temps are over 80 degrees Fahrenheit then you still need to make changes.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help.. especially pictures of your hole drilling. I think I need to psyche myself up for it and that helps a bit.

I'd love to buy some more lights and equipment but I'm so broke :( I wonder if keeping my plant away from the 400W light would be enough to keep it cooler, I'm hoping the temperature will drop off the further away from the light. I'm sure this light is way too powerful considering how little I need to grow but I'm sorta stuck with it.

I don't care about noise output, as long as there is nothing visible. Then if my landlord wants to visit or whatever I can just turn the fan off.
 
R

rollchil

Member
Kail Johnson said:
^ As above that is a great set up however the fan should be attached to the carbon filter and pushing air out through the cool tube (reduce noise & better filtration) Also the space at the top is useless as the electronics could be placed on small a shelf made at the top allowing for more vertical growth :-). So to answer your question no you will not need a separate fan.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your reply! I'll be sure to show you guys a picture when I am done. Yes I am using a little small shelf rather than an upper section.. not for any good reason than the closet didn't come with an upper section and I don't know how to fix one.

I made a small hole in the top back of the closet to run the light lead to (the ballast sits on top). I took a standard computer->monitor power cable and cut it open before wiring it up to the hole at the back (didn't want to hack the light/ballast leads and the connectors won't fit through my hole). I actually drilled the hole too big and used masking tape to cover the empty space.
 
R

rollchil

Member
EMWUZX said:
Use tin foil to cover the leaks, works like a dream. CFLs are great for small grows, easy to use, cheap, use little energy, produce minimal heat, and are easy to position.
Click to expand...
I can't afford any more lighting at the moment but if heat becomes a problem and ruins my grow.. well that'll just be another few months with nothing to smoke for me :( After that maybe I'll be able to afford new lights. Me and my ex used to smoke every day for 3 years lately I feel a bit depressed and I'm sure smoking would help but fortunately I don't have any dire medical need.

How do I cover the light leaks with tinfoil? You mean like jam it tight into the gaps in the closet?
 
C

charlie potmuffin

Member
Hello everyone!!! I am a noob to this sight, but not growing in general. I have a question for TechnoMage, since your "scrubber/carbon filter" is positioned at the end of your airflow cycle, wont you chance pulling those wonderful fumes from the potential leaks in the light hood? (assuming there are small leakage areas within the hood)
 
TechnoMage

TechnoMage

Well-Known Member
I did have that problem in the beginning but some aluminum tape took care of the problem. It's a PITA when I change the bulb but that only happens every 12-18 months. The nice thing about keeping the filter in the cab is that it keeps it visually very stealth.
 
SensiStan

SensiStan

Well-Known Member
rollchil said:
I picked up the habit from my ex who has now gone and since it wasn't amicable and his friends were our "providers" I must grow! I do have his 750W power drill, some 100mm ducting, a fan and a 400W HPS from when he used to grow teeheehee. He has my Totoro DVD and laptop so he isn't getting them back!

DIY is not my strong point so I was hoping you guys could help me out here.

I bought a cheap wardrobe from Argos and put it together but now I think I need to make a couple of holes in it for ventilation :( I wish I didn't put the thing together first. My one friend who is into DIY (not many girls do this.. would you believe..) suggested I could make the hole myself and now I have an "Arbour" and "100mm Holesaw" coming.

Could you guys let me know if a weak little girl with no DIY experience and a 750W drill would be capable of wielding such a thing in order to drill through the ceiling of my wardrobe? Any tips you could give me would be great. I'm thinking maybe I could call a handyman over to do it.

Another thing.. the wardrobe is cheap and leaks a lot of light :( All round the edges.. in the crack between the doors. Any idea how I can cover these?

Finally.. my wardrobe is only 6' by 2' by 1.75' and this light is 400W. Lots of people told me this is too powerful a light for my space.. can I turn it down to 250W somehow?

Thank you all in advance! xx I will post pictures when I start.
Click to expand...
Hi Rollchil,

i havent posted for a while first time back at RIU in about a year :) u remind me of me when i first started but i have the DIY knowhow,

First off every grower sooner or later will need a circular hole, my method : draw circle at an appropriate size, drill a hole inside said circle big enough for a jigsaw blade to fit in, use jigsaw to cut perfect hole every time :bigjoint: (even while stoned)

Secondly, if you get yourself a cooltube that space is fine for a 400w bulb, or as others have said, step up you ventilation fans power or buy a bigger one. if u go onto my profile there are a couple of very successful very tight budget grows which i think you could learn a lot from , hope to see many more posts from you in future :weed:

-SS
 
R

rollchil

Member
SensiStan said:
Hi Rollchil,

i havent posted for a while first time back at RIU in about a year :) u remind me of me when i first started but i have the DIY knowhow,

First off every grower sooner or later will need a circular hole, my method : draw circle at an appropriate size, drill a hole inside said circle big enough for a jigsaw blade to fit in, use jigsaw to cut perfect hole every time :bigjoint: (even while stoned)

Secondly, if you get yourself a cooltube that space is fine for a 400w bulb, or as others have said, step up you ventilation fans power or buy a bigger one. if u go onto my profile there are a couple of very successful very tight budget grows which i think you could learn a lot from , hope to see many more posts from you in future :weed:

-SS
Click to expand...
I can't afford any of this stuff right now, I'm more looking for suggestions/help as to whether I can account for my modest needs with my available equipment.

I fixed the light leaks with weather striping down the middle.. then I used aluminium tape to attach mylar over the corners. Well a bit of light still leaks out/in but it is way better now. I just need to deal with the crack at the top of the doors now.

I got my 100mm holes down and my fan installed though. The fan just sits on top of the closet ;) Then ducting from that to a carbon filter.

When I put my hand down by the passive intake I can feel a nice draft. I bought a thermometer with min/max memory so we'll see how it ends up.
 
USMC

USMC

Member
Instead of getting a 400 watt light... A 600 watt light with a lumatek ballast has the ability to dial down to 300w, 400w, 600w. It may cost a little bit more money but, you will have equiped yourself with an HID system that can be molded into a bigger system later. A 250w light is a waste of money unless you are sure YOU WILL NEVER move from your cabinet.

For heat issues : Technomage has the best setup but I bet it cost more than what you are will in to spend right now. Cut a hole in the top, and lay or afix a square window fan on top, with the air movement blowing outward. This should pull heat out and pull air in.

Light leaks : Duct tape is your new best friend ! you can mae flaps and folds with it. Get the white kind.

White walls: Get a cheap can of FLAT white spray paint.
 
R

rollchil

Member
USMC said:
For heat issues : Technomage has the best setup but I bet it cost more than what you are will in to spend right now. Cut a hole in the top, and lay or afix a square window fan on top, with the air movement blowing outward. This should pull heat out and pull air in.

Light leaks : Duct tape is your new best friend ! you can mae flaps and folds with it. Get the white kind.

White walls: Get a cheap can of FLAT white spray paint.
Click to expand...
I'm using a 100mm ruck for extraction as mentioned in my first page. It goes through the filter so I need it to control odour. I'm using mylar.
 
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