An outlaw's journal

[Alaric]

I wanted to keep the lights arranged like this for overlapping light----the flower room was only 11' wide and even with the sliding tubes----just too cramped side to side.

It was also very awkward trying to get canopy above the lights-----so I reconfigured end to end systems----much easier to get the full circle canopy.



About 6 weeks into flowering----three 1Ks, four tubes----1 week staggered harvest.



Only time I ever undershot filling the canopy-----usually have to remove a lot.



Another option this tube and panel design allows:

When loading the tubes with plants----the plants can be put in at an angle ------stalks are crossed so as not to take up too much vertical space.

I ditched the fans hanging below the tube idea-----more cosmetic reasons than anything else. As Edison once said--"that's another thing I've proven doesn't work".

A~~~

 

[Budley Doright]

FLIR (national guard) along with my power bills justified a warrant.

The heat started in a previous location. I was renting (stupid) because bridges had already been burned.
Somehow moisture got in my power meter and burned up the meter base contacts. Since I was renting----had to hire an electrical to do the work. Somehow my landlord found out and started snooping around. Moved my op and thought I had got away clean-----not so----got followed to the new location. They left me alone for 18 months before the raid. That's my speculation.

About FLIR-----before my trial -----A case went before the Supreme court (kyalo case). The court ruled a warrant was required before using. My worthless lawyer failed to file for a dismissal before the deadline.

A~~~

No warrant needed here I don't think . Supreme Court ruled against lower

 

[HempletonState]

Dude this was by far the best thread I have ever read on this site. As a fellow grower who unfortunately lives in a state that is seriously behind the times this brings me back to everything I have gone through in the past 12 years. Also as a master mechanical contractor I am absolutely impressed beyond belief with all these things you created truly impressive I feel so lazy buying ready made systems that I only need to tinker with a little to have them dialed in

 

[Alaric]

Dude this was by far the best thread I have ever read on this site. As a fellow grower who unfortunately lives in a state that is seriously behind the times this brings me back to everything I have gone through in the past 12 years. Also as a master mechanical contractor I am absolutely impressed beyond belief with all these things you created truly impressive I feel so lazy buying ready made systems that I only need to tinker with a little to have them dialed in

Thank you for those flattering comments ----especially coming from someone with your credentials

Care to explain more specifically what you specialize in?

In a previous life I worked (23 years) for a company with deep pockets in R&D-----I enjoyed designing products.
Then I accepted a managers position in charge of 13 engineers----- I hated dealing with budgets and personnel issues---yuk. They wouldn't let me return to just doing design work----so I quit and became an outlaw.

Care to share any of your war stories?

Thanks again for your sentiments,

A~~~

 

[ttystikk]

Thank you for those flattering comments ----especially coming from someone with your credentials

Care to explain more specifically what you specialize in?

In a previous life I worked (23 years) for a company with deep pockets in R&D-----I enjoyed designing products.
Then I accepted a managers position in charge of 13 engineers----- I hated dealing with budgets and personnel issues---yuk. They wouldn't let me return to just doing design work----so I quit and became an outlaw.

Care to share any of your war stories?

Thanks again for your sentiments,

A~~~

Because of my 1992 felony conviction for growing POT!, I found a lot of professional doors were closed to me- so when I finished school I went back to growing. I'm very fortunate to be in Colorado where I'm not bring persecuted but OTOH, few businesses take this industry seriously, even here. In spite of the fact that cannabis is the fastest growing industry in America- come to where the GROWTH is!- I've had to basically self fund my lab.

Yours is absolutely one of the most innovative approaches I've yet seen to growing the plant- I'm glad you aren't trying to pass it off as perfect, but rather commenting on both good and bad aspects.

How big did you grow individual plants to be? I'm interested in both dimensions and eventual weight?

 

[Alaric]

Hey tty,

Professional job doors closed? After prison I was turned down for an $8/hr job at winn-dixie because of my record.

Luckily, I got a job as an electrical. Told my boss I had a felony upfront. He informed me if he rejected applicants because of that and started drug testing------he would loose 3/4 of his staff.

Yes, how fortunate you are to live without persecution or the unexpected knock on the door and those "moments".

Plant size-----8 weeks for cuttings then to flower room. Rooted under floros, then to T5s then to veg tubes with two 1Ks on a mover-----went into flowering with 3'-4' tall plants. Found that larger than that-----the branches were just too hard (stiff) to work with.

Flower room 8 tubes, four 1Ks----averaged around 13-16 zips per tube. 16 zips when the planets lined up during cool weather. Seems I always had my best yields from plants started from seed----perhaps the "hybrid vigor" thing?

Thanks for the kind remarks,

A~~~

 

[ttystikk]

Hey tty,

Professional job doors closed? After prison I was turned down for an $8/hr job at winn-dixie because of my record.

Luckily, I got a job as an electrical. Told my boss I had a felony upfront. He informed me if he rejected applicants because of that and started drug testing------he would loose 3/4 of his staff.

Yes, how fortunate you are to live without persecution or the unexpected knock on the door and those "moments".

Plant size-----8 weeks for cuttings then to flower room. Rooted under floros, then to T5s then to veg tubes with two 1Ks on a mover-----went into flowering with 3'-4' tall plants. Found that larger than that-----the branches were just too hard (stiff) to work with.

Flower room 8 tubes, four 1Ks----averaged around 13-16 zips per tube. 16 zips when the planets lined up during cool weather. Seems I always had my best yields from plants started from seed----perhaps the "hybrid vigor" thing?

Thanks for the kind remarks,

A~~~

I got off easy; I didn't end up doing any prison time, much respect for serving time in the prison industrial complex for growing a harmless plant.

Ingenious work, I'm studying it carefully.

 

[Alaric]

I got off easy; I didn't end up doing any prison time, much respect for serving time in the prison industrial complex for growing a harmless plant.

Ingenious work, I'm studying it carefully.

I was offered a plea bargain ----all I had to do was give up names and do 5 years probation.

Become a rat and give up weed and beer for 5 years-----couldn't do that.

Actually, prison (minimum custody) wasn't that terrible. Don't get me wrong----not somewhere I want to go on vacation. I got to do a lot of reading I probably would have never done otherwise. Besides, there was rarely a
shortage of .

A~~~

 

[ttystikk]

I was offered a plea bargain ----all I had to do was give up names and do 5 years probation.

Become a rat and give up weed and beer for 5 years-----couldn't do that.

Actually, prison (minimum custody) wasn't that terrible. Don't get me wrong----not somewhere I want to go on vacation. I got to do a lot of reading I probably would have never done otherwise. Besides, there was rarely a
shortage of .

A~~~

Yeah. Clearly you were a real threat to society...

We both wear the scarlet letter of convicted felon. The problem is that ever since it's been expanded to include economic and social control targets in addition to criminal ones, the title is really more of a battle scar in the fight for Citizen's Rights against the government.

People ask me if I'm a felon; I say, would you believe it's for growing a medicinal plant?! People shake their head in disbelief- at the system, not my 'transgression.'

 

[Alaric]

Yeah. Clearly you were a real threat to society...

We both wear the scarlet letter of convicted felon. The problem is that ever since it's been expanded to include economic and social control targets in addition to criminal ones, the title is really more of a battle scar in the fight for Citizen's Rights against the government.

People ask me if I'm a felon; I say, would you believe it's for growing a medicinal plant?! People shake their head in disbelief- at the system, not my 'transgression.'

Yea tyy----that's been my experience also.

People see "felony drug conviction" on a record----doesn't specify what kind of drug.

A~~~

 

[AlphaPhase]

Great read. Lots of useful info about aero that I'll be able to utilize.

On another note, sorry to hear about the run in with the Leo. I went through the same thing by the sounds of it. I was handed the same plea bargain, minus giving up names etc. They didn't even push the subject on me, they asked once at the initial interrogation and I said thats not going to happen. I paid my lawyer, the case went on for about a year, I was given 5 years felony probation and that's it. My probation officer knew I used weed for pain issues, so when he would do a house check and see all of my prescriptions, he said I'm better off smoking pot. He only drug tested me 1x, which was before he let me off a 5 yr sentence 2 years early, I passed so I only did 3 years and it was a breeze. This happened in NY, after my early release I moved to cali where I don't have to worry about anything like that again, thank God.

Hope things work out the same for you.

 

[Budley Doright]

My drug conviction has really not impacted my job prospects here, the biggest impact is the travel restrictions to the States. Not allowed to enter, I can apply for a waiver now that is has been 5 years since sentence, but its expensive and intrusive so I just haven't bothered. Gonna start the process soon though as I'm getting close to retire full time and would love to visit old friends and partners legally . First stop Calorado dispensary for some oil in a tube lol.

 

[Alaric]

High guys?----thanks for responding,

Alpha-----I'm envious about where you stays now. In my case in NC I just didn't know how strict this probation thing was going to be-----and no way---no names!

Budley------sounds like you're an old pothead like myself----only 11 months till SS starts. Man, that sucks about the restricted travel----are you in Canada? I've been to the cannabis cup once----my impression of Amsterdam was----
What an enlightened culture----just give people what they want and a place to do it and regulate it otherwise it's done illegality.

Said that to say this-----I hope the United States is moving in that direction---I believe it's happening.

A~~~

 

[ttystikk]

High guys?----thanks for responding,

Alpha-----I'm envious about where you stays now. In my case in NC I just didn't know how strict this probation thing was going to be-----and no way---no names!

Budley------sounds like you're an old pothead like myself----only 11 months till SS starts. Man, that sucks about the restricted travel----are you in Canada? I've been to the cannabis cup once----my impression of Amsterdam was----
What an enlightened culture----just give people what they want and a place to do it and regulate it otherwise it's done illegality.

Said that to say this-----I hope the United States is moving in that direction---I believe it's happening.

A~~~

America has become a fascist state, I've been wondering how long it will take the Sheeple to figure it out.

 

[HempletonState]

Thank you for those flattering comments ----especially coming from someone with your credentials

Care to explain more specifically what you specialize in?

In a previous life I worked (23 years) for a company with deep pockets in R&D-----I enjoyed designing products.
Then I accepted a managers position in charge of 13 engineers----- I hated dealing with budgets and personnel issues---yuk. They wouldn't let me return to just doing design work----so I quit and became an outlaw.

Care to share any of your war stories?

Thanks again for your sentiments,

A~~~

I am a master plumber and do plumbing , hvac, and electric. Worked in trades since I was a young kid and after college went into plumbing did a full 5 year apprenticeship the whole route. As a plumber I learned heating and air, and knowing heating and air you need to know some electric. Polished my electric skills building grow ops for two big time dudes I knew with one of my best friends who was an electrician since he was 14, straight guerilla style. Sometimes in abandoned warehouses ( live in a major city) sometimes in legit places , sometimes really safe sometimes extremely dangerous and dumb but continually getting better at what we did. Same time I was honing my growing skills at my house in my garage in a row house haha neighbors always asking questions. Sidebar I forgot to mention I was thrown out of college for dealing because some punk bitch ratted me out and I wouldn't rat the guy above me out, cops had no case and knew I knew it so didn't press anything but school booted me. So as the years went on and the grow ops I was building for my boy became more involved my best friend stopped working with me and I started doing everything by myself and naturally transitioned into a bigger role right next to the main 2 guys. These guys were running multi million dollar organizations so I was always working on the newest best stuff out which I loved and really got to put my skills to the test. Also through the years I became really good friends with the one guy, so I would ask him for some herb thinking like an ounce or something and he would hand me like half lb. About 5 years into it we just finished the most state of the art indoor greenhouse that was gonna pump shit out, at the same time had about. 5000 plants in an outdoor spot in the middle of nowhere a few hours away. The NEXT DAY after I put the finishing touches on, the bust went down , the main target was my friend , who was ratted out by someone he dealt with , and me and the other main guy were extra to them. Luckily for me my friend is a true man no refused to say anything other than he was the head and only him and no one else had any role. And for me I simply did work in exchange for herb. He was unaware the raided my house and found my grow. Still though he stuck to his story which enabled me with the help of an awesome bulldog attorney who tour the case against me to shreds. Because one of the cops who raided my house was being investigated for being a dirty cop all charges were dropped, but the target on me was evident. My boy also got a great lawyer who got it all the way down to probation with the time he already served cause they set his bail so high he couldn't get out till after the trial. My boy went back to his hometown and I went completely underground moved away and setup a little room for myself and hone my skills ever since.

 

[Alaric]

I am a master plumber and do plumbing , hvac, and electric. Worked in trades since I was a young kid and after college went into plumbing did a full 5 year apprenticeship the whole route. As a plumber I learned heating and air, and knowing heating and air you need to know some electric. Polished my electric skills building grow ops for two big time dudes I knew with one of my best friends who was an electrician since he was 14, straight guerilla style. Sometimes in abandoned warehouses ( live in a major city) sometimes in legit places , sometimes really safe sometimes extremely dangerous and dumb but continually getting better at what we did. Same time I was honing my growing skills at my house in my garage in a row house haha neighbors always asking questions. Sidebar I forgot to mention I was thrown out of college for dealing because some punk bitch ratted me out and I wouldn't rat the guy above me out, cops had no case and knew I knew it so didn't press anything but school booted me. So as the years went on and the grow ops I was building for my boy became more involved my best friend stopped working with me and I started doing everything by myself and naturally transitioned into a bigger role right next to the main 2 guys. These guys were running multi million dollar organizations so I was always working on the newest best stuff out which I loved and really got to put my skills to the test. Also through the years I became really good friends with the one guy, so I would ask him for some herb thinking like an ounce or something and he would hand me like half lb. About 5 years into it we just finished the most state of the art indoor greenhouse that was gonna pump shit out, at the same time had about. 5000 plants in an outdoor spot in the middle of nowhere a few hours away. The NEXT DAY after I put the finishing touches on, the bust went down , the main target was my friend , who was ratted out by someone he dealt with , and me and the other main guy were extra to them. Luckily for me my friend is a true man no refused to say anything other than he was the head and only him and no one else had any role. And for me I simply did work in exchange for herb. He was unaware the raided my house and found my grow. Still though he stuck to his story which enabled me with the help of an awesome bulldog attorney who tour the case against me to shreds. Because one of the cops who raided my house was being investigated for being a dirty cop all charges were dropped, but the target on me was evident. My boy also got a great lawyer who got it all the way down to probation with the time he already served cause they set his bail so high he couldn't get out till after the trial. My boy went back to his hometown and I went completely underground moved away and setup a little room for myself and hone my skills ever since.

Wow----what a story.

Plumbing, electrical and HVAC skills----all the hard parts taken care of to set up a grow room / greenhouse------added with a little plant knowledge and away we go.

Your friend sounds like a man of integrity for not ratting you guys out-----very rare these days.

Enjoyed reading your post,

A~~~

 

[Budley Doright]

High guys?----thanks for responding,

Alpha-----I'm envious about where you stays now. In my case in NC I just didn't know how strict this probation thing was going to be-----and no way---no names!

Budley------sounds like you're an old pothead like myself----only 11 months till SS starts. Man, that sucks about the restricted travel----are you in Canada? I've been to the cannabis cup once----my impression of Amsterdam was----
What an enlightened culture----just give people what they want and a place to do it and regulate it otherwise it's done illegality.

Said that to say this-----I hope the United States is moving in that direction---I believe it's happening.

A~~~

Yes old, and yes a pot head lol. And yes Canada.

 

[Budley Doright]

The whole pot thing has really changed over the last 20 years, we always joked we could sell old age supplements next and, well here we are lol. 5000 plants thats a huge grow! The crew must have been massive. The biggest we did was I believe 1100 (didnt take an accurate count lol), and it was hugely unmanageable and we were very lucky to get it in and done, well most, some went in the ground, dreaded mould. That was the last big one and the next year, all hell broke lose. IMO the big ones fail more often than not, to many personalities involved. The massive growth in the indoor grows by one or two guys hurt as well lol. Its nice to reminisce about this shit. My buddies all get together yearly for a holiday spending a week laughing about the "good old days" lol. Hope we're not stomping on your thread Alaric! Perhaps a "old people that grew pot" thread would be cool lol. I could probably teach some kids a few gorilla tactics lol. Thanks again for bringing back some great (and exciting lol) memories Alaric

 

[Alaric]

The whole pot thing has really changed over the last 20 years, we always joked we could sell old age supplements next and, well here we are lol. 5000 plants thats a huge grow! The crew must have been massive. The biggest we did was I believe 1100 (didnt take an accurate count lol), and it was hugely unmanageable and we were very lucky to get it in and done, well most, some went in the ground, dreaded mould. That was the last big one and the next year, all hell broke lose. IMO the big ones fail more often than not, to many personalities involved. The massive growth in the indoor grows by one or two guys hurt as well lol. Its nice to reminisce about this shit. My buddies all get together yearly for a holiday spending a week laughing about the "good old days" lol. Hope we're not stomping on your thread Alaric! Perhaps a "old people that grew pot" thread would be cool lol. I could probably teach some kids a few gorilla tactics lol. Thanks again for bringing back some great (and exciting lol) memories Alaric

Stomping?-----no, not at all. I enjoy hearing from other growers----especially ones that have experience with larger grows (more than I have ever done). After all, as the title reads "An outlaws journal."

These forums are closest I've ever come to get to talk shop with "serious growers".

Yes, how the attitudes about weed have changed over the years----thank god (whatever god is).

A~~~

 

[HempletonState]

The whole pot thing has really changed over the last 20 years, we always joked we could sell old age supplements next and, well here we are lol. 5000 plants thats a huge grow! The crew must have been massive. The biggest we did was I believe 1100 (didnt take an accurate count lol), and it was hugely unmanageable and we were very lucky to get it in and done, well most, some went in the ground, dreaded mould. That was the last big one and the next year, all hell broke lose. IMO the big ones fail more often than not, to many personalities involved. The massive growth in the indoor grows by one or two guys hurt as well lol. Its nice to reminisce about this shit. My buddies all get together yearly for a holiday spending a week laughing about the "good old days" lol. Hope we're not stomping on your thread Alaric! Perhaps a "old people that grew pot" thread would be cool lol. I could probably teach some kids a few gorilla tactics lol. Thanks again for bringing back some great (and exciting lol) memories Alaric

The outdoor grow of 5000 was crazy, we underestimated big time the amount of work 5000 would be, i equate it to smoking before you go food shopping (never a good idea). In our brains we would have no problem which couldn't have been further from the truth. The only good thing was the crew was the one main guy, the one I wasn't good friends with, it was his entire family. He grew up in farmlands a couple hours outside the city so he was the one who knew the land and found it and his family worked it. I am talking mom dad aunt uncles brothers we got lucky there, but they got lucky with 5000 plants since we were busted before we cropped it. The crazy thing is we had about 30 indoor grow ops smallest 100 plants going at the same time in the city with a crew of 5.