My tiny, but oh so neat grow box!

[magicflame]

Ah sweet I found this the other day, and started reading it, but didn't finish, or get to subscribe. Sweet grow box man, I'm looking forward to finishing the thread finally!

Thanks for your visit. I have moved this to a grow journal (in my sig) and that thread will probably be more frequently upated. I invite you to pop in and read all about my drama with the cold.

 

[fried at 420]

I've grown so weary of the very poor quality of "herbs" to be found around my area that I decided to build a little self-contained grow-cabinet and grow my own.
Being a professional cabinet-maker, I realized that I would never live down a sloppily-built cabinet. My friends would point and ridicule me!
I decided to go for a classic pyramid-shape partly due to the shape of the inside being ideal for focusing the light beams from the HID's directly downward to the plants where it's needed; but mostly because I can, he he. Perhaps some of the "magical power" of the pyramid configuration will have some unexpected and positive outcome!
The pyramid is divided into two separate entities that are easily divided for ease of service to lamps or fans. The lower portion of the hood holds a 250Watt MH and a 250Watt HPS, each with a hole directly above it to ensure a constant convection airflow, which is aided by the suction from the fan above it in a separate section. The inside is covered with ceiling isulation which is very shiny yet somewhat uneven, giving a nicely diffused reflexion. The upper section holds a fan to extract the heat from the lamps. The holes between the two upper sections are offset and painted matt-black to prevent light from spilling out from the fan-hole.
The mitre-cuts on each separate section allows them to fit into each other naturally, without any additional brackets. Black draught-excluding tape is used to prevent light leaks.
The two upper hood sections are divided from the main grow cabinet by a piece of tempered glass. This feels completely cool to the touch underneath and completely eliminates any possibility of plants being burned if they suddenly grow too much, while I am unavailable to tend to them. (I am looking forward to try and see if I can somehow train some plants with the aid of the glass pane, similar to "scrogging)".
The rear of the cabinet features a frosted glass panel with a removable cover to allow some of our lovely South African sun to do it's thing during day-time. (No point in wasting millions of watts of free energy I figured). This window faces a large South-facing window (I'm in the Southern-hemisphere).
On the sides are separate air intakes for cooling the light-hood and for ventilating the plants. The fan that extracts the air from the grow box (where it is relatively cool) exhausts it's air flowing over and around the ballast, igniter and transformer, keeping them cool as an added benefit.
I am currently growing some "Swazi" from seeds (a nearly pure Sativa as far as I can ascertain) I realize it is far from ideal for cabinet-growing, but I am learning to grow and figure that training on a difficult strain, might let me learn that much more.
All comments and suggestions are welcomed please.

Aint that cute haha

 

[magicflame]

aint that the friggin truth. My whole motivation to getting into do this is ...(1) its fun (2) its fun and (3) it more fun when you're smokin ur own dope .... hahahaha seriously .... not having to put yourself at risk with crap weed and cagey people. All's better of the western front when we're loaded for bear with weed to spare.

Purple, what are you growing/planning to grow up there?

 

[magicflame]

Aint that cute haha

Thanks, I think.

 

[purple blues]

busy week at work...shit, i wish i had something going. nothing at the moment going on a trip soon for a week with the girl and won't have anyone to tend to the girls. i don't wanna start something i can't finish haha. but when i get back i wanna get into some big buddha strains or subcool genetics or some elite gear...elite seems to have some tasty treats so to speak haha im just wary for some reason, he seems like a chill dude but i dunno. but whatever it is i plan on doing veg under some 6500k cfl's @ 18/6 and throwing them in a 400 watt hps closet setup for flower.