Diy cool tube

B

bp420

Member
I've seen articles regarding pyrex bake a rounds being used as cool tubes. I picked up a 400w MH bulb today....the bulb is roughly 5in in diam. the bake arounds for sale on ebay are only 3 1/2 in diam. I also checked the huricane glass from hobby lobby its opening is only about 4in.

Any ideas on what i could use?

Thanks in advance
 
kno

kno

Active Member
I had the same issue, the bake a rounds will not work with MH conversion bulbs, but they work great with HPS bulbs, when I had my 400w MH conversion bulb in I just had a fan running, light about a foot from the plants and the temps where OK. they are better with the cool tube...

try google, I wouldn't use glass as sometimes my pyrex tube gets hot, pyrex can take it, thin walled glass may not be able to...
http://www.greatglas.com/PyrexCylinders.htm has some but they get expencive. ebay sometimes has pyrex tubes, its an odd item though
 
keico

keico

Well-Known Member
bp420 said:
I've seen articles regarding pyrex bake a rounds being used as cool tubes. I picked up a 400w MH bulb today....the bulb is roughly 5in in diam. the bake arounds for sale on ebay are only 3 1/2 in diam. I also checked the huricane glass from hobby lobby its opening is only about 4in.

Any ideas on what i could use?

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
I was in the same boat

here is the solution

http://www.1000bulbs.com/400-Watt-T15-Metal-Halide/38437/

Also cool tubes don't cost as much as you think

http://cgi.ebay.com/400-Watt-HPS-Metal-Halide-Light-Cool-Tube-Reflector_W0QQitemZ300361388324QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item45eeef1124
 
keico

keico

Well-Known Member
miami30532 said:
i just got a vase at targets for 34 bucks and cut the bottom off and walla the vase is 7'' diam. and 2 feet long give or take cuz u cut the bottom off a in.''
Click to expand...

That is possibly the best DIY cooltube I have ever seen

You have to tell me how did you cut the base of the vase

Please let me know
 
J

jneely

Active Member
I have made many cool tubes they are very simple. I will explain how I make mine and maybe if I get time post some pics. I start with an 18 in piece of 6 in PVC. I measure a 4in slit along the back 14 in long leaving 2 inches of space on either end and a 4 in strip in the back. Then I use a grinder and cut wheel to cut along the line leaving the strip in the back once this is done I line the inside with reflective foil duct tape. I then mount my mogul socket on a small piece of angle via a bolt and wing nut. This is where the fun begins. You goto home depot and get a piece of lexan polycarbonate cut it into a 16x18 square attach it to the PVC using pop rivets. Use a heat gun and slowly roll the polycarb around the PVC drilling and riveting as you go. Make sure you attach the polycarb the right way you want to be rolling the 18 inch side around the tube. Once you are finished riveting you use two 6 in duct connectors cut to fit. One on each end and you are ready to attach you fan. I am a metal fabricator so I use 16 gauge polished aluminum to break an external reflector that I attach as well. This style reflector works great for me however it is should be noted I would not recomend using without active airflow and the heat resitance of polycarb is not infinite. Sorry this is so vague I hope it helps someone. I am really going to try to get the time to write a how-to with photos.
 
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