Build your own basic grow tent for less than 150 bucks, or use the set up to expand

[dnoob]

You can build this basic grow tent for less than 150 dollars, in less than 1 hour with a helper. PVC pipes and fittings for your frame and panda film for you siding, depending on the orientation of your tent you will fasten your plywood with screws onto the PVC piping. The plywood is where you will cut your holes for ducting and to mount your gadgets (Rh and temp readers, ballast, wall mount fans and so on.

I suggest not using PVC glue to put it together as you may want to change the shape/size of your grow tent, its also a good idea not gluing it if you ever have to move out you can pack it up and take it with you. Better off clamping it / screwing it to existing walls.

A complete guide to build it (with pictures) will be posted soon. I will be expanding my current grow room in the next couple of days so might as well give you a step by step instructions while am doing it

http://www.formufit.com/products/3{47}4"-3%2dway-Elbow-PVC-Fitting-Connector.html
Price: $1.60 x 8 = 13 $

PVC PIPE
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100348472/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
$1.97 /EA-Each x 8 = 16 $

panda-film
http://www.growwurks.com/black-and-white-poly-panda-film-6-mil-10-x-100.aspx
You could buy it by the foot and save a couple of bucks but this is the way to go as you will have plenty of extra if you decided to expand or use it to create a double door/extra protection from incoming light.
Internet Sale Price: $69.75

Tape, screws (10 bucks), PVC cutting tool, some plywood (Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) 1 sheet about 20 bucks) to build bays where you will install fans, ducting, temp/RH readers, ballast and so on

You can also use this set up to expand an existing grow tent

It amounts to 130 dollars, but lets say about 150 just to be on the safe side

I hope this was of help to you, stay tuned (i mean high) for more info

 

[MassGrowth]

Would like to see a pic of the finished product...

 

[bertiswho]

nice thread...someone was just telling me the other days that these kinds of setups were nowhere near as good as a tent you can buy. i beg to differ, personally i think you can make something like this more light proof then anything.

 

[iTz Xx420xX]

nice thread...someone was just telling me the other days that these kinds of setups were nowhere near as good as a tent you can buy. i beg to differ, personally i think you can make something like this more light proof then anything.

I lol'd but no offense, How in the world would it make any sense if some one told you, you cant make a tent better than the ones you can buy? Some one had to make the tent you can buy from the store therefore improvements can always be made. And homemade shit is always better cause you built it yourself and it works it's always more rewarding, just like growing some dank ass weed.

 

[Specialboy]

You can build this basic grow tent for less than 150 dollars, in less than 1 hour with a helper.

Lol you can buy a tent for less than that, no disrespect, I'm sure you are good at building this kind of thing but I look forward to the pictures and then some pictures from people that try and copy it...

 

[dadio161]

so , where are the pics and detailed directions ?

You can build this basic grow tent for less than 150 dollars, in less than 1 hour with a helper. PVC pipes and fittings for your frame and panda film for you siding, depending on the orientation of your tent you will fasten your plywood with screws onto the PVC piping. The plywood is where you will cut your holes for ducting and to mount your gadgets (Rh and temp readers, ballast, wall mount fans and so on.

I suggest not using PVC glue to put it together as you may want to change the shape/size of your grow tent, its also a good idea not gluing it if you ever have to move out you can pack it up and take it with you. Better off clamping it / screwing it to existing walls.

A complete guide to build it (with pictures) will be posted soon. I will be expanding my current grow room in the next couple of days so might as well give you a step by step instructions while am doing it

http://www.formufit.com/products/3{47}4"-3%2dway-Elbow-PVC-Fitting-Connector.html
Price: $1.60 x 8 = 13 $

PVC PIPE
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100348472/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053
$1.97 /EA-Each x 8 = 16 $

panda-film
http://www.growwurks.com/black-and-white-poly-panda-film-6-mil-10-x-100.aspx
You could buy it by the foot and save a couple of bucks but this is the way to go as you will have plenty of extra if you decided to expand or use it to create a double door/extra protection from incoming light.
Internet Sale Price: $69.75

Tape, screws (10 bucks), PVC cutting tool, some plywood (Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) 1 sheet about 20 bucks) to build bays where you will install fans, ducting, temp/RH readers, ballast and so on

You can also use this set up to expand an existing grow tent

It amounts to 130 dollars, but lets say about 150 just to be on the safe side

I hope this was of help to you, stay tuned (i mean high) for more info

 

[wbd]

nice thread...someone was just telling me the other days that these kinds of setups were nowhere near as good as a tent you can buy. i beg to differ, personally i think you can make something like this more light proof then anything.

Really? Plastic sheets taped to PVC pipe is better than my DRII? You keep selling that bullshit...

Meanwhile, I'm adding up how long it would take to shop and buy this DIY, and the extra $75 it would take to just order a nice Secret Jardin (or less for other brands even), and I assure you my time is worth more than $10 an hour.

Now, if you want to argue that DIY cheaper and in many ways just as effective, but you can cut out right now this nonsense about being able to build a superior product yourself out of cheap as materials... keep dreaming.

 

[bertiswho]

Really? Plastic sheets taped to PVC pipe is better than my DRII? You keep selling that bullshit...

Meanwhile, I'm adding up how long it would take to shop and buy this DIY, and the extra $75 it would take to just order a nice Secret Jardin (or less for other brands even), and I assure you my time is worth more than $10 an hour.

Now, if you want to argue that DIY cheaper and in many ways just as effective, but you can cut out right now this nonsense about being able to build a superior product yourself out of cheap as materials... keep dreaming.

have you ever made an enclosure?

 

[wbd]

have you ever made an enclosure?

No, why would I bother? They make them already, and are available anywhere. I give someone my money and it magically shows up to my house.

 

[bertiswho]

No, why would I bother? They make them already, and are available anywhere. I give someone my money and it magically shows up to my house.

Thats what i thought, why would you spend 150 dollars on a 2x2x5.5 tent when you could make an entire 8x8x8 room out of those materials for about the same price, and it would be just as good if not better then a tent. i own two tents and ive helped build a couple rooms and let me tell you, those tents have light leaks that you still have to fix yourself. atleast if you build the room, its light "Proof" right off the bat. but to each his own.

 

[wbd]

Thats what i thought, why would you spend 150 dollars on a 2x2x5.5 tent when you could make an entire 8x8x8 room out of those materials for about the same price, and it would be just as good if not better then a tent. i own two tents and ive helped build a couple rooms and let me tell you, those tents have light leaks that you still have to fix yourself. atleast if you build the room, its light "Proof" right off the bat. but to each his own.

I'm aware that my tent is not 100% light-proof -- it's easy to see that when the tent is zipped up with the light on in a dark room. So what? It doesn't have to be... 99% will do. Do you think plants growing outdoors ever get 100% darkness? My plants get better dark periods than any plant growing outside.

 

[Specialboy]

I found a 4x4x6.5 tent for £48 which is just under $74 with no light leaks worth worrying about.

Man's need to build with tools is very primal but some of us know we are shit at it and would end up with a tumble down shack in the corner of the room held together with string & tape with light beaming out of it all round the room. You just need the right help.

 

[dnoob]

I did mention that i would post pix in the next couple of days
I very much doubt that you could buy an 8x8x8 tent for 150 $
With PVC you can shape your tent in any way or size you like
I own a tent 4x4x7 and it costed me over 300 $ and when the lights are on inside you can see light leak out from the seams (they offered me a refund or an upgrade but i just passed on that)
This post was intended for people that are on a tight budget and that like to build their own stuff
If its build right theres zero light leaks
Yes you would need a helper, building the frame is like playing lego, covering the frame with panda film is easy, over all its an easy project. I started from a store bought tent and quickly ran out of room as my plants grew bigger, that is why i decided to expand it a bit with PVC/panda film, now my plants are living well (zero powdery mold - no restrictions )so since that worked well for me i decided to get rid of the tent and go 100% PVC (in the next few days), that will allow me to take advantage of my allowed 99 square feet (santa cruz county allows a 99 square foot canopy)
Since all of that made me happy (especially the price ) i decided to share the idea with some of you, am really not trying to sell anything or tell you my way is better than others i am merely sharing from my own experiences and hope it helps some newbies like me

 

[Serial Violator]

I found a 4x4x6.5 tent for £48 which is just under $74 with no light leaks worth worrying about.

Man's need to build with tools is very primal but some of us know we are shit at it and would end up with a tumble down shack in the corner of the room held together with string & tape with light beaming out of it all round the room. You just need the right help.

wher did you find this tent?can you post a link pls

 

[dnoob]

I never seen a tent for 74 bucks, at least not in Santa Cruz county. A link on that would be great, at that price i would buy four of them suckers

 

[dadio161]

so I guess that this is just an idea you have. Not yet built and running.

 

[dnoob]

Dadio, as i said i started from a tent and ran out of room so i made it bigger with the PVC/panda setup/idea and since it works and can be be made in any size, you could say that i am expanding on an idea that actually works.
If a 16 suare foot enclosure can be made then a 32 square foot can also be made (any size really, but the bigger you go the more reinforcement to your frame will be necessary)
Coming to think of it you can actually make small cabs with the same concept....its like carpentry but on a lighter and smaller scale.
My set up as it is (the tent + PVC ) wont work for me since its different materials, sizes of pipes and such so its only temporary, i will build an entire enclosure and get rid of the tent (tents are good for a few plants and that is not what i am into ) i am 4 to 5 weeks from harvest, so if i am to start my new rotation from clones to final veg i have one week left to build my pvc setup which will accomodate the veg and flowering plants (with a partition of course) i better get my shit straight and get to buiding soon i will post pix no worries...

 

[bertiswho]

I'm aware that my tent is not 100% light-proof -- it's easy to see that when the tent is zipped up with the light on in a dark room. So what? It doesn't have to be... 99% will do. Do you think plants growing outdoors ever get 100% darkness? My plants get better dark periods than any plant growing outside.

that my friend is where your wrong, being 100% light tight makes all the difference, ask anyone who knows their stuff. same thing applys to drying your harvest.

 

[Specialboy]

I never seen a tent for 74 bucks, at least not in Santa Cruz county. A link on that would be great, at that price i would buy four of them suckers

Not where I got mine as they have sold out I guess but another supplier with a similar price:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120-X-120-X-200-GROW-TENT-BUD-ROOM-HYDROPONICS-BOX-NEW-/170685576405?_trksid=p5197.m185&_trkparms=algo=SIC.NPJS&itu=I%2BUA&otn=12&pmod=160432625042%2B180628015069%2B180726519784&po=LVI&ps=63&clkid=2968143965624020620#ht_4505wt_1141

 

[Specialboy]

that my friend is where your wrong, being 100% light tight makes all the difference, ask anyone who knows their stuff. same thing applys to drying your harvest.

You need to tell that to my plants straining against the walls of their tent in week 5 of flowering they are sleeping now but will happily take a picture tomorrow.