Building a Flowering Cab

So, I'm going to build a flowering cab to go with my already existing grow tent.

I'm half asleep, hung over, and out of it right now so try to bear with me. This thread is just starting off from the brainstorming standpoint, as I won't have the money to do anything for a few weeks plus I'd like some input and what not.

I'm going to DIY just about everything and I'm a bit of a n00b when it comes to woodwork and building things, so all advice/help/suggestions are appreciated.

First up:

My Growing Method

2 plants at a time
SCROG
about 2 feet by 4 feet screen
DIY Bubbleponics/DWC reservoir
rockwool cubes/hydroton/net pots
air pump(s), air stones, water pump, hoses


Veg Area

I'm going to turn my existing grow tent into the veg area, which is a 4 x 2 x 4 Homebox Clonebox. I plan on starting in there with a reservoir with just two plants (once I get some clones so I know the sex), vegging the hell out of them (probably 6-8 weeks), scroggin them until they're covering about 50% of the screen, then dragging the res, screen and all, out and slapping it into my flowering cab to flower.



The Flowering Cab:

So, I want the flower area to be about 4 feet wide and 2 feet deep. I'll want it to be about 6 feet tall to allow for the HPS I'll be getting and have enough room to let those buds grow.

I will need the cab to be stealth, as it will just sit out.

I'm thinking of either this IKEA cabinet:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40022180

It's:
Width: 47 1/4 "
Depth: 22 7/8 "
Height: 73 5/8 "

...which is perfect for my needs. However, they want like 300 bucks to ship it? What am I doing wrong with putting that thing in my cart? lol

OR, I'm thinking of this:

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colem...tegoryid=67001

It's:
75-3/8”H x 19-5/8”D x 47-1/2”W

...which is also about perfect for my needs.

However, I have no clue as to if I can cut holes in the latter, which I will of course need to do. Also, I don't know if I can build it without any shelves...

(here's a link to one used as a grow cab: http://www.growkind.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29240)




DIY Reservoirs:

I want to build two reservoirs (I plan on having one in veg, and one in flower simultaneously and hopefully almost perpetually).

Right now I"m using a rubbermaid container, but I would like to build two reservoirs from these (or something similar):

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colem...ategoryid=8581

I'm thinking that they will keep the water good and cold in the res, it already has a drain for taking water samples to test, it's thick and should be light proof, it's got enough room for at least 20 gallons of water, so more than enough for two big plants, and it's got wheels for me to drag the shit to and from the veg area to the flower area.

However, I would want to make some modifications.
- I want to be able to install fill lines so I know when it needs water.
- I'll obviously have to make the holes for the net pots, airlines, wires, etc
- I want to rig something to enable me to add water and nutes without having to lift the lid on the res...
- I want to be able to attach, detach, and reattach the scrog screen to the lid/res.


NEW SCROG SCREENS:

I want to make some scrog screens out of PVC tubes and chicken wire that have the capability of being able to be attached to the lid and unattached.

I've seen some DIY PVC Scrog screens, but mine will have to be able to go out from the res in order to achieve the approximate screen size of 36-40 inches wide and about 18 inches deep and about a foot above the res.

I'm thinking of some type of screws into bolts that I can use a power drill to just unscrew it from the lid or something similar...


LIGHTING:

After some deliberation (and a thread) I'm fairly sure I've decided to get a 600w Lumatek Digital Ballast + 600watt HPS bulb (either Hortilux or Sunmaster) + air coolable hood with 6 inch flanges.

I will be getting a carbon filter and a 6 inch Vortex or something similar. I know it's overkill probably for a cab that will only be 48sq feet, but I will get a dimmer and set is to whereever I need it.

So it will be:

filter ------ HPS in air coolable hood ------ fan - out of box

I think I will let the ends of the screen grow up a bit more than the center, kind of making it a U-Scrog in order to help meet the light better.


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Shit I'll need to put in the flower cab:

-I'll need to cut a hole in the side and install a darkroom vent for a passive intake.

-Need to cut a hole in the roof for the exhaust.

-Need some holes for cords to run out.

-Will need another airpump, air stones, water pump, oscillating fan, thermometer/hygrometer, (all the normal shit)

-Mylar for the walls

-Weather stripping to lightproof the box

-Insulated 6 inch ducting

-Way to hang light, might be dependent on what box I get/make

-Another speedster fan controller to dim the exhaust fan


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Okay, I'm already losing my train of thought here.

So, I'm doing this in order to have room to run an HPS for flower. My t5 isn't cutting it for flowering IMO. I'm also doing this to cut down my time between cycles from 3 1/2-4 months to 2-2 1/2 months.




My current issues are as follows:

Which of the cabs would be best for my needs?

Why does IKEA want 300 dollars to deliver that fuckin box to me?

What type of tool do I need to effectively make holes in both the flowering cab and the reservoirs? I'll need to make perfect holes, cut through that thick ass cooler material, etc. I do not have any tool to do this, but thought perhaps a Dremel with a hole cutter attachment might get the job done... Any suggestions?

Any problems with turning coolers into reservoirs?

I'm assuming I'll do something for the fill line like Rumpleforeskin did in the DIY Bubble Bucket thread, but any suggestions as to how to create a way to add water/nutes without lifting the lid?

Anybody good with PVC tubes and/or how to attach a PVC scrog screen to a lid?





Anyhow, all suggestions/advice/comments are appreciated as per the usual. I've got a good idea of what I want, but I'm not too familiar with the woodworking/circle cutting/water proofing/weather stripping/light proofing/etc lol.

I have used the search function and have no problems doing my own research. However, I made this thread to get suggestions and any help, and will use it for the brainstorming part (now) all the way up to the completed cab w/pics and everything.

I'm half asleep and am sure I didn't talk about half the shit I needed to. I'll even draw up a schematic of some sort and up it tomorrow.

Peace.

I have a corded power drill (though I'm not sure of the voltage/speed...it's a cheap black and decker), so I could just buy a hole saw.

But, I'm going to need to cut at least two different size holes: Holes for the netpots in the res and a hole for the exhaust. Plus, I'm going to need to cut out a square for the darkroom vent for the passive intake as well as something to pass the cords out of.

So, I could get a variable hole saw kit w/an arbor but that still wouldn't help me with straight lines.

OR, I could get a dremel with or without the circle cutter and straight edge guide (for an extra 15 bucks) and it would enable better straight lines as well as cut circles between 3/4th of an inch to 12 inches in diameter.

Plus, I think I've heard everyone and their mom say that you can use a Dremel for everything from cutting circles to filing your cat's nails to building your own space shuttle etc etc etc.

I'm thinking I might just get a Dremel with the attachment. If I end up not using it I can always ebay it or something.

I'm looking at the Dremel 8000 10.8v cordless one right now.