robyoung

I have already posted thi under "indoor growing" forum, but when I saw this one, I couldn't resist posting it again.

I was chatting with someone on another post somwhere else, about something a bit different, but thought I might cut and paste the post here at operation overgrow, just the same.

I was saying how I grew 1 pound from 4 plants in 8 inch pots of equal amounts of clay balls and flock.Hand watered.

The plants where some sort of outdoor scruff I had been growing for ages, and in no way bred for indoor use, so a lot of bending the plants around to keep all the flowering tops even , at the same distance from the light was a drag, but it was worth it in the long run.

Here goes............

Yeah a pound was a surprise to me as well, but I grew two or three crops in that way, and got around the correct weight each time.
I have an idea that it was the cupboard I built, which made all the difference.

I have no Idea how to draw, and then post it, so I'll try to explain it, and hopefully between my explanation, and your imagination, I will describe as close as possible to what has to be the best system there is to build a grow cupboard.
The fact that I dreamt it up probably influences that belief LOL

Anyway, here we go...............'

I built walls out of pine studs; I built them roughly 8 foot high, and 4 foot long.
I lined one side of each wall with plasterboard, {I think u guys call it drywall}.
I built a raised floor of about 6 inches that measured exactly 4-foot sq.

I used a 400-watt son t.

When I erected all the walls, with the plasterboard side facing in, I secured the walls in place with 2 coach bolts each wall at the ends.
I made a simple fibro ceiling to go on top, with 2 pine studs across it for stabilising the whole affair, and strength to hold the light.

Now, what u ought to imagine is a 4 ft sq. room, secured all around with coach bolts, and lined inside with plasterboard, ...right.

Now, I cut a door in it from each side so I could get to everything without stretching, and painted the inside with flat white paint, which is strangely more reflective than gloss white, and not too far short of the reflective qualities of Mylar, for a fraction of the price.

This is where I reckon the good bit starts: -

This is where the special effects come into it from here that made it a good room, and one worthy of reproduction I believe.

From the outside, it was a series of pine studs, running up, and batons running across.
At this point of the whole deal, with the exception of a small hole cut into the board for the power lead, it is both light proof, and airtight.
Light proof good! Air tight, bad!!!.

What I did was lined the bottom of the outside pine studs with Masonite. Up to the first batons.{this made light baffles for ventaltion holes}

I left a small gap, about 1/2 inch right across the bottom, all around the cupboard.
On the inside, correspondingly, I drilled small holes that would draw air in via an exhaust fan I placed right at the top.

From experience with making fish filters, the holes ought to add up collectively to the surface area of the exhaust, but I didnt bother.

It’s a bit hard to explain, but what I had was the exhaust fan at the top drawing air in through the holes drilled in the walls at the bottom, that sucked through the 1/2 inch gap of masonite sealing the pine walls outside.........follow?

I built a baffle to go around the out side of the fan, to reduce the amount of light the exhaust fan created, and I had a room 4 foot sq. With great reflective capabilities, almost light proof to the extent one could exaggerate and say it was actually light proof, and drawing air in constantly while the light was on, at around 1 foot high from the floor of the grow room.

I used to stand in the room sometimes, and close the doors, and stand still, as the room was vacuumed by the exhaust fan, the breeze started to come in through the holes, and the leaves and stems used to just gently quiver with a tiny draught.
Although it wasn’t co2 enriched, it had fresh air gently drawn over the plants constantly.

That was my cupboard.


I believe to better the design, one could instead of making the inlet for the air, 1/2 inch high and 4 foot across all around, make it more towards one corner, and let a small amount of co2 gas just dribble in slowly with some simple flex tube run from a regulator.

No need for expensive on /off switches with complicated regimes of procedure for getting the gas in, just let it dribble in at around 1 or 2 pounds per hour {just guessing on that 1}, and it would gently be drawn up, through the holes, over the plants, and pick up the heat from the light on the way out through the fan at the top.

So u see, I wasn’t joking about getting a pound from 4 sq ft. hand watering, I believe the time I spent planing the cupboard made all the difference.

If I can ever figure out how to post a picture on here, I will draw it, as I have left the cupboard 3 states behind, so photos are out of the question.
I have a scanner, so I will work on drawing it, but I reckon u get the idea anyway huh?
rob

__________________
...and if I were a good man
I'd understand the spaces
between friends...

Mr Green

Yeah, I do get it Rob, I actually wanted to build somthin like that my self!, but space is a limitation where I'm at It sounds like you had a great set up, and I'm not surprised that you get a pound out of your plants from a room like that...Ya got plans to build another??? Work on that draw'n, cuz I woulden't mind look'n it over

Gota run,

Mr g

robyoung

I dont have a grow cupboard at the moment, all I have is a bunch of panda plastic siliconed onto the ceiling of a garden shed I am renting.
I thought that would be the easiest way to cretae a light proof area, in a quck and easy time, and all I have to do when I move is cratch the silicon off the walls.

The problem with that is, I will have no ventilation, so I guess I will have the lights come on about midnight, when most people are in bed, and just lift one corner up with a garden peg, and point an electric fan at them.

Have the lights turn off at lunch time the next day, when I will tuck the panda film back into place,

Pretty crappy.

I am living in a place called Tasmania, And I hate it.

It;s an Island, so moving on and off the mainland costs a fortune, so I will wait untill I move back to the mainland before I build anther flower room like that.

But I will doit again, to start with.
But I was thinking of changing the design some time in the future, after I build one just like the one I dscribed.

I want to build the same design, but @ 4 feetlong, and 2 feet wide, with one or two small son t agros.

I want to build about 4 of them, that way, if u feel like growing heaps this time around, u get all the lttle rooms going, and if u want to take it easy, u just use one cupboard.

But so far, until I can figure something better, I will do it the way i just described.

I met a guy at the hydroponic shop the other day, and he has a line of old school lockers, and has a small hps in each locker, with one plant in each room.
I like it.

Anyway, it looks like i can get approved to grow pot in NSW for meicinal reasons, if they change the law this next month, and if they do, I will go back to Byron Bay. If not, I will go back to Queensland, so until I have settled somewhere again, I dont want to build a big cupboard, as it was quite a heavy thing to move.

I'll have a go at drawing, but I am hopeless, But I will give it a go.
rob

__________________
...and if I were a good man
I'd understand the spaces
between friends...

Phantom

I've just finished setting up a bloom area using panda film suspended from the ceiling. I used the fans out of a couple of old computer power supply fans attached to PVC piping to provide an intake at the bottom of area and an exhaust at the top with everything else taped up (except for a couple of little gaps at the bottom which as far as i can tell will only provide more intake) There is also a 40cm stand fan in the actual area to provide an overall air movement within the chamber. Chamber has 4 plants (to be upgraded to 6 next bloom) under a 600HPS (to be upgraded to 2X600 when $'s allow). Plants are fed via a flood and drain system which can be cared for outside the actual chamber.
I'm crossin me fingers that the results will be as good as yours.

Phantom
Ghost Who Smokes

robyoung

Good idea about the computer fans, i have a freind who runs a second hand computer shop and he could get me the parts.

I think I'll pinch that idea from you,thanx.

Did the panda film stop the hps?

Is it the thick grade, or the cheaper one?

I dint realise there was a thicker one in the shop, until I had cut and hung everything in place.

One was 6 dollars a lineal mt.
the other was 9 dollars.

They where both next to one another, I don't know how I missed it, maybe drugs are bad for me?

LOL
but did the hid lighting come through the panda film badlly?

I am using my area at the moment just to veg them with fluoros, and I have decided to make a rough grow cupbard again similar to the way I said earlier for the flowering.
I'll use a 400 son t, as for the grow room; I'll make it light proof, but it'll be rough I'm afraid.

It all comes down to money in the end doesn't it?


rob

__________________
...and if I were a good man
I'd understand the spaces
between friends...

Mr Green

Ughn augh

SPACE man...Space! You need the space & or place to build before you need the funds to construct

But your right about it costing a penny too. Don't get me wrong...you can have a pretty good set up with out spending lotsa bucks...but it's nice to go out any just buy what you need

mr g

robyoung

I'm on a disability support{welfare}.
Nearly everything in my life comes down to dollars and cents.

Space is important, but without the money to build in that space, all u have is a large room with no cannabis.

One thing I have learned, is that most things workout alright in the end.

rob

__________________
...and if I were a good man
I'd understand the spaces
between friends...

Mr Green

You have space but no dough...I got a couple pennies, but no space

But like I said, You can build a great grow room with out the bucks. The only thing that really cost's big money is lights and the juice to run them. If you only go with flow's then that helps a great deal. Use scrap plywood for your room....duct tape, and a bit of tinfoil (or paint) and your all set. Thoes computer fans are great. My last grow room I had 2 of them for intake and they worked perfect. The don't use any juice(or very little) and they are real quiet It's amazing how much stuff you can use if you just look around for it. I cant stop myself from look'n around for stuff even if I don't need it That old extention cord in the closet...the old light in the garage...that peice of plywood that's up against the wall in the shop...that tubing in the attic Even drive'n down the road you notice an easy to get light...(not say'n steel it)or even a fridge someone is throw'n out. The only thing I bought for my space was a couple hinges for my door and my light. THAT'S IT! Go to your local dump (if you have one) and cruise around. One man's trash is another's treasure

mr g

Phantom

I don't know if it's the thick or thin, the shop only had one type (was about 7.90 per m bein 3m wide in west oz)
the film does let through a very slight soft glow (not something that nosy people would notice unless they knew what they were lookin for) but seemin as how it is within a closed room with windows blocked security is not an issue and no light seems to penetrate inwards during dark period even with door to room wide open. When we set up our grow area (hopefully within the next week before the new clonies are rooted) by placing the film back to back will definately separate the two areas lightwise.

Phantom
Ghost Who Smokes

robyoung

DO u own or rent your place?

I rent, I don't know about America, but in Australia we have to be ready for a stardard real estate inspection either 3 monthly, or 6 monthly.

So to build a grow room in a rented house, has to done properly, tidily, and as much as possible, concealed.

If I owned a house, it would be a totally diferent kettle of fish, u get to control who goes where in your house.

Real estate inspections though remove that right, and so biulding a grow cupboard in those cicumstances is a lot more complicated.

It has to be COMPLETELY light proof, well built to elude suspicion;by claiming it's for developing film or something.

But to just through some junk together in the spare bedroom of a rented house in Aus., u are looking for trouble.

__________________
...and if I were a good man
I'd understand the spaces
between friends...