DIY Budget Closet Grow Box

neversummer28 · #1 09-23-2009, 07:11 PM

Please do not post until you see some half-baked m&m's.

Here are the details to a grow box (actually, more like a cabinet) that I just built to house my second grow. Other than the dimensions, much of this design is modeled after my first grow box, which resulted in success considering it was my first grow. I figured I would put this out there for anyone looking to get ideas for building a budget grow box that will fit in a closet. I won’t go into details for everything, but hopefully still enough so that a few of you can walk away with some ideas. I also won’t go into details about the lighting, as that’s not really the point of this grow. But I will provide some info about my lighting set-up at the end.

The dimensions of the box may seem a bit awkward, but the shape allows me still use the closet for storage, as well. I did not have to buy too many materials since I had much of the below lying around the house. I’ve also included some prices (estimates).

Materials:
- Wood -$20
- Poster board - ?
- Duct Tape - $6
- Reflective Duct Tape - $6
- Aluminum Foil - $4
- Foil Tissue Paper - $8
- Screws - $4
- Nails

Box Dimensions:
5’6” tall, 3’8” wide, 15” deep
Plan is to house 3 plants in this box.

xXJDMXx420 · #2 09-23-2009, 07:19 PM

you helped me out a little bit thanks

quick question would it be better to use a white tarp for reflection or tin foil

neversummer28 · #3 09-23-2009, 07:21 PM

Construction:

For wood, I purchased the following from Home Depot. You will want to cut your wood based on the dimension of your box.
(6) 1”x2”x8’ cut into:
- (4) 5’6” pieces
- (4) 15” pieces
- (4) 42” pieces
- (1) 50” piece
- (1) 42" piece

Construct wooden frame starting with the end pieces.

Here's the final frame. The “T” in the front of the frame is for the doors to my grow box.

neversummer28 · #4 09-23-2009, 07:24 PM

The panels are built out of posterboard. I know some people argue that you should not use anything but wood to build a grow box due to fire hazard, but here are some things to consider.

Ignition points (temperature where material will catch fire and continue to burn):
Wood – 380 – 870 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on type of wood
Paper – 451 degrees Fahrenheit
I personally don’t buy the argument that wood grow boxes are safer than cardboard grow boxes. Hell, some grow tents are made out of fabric. The way I look at it, whatever is going to cause a posterboard or cardboard box to burn will most likely burn down a wood box along with the rest of your house. The key to having a safe grow box is having a safe electrical and lighting set-up. I know not everyone will agree with what I just said.

Okay, so back to my set-up…

The 1x2 wood has the tendency to warp, so I knew my box would not have perfect right angles. As a result, I cut the posterboard to the shape rather than just measuring and cutting. I laid the frame on the posterboard, outlined the shape and used a utility knife to cut out the panels.

And all the cut out panels.

neversummer28 · #5 09-23-2009, 07:26 PM

I then lined all the posterboard with aluminum foil. Why? Well despite my earlier statement that the key to a safe grow box being safe electrical and lighting… I still wanted to add some “insurance.” Aluminum foil burns/melts at very high temperatures. For all of you grillers and campers, I’m sure you have all made food pouches which are thrown right into burning hot coals. Aluminum’s melting point 1220 degrees Fahrenheit. So I decided to line the panels basically as a heat shield.

Here's a panel completely lined with aluminum foil and getting ready to line it with "mylar."

420OldSchoolDJ420 · #6 09-23-2009, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neversummer28

The panels are built out of posterboard. I know some people argue that you should not use anything but wood to build a grow box due to fire hazard, but here are some things to consider.

Ignition points (temperature where material will catch fire and continue to burn):
Wood – 380 – 870 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on type of wood
Paper – 451 degrees Fahrenheit
I personally don’t buy the argument that wood grow boxes are safer than cardboard grow boxes. Hell, some grow tents are made out of fabric. The way I look at it, whatever is going to cause a posterboard or cardboard box to burn will most likely burn down a wood box along with the rest of your house. The key to having a safe grow box is having a safe electrical and lighting set-up. I know not everyone will agree with what I just said.

Okay, so back to my set-up…

The 1x2 wood has the tendency to warp, so I knew my box would not have perfect right angles. As a result, I cut the posterboard to the shape rather than just measuring and cutting. I laid the frame on the posterboard, outlined the shape and used a utility knife to cut out the panels.

And all the cut out panels.

is that that "dry erase marker board" stuff? I actually thought about using that but went with panda film instead.. I think that board stuff is a good idea. +rep

neversummer28 · #7 09-23-2009, 07:30 PM

The next step is one I leave up to you. You could simply leave the panels just covered with aluminum foil, but I’ve seen many arguments online about foil having hot spots, and ultimately, leaving burn marks on the plants. But you also read those people who said they have used aluminum foil for years without ever experiencing any burns.

I added another layer of “mylar” over the aluminum foil, primarily because I wanted a more reflective surface. Since this is a budget grow box, I did not purchase a roll of mylar. Instead, I went to Partycity and bought 2 packs of silver tissue wrap. No, it’s not actually tissue paper, it’s just called that. You get 15 sheets that measure 20" x 30" each for only $3.99! That's 9000 sq. inches or over 62 sq. ft. Can’t beat that.

I used the shiny kind of duct tape to attach the “mylar” to the panels. The shiny duct tapes allows me to have a reflective surface throughout the box. Here's a completed panel.

neversummer28 · #8 09-23-2009, 07:31 PM

Before you attach any of the panels to the frame, make any cut-outs needed!!! Such holes for fans, lighting, cords, etc. It will make your life much easier. I made a holes for my exhaust fan and to allow my electrical cords to run out of the box.

I attached all the panels to the frame using small nails, similar to the ones found with those bookcases that you have to assemble by yourself. I then used the shiny duct tape to seal everything inside so absolutely no light, air, etc will leak out. This involves taping the panels to the wooden frame, covering all the exposed wood, and taping over any other gaps that might be in the box. I literally sealed the entire box. I also sealed the edges on the outside of the box with regular duct tape.

neversummer28 · #9 09-23-2009, 07:36 PM

Neither of my side panels go entirely from the top to bottom. I left a 10" gap on both sides on the bottom in order to allow air circulation.

On the one side, I also made the panel so that I can open it up further in order to allow more airflow in case it gets too hot. It is simple flap which is held closed and open using velcro.

Here's the side panel with the built in flap.

And here it is with the flap open. You can also see how I built the bottom of the box. It is lined with a plastic trashbag in order to give some water protection just in case of any spills or small overflows. It is sealed tightly with duct tape to prevent any leaking.

neversummer28 · #10 09-23-2009, 07:43 PM

I could not make swing doors due to space issues – instead, I made removable panels. The panels are attached to the "T" part of the wooden frame. Measure carefully with the doors in order to make sure that the least amount of light leaks out. You want to have all the edges come together closely. You can use weather insulator to make it even more light-proof.

Here's the completed box without the doors. You can see my inline duct fan in the top right which exhausts air out. I will eventually make a homemade carbon filter to fit over the exhaust fan.

Here's what the grow box looks like with one of the door panels off.

And here's what the grow box looks like in my closet.

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