Building custom cool tubes

[Uncle FREEDOM]

Hey guys i have a question for ya... I am looking to build my own custom cool tubes, but i need some help....

First the metal ends on the cool tubes, are they a custom part or can they be ordered from some where? (or some thing just like them) (what are they called?)

second i want to get some custom glass tubes 8" dia by aprox 3' long. (can anyone recommend a site? (actually i would like six foot glass but my initial search was unable to fine anyone that could make it.)

Third how thick/thin should the glass be? anyone know?

Here is what i am doing, i want to run 4 hps bulbs in a vertical setup, and need/want glass to enclose them.

So lets hear those idea's

peace

 

[Snagglepuss]

Everything you need to get you rawk-in your custom cool tube can be found here by master Diy'er Quazi
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=101298&highlight=diy+tube

 

[Uncle FREEDOM]

Sorry i should have been more clear.... i want to reduce the amount of joints, (well not THOSE joints...LOL) the lights will be suspended in the custom glass by chain.

In a perfect world a 6' piece of 8" glass tube that i can install 4 lights in then hang vertically and hook up top and bottom with intake exhaust.

I do not need like 8 of those hurricane glass tubes and all the resulting joints oh and they are not 8" in diameter. (thanks for the link though)

Just looking for places for custom glass tube, and the metal 8" end pieces (do not want to smash my cool tubes for their end pieces.)

So is there anyplace that sells them, or is it a custom part?

thanks again

 

[one Q]

Ive been looking for glass tubes for a LONG time. Reasonable prices are the issue. There's a thread here with a link, Ill find it tomorrow gota go to work.

 

[PharmaCan]

Here ya go!

http://www.winshipdesigns.com/home/ws3/smartlist_35/oversized_clear_tube.html

Enjoy!

PC

 

[Azeotrope]

winship is very god to deal with. I have 2 24" long 6" diam tubes and one 18" x 6" diam that I used to use. I just bought some 6" malexfemale duct fittings, slipped them over the ends (the female end over the glass) with a little silicone and then mounted a socket in the tube just behind the glass edge and off I went. I do not use glass any more as even the best simax brocillite(sp?) cuts the UV. But if glass is the way you want to go, just call and tell them what length and diameter and they will cut and finish the ends. They are nice folks. Get the high quality 3mm wall clear simax.

 

[Uncle FREEDOM]

thanks for the link, unfortunately their sizes do not seem to go up to 8" (203mm)

 

[Snagglepuss]

Hey Uncle why not 3 glass pieces connected by metal connectors.With one tube changing the bulbs would be (pita) unless their all on a bar.Tell us about your design plans..this sounds interesting...

 

[Azeotrope]

I have done a lot of research and I am sorry to tell you, the chances of finding 8" are nearly non-existent. As a matter of fact more like impossible. I know that the SCAM MASTERS at Advanced Nutrients brag on about their MAXAIR cool tubes or whatever, but those things are junk. Made in 6", 8", 10" from PolyCarbonate. I called just about 10 manufacturers of polycarbonate tubing, they told me that it is not rated for that kind of heat and is not very tolerant of exposure to UV at all. Not to mention, any thing over 6" was a custom order $$$$$$$.........

Also the polycarbonate blocks shitloads of the blue end of the spectrum.

May I ask why 8" is going to serve you better than 6"??

 

[PeteWeedSeed]

I have a real custom "cool tube" it's actually a cool square.
I used 4 piece of clear glass that are 8" by 36", with a little bit of contact glue holding the pieces together and wrapped some wiring around the ends to hold them together.
and it works perfectly with extra room for more airflow. The glass is thin too about 1/8", but it doesn't break because there is constant airflowing to cool it down. It's only slightly warm to the touch with 2x 600Whps. But I am using a furnace blower, so the CFM is really high

I had to do this because I ran into the same problems as everyone, 8" diameter glass is insanely expensive some places wanted over $500 per foot. where as this cost me like $60.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

6" is all that is needed.
I don't see a long tube like that as being very user friendly.
For one, you are going to have lots of wires coming out of it. Joints would allow better cable access.

 

[Snagglepuss]

I have a real custom "cool tube" it's actually a cool square.
I used 4 piece of clear glass that are 8" by 36", with a little bit of contact glue holding the pieces together and wrapped some wiring around the ends to hold them together.
and it works perfectly with extra room for more airflow. The glass is thin too about 1/8", but it doesn't break because there is constant airflowing to cool it down. It's only slightly warm to the touch with 2x 600Whps. But I am using a furnace blower, so the CFM is really high

I had to do this because I ran into the same problems as everyone, 8" diameter glass is insanely expensive some places wanted over $500 per foot. where as this cost me like $60.

Any photos of this pete?Sounds like a rectangular glass box..cool idea..

 

[kaljukajakas]

My local laboratory glass blowing company can order borosilicate glass tubing up to 13" in diameter and 5' long. That's an industry standard size so getting an 8" OD tube should be anything but impossible. Insanely expensive - probably - but not impossible. Get in touch with your local lab glass blower, they can probably order this stuff for you:

http://www.us.schott.com/tubing/flex/data/brochures/duran_usa_02_2007.pdf

Square or triangular custom tubing would defeat the purpose (smooth laminar flow) of having a cool tube, would it not?

 

[Azeotrope]

Well, I stand corrected! LOL I would consider having to call a laboratory supply company and pay very large amounts of cash for custom production to be close enough to impossible for the DIY types. I should have said impractical. I will acknoledge to having held 8" and 10" glass (I used it in an educational institution as an instructor) but, can not see the added bennefit to 8" over 6" unless someone is setting up a very large grow. In that circumstance just spend the cash for air cooled hoods. Personally I, do not like glass as it is a maintenance (cleaning inside) and light output penalty.

Good Growing to Ya'll

 

[Uncle FREEDOM]

Well i have been checking and i found out that one can order a smaller length wise pieces and have them BONDED together. I am wondering as to the strength of the bond????

There seems to be alot of doubters on these threads so lets go through a few of the negative things (and their solutions)

maintenance.... Sure not as easy as open bulbs, but with my idea the bulbs will be supported by chains attached to the electrical boxes, with EYE hooks that jut out to almost the width of the glass. This will act in a way of centering the bulbs in the tube and giving me something to attach and guild the wires up through the glass while maintaining a safe distance from the bulbs (another reason for the bigger tubes). Now the glass will be attached top and bottom to the vent tube via adjustable circular clamps (i don't know the name but maybe someone does... kinda like the same idea of the clamp used to remove a oil filter) Now i am planning on either having holes drilled in the bottom of the glass or the vent assembly big enough to have a "S" hook attach. This will be attached to the chains supporting the lights, so everything will hang via the chains. NOW if i want to change a bulb, i unhook the two clamps and while holding the bottom of the glass tube i remove the "S" hooks. I now take the bottom of the glass and move it outward to a 45 deg angle and simply slide the glass off the lights. Relatively easy for a once and a while maintenance job, i would think. The in vent for the glass will have a filter installed to keep dirt/crap from entering the tubes, keeping them clean.

Now the wire inside will be wrapped in header heat wrap, to keep the black rubber from getting to hot. Problem solved.

Now the reason for the glass, is so the system i am designing can have the plants closer to the lights. Yes it is true that the glass cuts the light like 10%, but remember that light diminishes via the square. So any light lost will more then be made up for with the ability to get the plants that much closer.

Right now it looks like if i wanted a reasonable price on 8" i would have to order from china. I am not a big supporter of that country, so to keep my business in north america i am going to goto 7" tube and have 2 pieces bonded together (still waiting on the price difference between one over sized piece and bonding of 2.)

The size of the grow is top secret for now! LOL

Hope that answers most of your questions.

Now here is what i need, i need help as to the actual size of the glass. What would you guys suggest for the metal vent to glass tube. (as in what design/size/shape/etc, of vent tube, and the EXACT size the glass should be made to ala 178 mm= 7 inches (or should it be 176 or 180 to accommodate the vent tube) does anyone know and/or can measure this in MM?)

Also can someone recommend a idea to replace the big square electrical boxes that support the bulbs with something less restrictive in air flow, while still being able to attach eye hooks to? Just curious.

So that is the plan, and i hope this helps explain my madness.

Thanks again for all the replies (even the doubters) as they help me work through everything.


peace

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I think sometimes "realists" get mislabeled as "doubters".

Just curious if you have done any searches here for vert tube set-ups?

 

[cyberthreat]

they make 60 inch dual cool tubes and the have the size glass you want

 

[Azeotrope]

Yeah, not a doubter here, I used glass 6" tubes for a long time and all though the buds could literally touch the glass I found the yield increase to be almost undetectable. What I found was that if you drop a vertical tube too far in to the canopy you loose coverage over the canopy as the closest plant material blocks it out. Now, I did get bigger buds further down the plants close to the light. I run CMH and find it too easy to manage the heat in my set-ups. I did not enjoy cleaning the inside of the glass or changing bulbs with the tubes and KISS is a big time factor to me as growing is a small personal hobby.

There are many good points to the glass. I was able to run a 6" vortex for the lights and keep that air circuit tight and seperate. I then could run a 6" elicient(sp?) on the large carbon filter. I even recircuited the exhaust from the lights to the inlet of the room to add heat in the winter........ I just think one should way it out and do what works best for you. I also think 6" will do fine!!!!!

Peace and Happy Growing!!!!

 

[Uncle FREEDOM]

Well i have found a couple of places that are fairly local to me that will make glass tubes up to 8 inches in diameter and 6 feet long.... I am just waiting on the final prices to come in.

Here is what i am going to do. In the interest of science, i am going to get one 6" diameter, and one 8" diameter (by 6') tubes made. I am then going to measure the resulting performance in heat reduction of each. We will see if it makes a difference for running a lot of power in a vertical set up.

Will be about a month before things get running, so be patient. I love learning new things so this should be fun.

peace