NGB (OG) Cabinet Modifications - Thoughts/Ideas/Suggestions?

[banjobrain]

Proper. Dude you have used this forum, as well as your own brain, to maximum effect on this project. Not rushing has been your best decision though.

I still think you should start with bag seed until you're sure everything works right and to insure that you have a suffient green thumb.

Back from the work week, and back to the cab!

Thanks Green Smoke! This forum has been extremely helpful in getting this cab together. I agree, no rushing has been my best decision. I would start with bagseed, but unfortunately, I've got no bag seed to start with...so, it will be the Satori, Sadhu and Hashberry seed that was shipped out yesterday! I'm not too concerned with my green thumb. I've got a horticulture background and worked in the industry for 10 years. I'm no Ed Rosenthal, but I feel as though I can "read" plants pretty well. I also have a good understanding of ferts and plant physiology, etc...

Anywhoo...I just got my quarterly bonus in the mail yesterday from the company (yes...with the recession, I somehow managed to get a bonus!) I work for, so today I will be ordering my lights. As mentioned previously, I will probably be ordering the 4 x 55 watt Bright Kit™. I might get the 6x55 Bright Kit instead and rock out to 5 tubes during veg while working on a 150w HPS to supplement my flowering. Then I'll knock it back down to 4 55w mixed spectrum bulbs hung on the walls for flower.

I'm thinking about this light here at econolight: http://www.e-conolight.com/Product/EProductDetail.asp?ProductFamilyID=3&FGNumber=E-HC1H151Z - It's a 150w HPS for $43? It sounds like a good deal, but here's the problem I'm having with buying a couple of these...

Unfortunately, there is no option to buy these HPS lights at econolight using a money order. I don't want to pass up a light at $43, as I think that would be a great way to do a couple DIY cooltubes, but on the other hand, this is a stealth grow, and I would like to keep EVERYTHING stealth. So far, with the exception of the darkroom louvers, I've been able to buy EVERYTHING for this cab with cash. Even the seed...I used a fake name for a Western Union wire transfer. I am having them shipped to my house, but I don't see that being a big problem. Even with the 4x55w Bright Kit, I am planning on ordering via mail, using a money order. There will be no paper trail.

Am I being tooooooo cautious? I mean, we are just talking about two 150w HPS floodlights... Any help/advice/words of wisdom regarding purchasing of grow products and methods of payment would be appreciated.



Hopefully, later this weekend I'll have the casters on the cab, louvers and drawers installed and everything will be good to go! I'll still need to buy a fan and get that in the works, but I've got a little time before I really need to get that in there. I'm still trying to figure out the best setup for my cab. I'm really going to work hard to get that setup so I can have my scrubber enclosed in the utility room...we'll see.

For now though, any help/advice/words of wisdom regarding purchasing of grow products and methods of payment would be appreciated. One can never be too nervous, I guess.

I just don't want to get too complacent and start getting careless.

 

[banjobrain]

Woo-hoo! My beans just arrived! I had been traveling this week and came home to a nice surprise. I am very pleased at the packaging by Mandala seeds. VERY discreet! VERY nice!

Anyways, I held out on buying lights last week...for a while I was sold on the PL-L CFL tubes, but I'm still not quite sure. I'm now back to thinking that running a 250w HID lamp with a conversion bulb would be the best and easiest route.

Either way, I need to order me some lights and get this grow on the road!

I'd like to finish up the cab this weekend...installing the shelf, building my scrog screen and setting up my swc bins. I'm thinking that instead of having two plants in the one container, I'm going to have one plant (maybe two) each in it's own container...It'll be weird, but I'm going to flower two varieties on the first grow...Satori and either Hashberry or Sadhu. That way, whichever plant ripens up first, I can pull it, and keep the other one in for a little while.

I'll post some pics once I figure out how to build my mind contraption.

 

[Green Smoke]

Hell yea dude. Get your lights going so you can check temps to be sure that you can control them before you stick those high class seeds in there. I'm hoping you go with the PL-L's so I can see how they work in an NGB cab.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Unfortunately, there is no option to buy these HPS lights at econolight using a money order. I don't want to pass up a light at $43, as I think that would be a great way to do a couple DIY cooltubes, but on the other hand, this is a stealth grow,

Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you. However, I think you're carrying it a bit too far. E-conolight isn't "Illegal-Stealth-Cabs-R-Us," or "Wacky Wally's Weedlight Wonderland." Ordering from E-conolight simply suggests you have a garage. It's no different than buying from Home Depot or Sears.

Now get some lights, any lights, and let's get your birds in the air ... dag nab it.

 

[Anti]

Just finished the initial design phase of my own Dr. Bud style CFL cab. It's a similar style to this. I've been lurking and reading for a while now and I've been trying to combine all of the suggestions from my 'heroes'. Love to hear your thoughts on this:




I incorporated mother/clone room, flower room and drying chamber all in one cab and all sharing one fan and one carbon filter. Suggestions welcome!
Link's in my sig.

 

[Agent-Smith]

nice looking cab so far!

 

[K.J]

Finally got the beans! Nice! Can't wait to see what you do with them. I personally love Mandala's stuff; never grown any, but I will.

 

[banjobrain]

Finally got the beans! Nice! Can't wait to see what you do with them. I personally love Mandala's stuff; never grown any, but I will.

Like I said, I was very pleased with everything. Timely shipping, and VERY discreet! Even I was fooled...thinking there had been some sort of mistake or that I was ripped off!

Anyways...I've got some work to do for an hour or so, and am a little irritated with some problems I'm having regarding a missing check that should have been deposited by now, so I may have to wait a week to order my lights.

RedGreenery suggested that I get the babies started under a vanity fixture using CFLs... I think I'll take a trip to wally world and look into it this afternoon.

Maybe work on finishing the cab a bit today as well!

Thanks for checkin' in KJ!

 

[banjobrain]

Help me start my seeds!!!

Help me start my seeds!!!

Well, I made it to Wally World and was able to grab a couple 3 bulb vanity fixtures...

I probably won't germ the babies this weekend as I'm facing a bit of a dilemma...I have been traveling each week Mon-Thurs (returning Thursday afternoon/evening) and I'm worrying about starting seeds.


(EDIT): Actually, my plans are to germ 5 Satori and 5 Sadhu or Hashberry. Of those 5 seeds, each, I'm hoping to grow them up a bit, to determine their sex...and pull the healthiest female of the bunch and continue the grow in DWC to harvest. Hmm...

I'm going to have to rethink how I do this grow...maybe I'll grow them SWC in a sterlite container until they're sexed... in whatever size net pots I can fit 10 of them cut into the top of the sterlite container. Once I've picked the two "survivors" I reckon I'll have to sacrifice the others...maybe I'll experiment with keeping them as swc mothers and try to pull some clones off of them. I'm not too concerned about the others. My primary focus right now is getting TWO HEALTHY GIRLS...one Satori, and one other.

Man - I don't even know how I'll germinate those babies, as I'm traveling...I could really use some advice at this point...


I'm wondering if I have enough time to:


* Germinate the seeds on tues/wednesday (?) on the road (I travel by vehicle)
* Then get them back home into rockwool/soil on Thursday afternoon, evening and immediately under light
* 3 full days under light
* Then put them in net pots into a DWC system late Sunday evening


Would they be safe unattended for 4 days if I left them in DWC after that?


Is this possible? If necessary, I could take a few days off for "personal reasons" to make sure they get started properly, but I'd rather not...



Any suggestions???

 

[banjobrain]

shameless bump

 

[NOKUY]

i dont think i'd keep hydro plants especially young ones unattended that long, and i dont think i'd keep hydro moms.

just my thoughts on that.

the way i germinate is by putting two plates together like a clam...then seeds in wet papertowels inside the 2 plates, and i use a small terrarium heat mat under the plates....NEVER FAILS.

ive also used the glass of water technique almost as successfully.

also 400 watts may be too much....depending on your heat. my cab is 100 watts/sq foot, i def have the heat under controll.

hope that helps

 

[banjobrain]

God damn. I need a break from that friggin cab. Everything is going well until the installation of the shelf. I had it all cut to fit, did the Bob Vila measure twice and cut once...etc. etc

But it didn't fit. I mean it did, but it was tight. It really required pushing and shoving to get it in and out. I almost thought to hell with it, it will work, but I know that once I got the plants in there and growing, it'd be a real bitch trying to pull that thing out to fuss with the plants. Water would be sloshing all around...it'd be a mess.

Soooooooo...I disassemble the drawer slide, take the shelf, shave a bit off the side, reinstall it. Nope. It's better, but still not good. I started sweating and damn near threw a temper tantrum like a two year old.

Whew. Step away from the cab. Step away from the cab. Up until now, this has been a fun, thought provoking process. Getting down to the nitty gritty, it's a bitch. This is really the only hard part, I'm envisioning and I suppose I'll be through with it in another half hour...

So just remember. Measure twice. And before cutting, measure again...or else you'll be frustrated as hell just like ol' Banjobrain here.

Over and out for now...

 

[FreezerBoy]

I started sweating and damn near threw a temper tantrum like a two year old.

Whew. Step away from the cab. Step away from the cab.

You are not alone. Not that I - koff koff - have ever had such problems -koff koff.

 

[banjobrain]

You are not alone. Not that I - koff koff - have ever had such problems -koff koff.

(picture me bowing deeply while saying the following in a most humble way)

Oh, great leader! Oh wise and benevolent master! It is not necessary to state that you have never had such problems. It is well understood by all of us that your greatness would never allow such problems to occur! May we bask in your wisdom and hope to rise up and achieve the wondrous heights that you have!

lol...

Anyways - Well, I finally got the shelf installed, and it works like a gem. Then I started dicking around with the lock. Ooooh. Temper tantrum #2.

Much chiseling and frustration got it in there and it works great. Then I tried to install the weather stripping. It's too fat! I've got to run out and get real thin weather stripping. I should be happy, though, as it's pretty damn tight without it. If it wasn't for the slight warping of the plywood it wouldn't even be necessary...

Anyways...that's all for today. I need to get out of the house and do something outside for a little bit. Enjoy the nice weather, you know?

Oh yes...much thanks, FreezerBoy for the PMs back and forth.
It's been real good exchanging messages with you. I'm learning alot and hope to be able to pass on the knowledge that was passed on to me!

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

Banjo, dude, I used the neoprene(sp) at first then I went with 3/8"X3/32" thick felt.

For my application it worked the best though I have a snug fitting door.

Good luck, I am watching.

minds_I

 

[Green Smoke]

I went with 3/8"X3/32" thick felt.

minds_I

Felt!!!! OMFG what a brilliant idea.

I'm soooo glad that I have held back on building my own cab so that I can absorb awesome ideas like this.

 

[K.J]

Hey Banjo, just hang in there. Don't take this wrong, but your last few posts had me laughing aloud. Not at you, but at the fact that what you posted so closely mirrored our experience. Just walk away from it for a while. Don't let the frustration lead you to do things like break shit (not that I've ever done that...nooo).

 

[banjobrain]

Hello all,

Banjo, dude, I used the neoprene(sp) at first then I went with 3/8"X3/32" thick felt.

For my application it worked the best though I have a snug fitting door.

Good luck, I am watching.

minds_I

Sweet. Felt sounds like a good idea. I did see that "Duck" brand makes weather stripping in various sizes...I think I'll hold off though until it's completely necessary. I'll keep y'all posted.

Hey Banjo, just hang in there. Don't take this wrong, but your last few posts had me laughing aloud. Not at you, but at the fact that what you posted so closely mirrored our experience. Just walk away from it for a while. Don't let the frustration lead you to do things like break shit (not that I've ever done that...nooo).

Hah! No offense taken at all, KJ! I'm glad my experiences were able to bring a few laughs to the table...Hell, I had to sit back and laugh myself this morning.

I looked at this fuckin' cab and thought to myself, "What a god damn monstrosity." All this in the name of rockin' a little reefer. Jeeezus.

Well, it's all good for now, I just need to figure out how to wire up these friggin vanity fixtures I've got, get me some net pots, rockwool, hydroton, pump, etc and I'll be ready to roll. I'll order those within the next day or two...have them in a week or so and be ready to germ!

The CFLs in the vanity fixture are only temporary. They'll get me through until I can order a 250w MH lamp with a HPS comversion bulb. I couldn't totally sell myself on the PL-L fixtures...yet. I may get a few of them in the future for the next grow to maximize my harvest, but for now, I'll just rock out with a 250w HID.
.
Hopefully by April 1, I'll be germinating, have plants sexed out my the 3rd week in April, select the best two, veg for however long (2-3 weeks???) and then ~60 days to harvest. If I'm lucky, I'll be able to have some plants harvested by July 1. We'll see! As soon I get germinating I'm going to start a grow diary...

That's all for now! See ya round

 

[toastfighter2]

Hey Banjo, I was reading your thread here, and from what I can see, you have your cab plans in lock down. My suggestion is merely directed at the stealth aspect of your grow, which may or may not help at this point. You should check into those prepaid debit cards/visa prepaid cards that they sell at, well almost everywhere now. If you pick one up and only use CASH(ie paper money) there is no real way to link it to you at all. I picked one up for use on Ebay, and the really great part about them is you if you only put as much as what your purchase's will total up to(remember to include taxes and postage), and if you end up getting ripped off, at least it won't be for thousands more than what you were willing to spend, and no fighting with the CC company to save your credit

 

[K.J]

I looked at this fuckin' cab and thought to myself, "What a god damn monstrosity." All this in the name of rockin' a little reefer. Jeeezus.

Another LOL moment, courtesy of the Banjo man. I can't tell you how many times I stepped back, looked at our mess, and said "this thing is a fucking monster".

I couldn't totally sell myself on the PL-L fixtures...yet. I may get a few of them in the future for the next grow to maximize my harvest, but for now, I'll just rock out with a 250w HID.

That's exactly what we intend to do, add PL-L's as supplementary lighting to both the veg and flower rooms (probably 2 tubes on each wall).