TechnoMage
Well-Known Member
Heres the new Clone/Veg cab I put together this weekend. For the past two years Ive been using two of these cabs for starting clones, vegging and keeping mothers. Each cab is 24 wide, 15 deep and 36 high. I use 54w compact T5s for bulbs and its cooled with PC fans.
![Loaded Cab 10-29-2007 6-27-47.JPG](/data/attachments/1252/1252005-3c90b532c346b8827693c3e03c6db3fb.jpg)
Its worked well but I had a few issues.
First a few caveats. The room these cabinets are in stays fairly cool so I dont need a lot of ventilation. I also dont need to worry about odor.
To keep things simple again I headed to Home Depot and picked up the following.
For tools I used
On with the show.
First pick shows the frame of the cabinet built before the back is attached. Door is to the side.
![01 Frame Built 9-3-2011 4-22-06 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251991-97e170c8ab4e19268c672ad69803d11a.jpg)
Here Ive attached the plywood back. I prefer to use ¾ plywood instead of the flimsy back the cabinet comes with to give it extra stability. I sometime have to move the cabinets around and this makes sure they stay in one piece.
![02 New back 9-3-2011 6-35-23 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251995-82f30f0c98f9f310cff19541e4c3e309.jpg)
Heres a shot from the inside. I painted the inside of the back before I attached it.
![03a Attached painted back 9-3-2011 6-55-14 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251985-0b544a8c4f1ce77624bb66766011a77c.jpg)
I then painted the inside of the cabinet and let it dry overnight so sawdust wouldn't stick when I start cutting all my holes.
This pic shows my passive intake holes cut.
![04 Passive vent holes cut 9-4-2011 7-19-57 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251994-210a01576cf272d39b1a324b52477df3.jpg)
And now Ive cut the exhaust holes for the fans
![05 Exhaust holes cut 9-4-2011 7-37-46 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251990-0a0dccd56d8e31284ff3f79f6243c514.jpg)
Heres what it looks like from the inside. I've also installed one of the adjustable shelves. By design there's supposed to be a fixed shelf installed but I didn't like it's placement so I left it out.
![06 Exhaust holes cut inside 9-4-2011 7-38-02 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251983-c33635778916b20d91b72005e7dfc895.jpg)
Time to start finishing up. Here Ive got the fans mounted, holes cut for the lighting wires to run and attached the register vent filters over the passive intakes. I just used some packing tape to attach the filters.
![07 Intake filters 9-4-2011 10-09-31 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251987-ed4a4031da7905830514935c1e5cd830.jpg)
Heres a closer shot of the fans, filter for the upper portion and the holes for the lighting cords.
![13 Wire holes 9-4-2011 10-09-40 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251988-8b8b9f0892d84382fe2ee9188a68c526.jpg)
From the outside with the door closed
![08 Door closed 9-4-2011 10-39-45 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251992-207731efa06d049745aee9042334555c.jpg)
From the back
![12 From the back 9-4-2011 10-41-39 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251993-169d7a63f586486ffa08f448d890df0f.jpg)
From this inside with all the lights installed and my clone starter tray/dome for scale.
![09 Door open 9-4-2011 10-40-04 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251989-d445c7e879c17426e3e7669a48a4c457.jpg)
Shot of the clone starting area. As you can see, my new T5 fixture was a very tight fit.
![10 Clone area 9-4-2011 10-40-21 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251984-7cbee033535d4f577b9cbe0dc0f09053.jpg)
Shot of the vegging area
![11 Veg area 9-4-2011 10-40-31 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251986-dde7d4c89263181f0b5b20d7e90b97ae.jpg)
![Loaded Cab 10-29-2007 6-27-47.JPG](/data/attachments/1252/1252005-3c90b532c346b8827693c3e03c6db3fb.jpg)
Its worked well but I had a few issues.
- With only two cabs and it being used for three things, I was having to move things around a lot.
- I love the 54w compact T5s for vegging but even one of the bulbs is overkill for starting clones and mothers.
- I didnt have much vertical space for vegging. Hasnt been a problem since I dont have a lot of vertical space in my flower cab but I plan on getting a second flower cab with more vertical space which means I needed a taller vegging area.
First a few caveats. The room these cabinets are in stays fairly cool so I dont need a lot of ventilation. I also dont need to worry about odor.
To keep things simple again I headed to Home Depot and picked up the following.
- 24x15x72 pre-fab cabinet
- A sheet of ¾ plywood cut vertically
- Register vent filters
- Gallon of flat white paint
- 2 foot, 2x14w T5 light fixture
For tools I used
- Circular saw
- Drill, bits and hole cutter
- Screwdriver
On with the show.
First pick shows the frame of the cabinet built before the back is attached. Door is to the side.
![01 Frame Built 9-3-2011 4-22-06 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251991-97e170c8ab4e19268c672ad69803d11a.jpg)
Here Ive attached the plywood back. I prefer to use ¾ plywood instead of the flimsy back the cabinet comes with to give it extra stability. I sometime have to move the cabinets around and this makes sure they stay in one piece.
![02 New back 9-3-2011 6-35-23 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251995-82f30f0c98f9f310cff19541e4c3e309.jpg)
Heres a shot from the inside. I painted the inside of the back before I attached it.
![03a Attached painted back 9-3-2011 6-55-14 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251985-0b544a8c4f1ce77624bb66766011a77c.jpg)
I then painted the inside of the cabinet and let it dry overnight so sawdust wouldn't stick when I start cutting all my holes.
This pic shows my passive intake holes cut.
![04 Passive vent holes cut 9-4-2011 7-19-57 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251994-210a01576cf272d39b1a324b52477df3.jpg)
And now Ive cut the exhaust holes for the fans
![05 Exhaust holes cut 9-4-2011 7-37-46 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251990-0a0dccd56d8e31284ff3f79f6243c514.jpg)
Heres what it looks like from the inside. I've also installed one of the adjustable shelves. By design there's supposed to be a fixed shelf installed but I didn't like it's placement so I left it out.
![06 Exhaust holes cut inside 9-4-2011 7-38-02 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251983-c33635778916b20d91b72005e7dfc895.jpg)
Time to start finishing up. Here Ive got the fans mounted, holes cut for the lighting wires to run and attached the register vent filters over the passive intakes. I just used some packing tape to attach the filters.
![07 Intake filters 9-4-2011 10-09-31 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251987-ed4a4031da7905830514935c1e5cd830.jpg)
Heres a closer shot of the fans, filter for the upper portion and the holes for the lighting cords.
![13 Wire holes 9-4-2011 10-09-40 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251988-8b8b9f0892d84382fe2ee9188a68c526.jpg)
From the outside with the door closed
![08 Door closed 9-4-2011 10-39-45 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251992-207731efa06d049745aee9042334555c.jpg)
From the back
![12 From the back 9-4-2011 10-41-39 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251993-169d7a63f586486ffa08f448d890df0f.jpg)
From this inside with all the lights installed and my clone starter tray/dome for scale.
![09 Door open 9-4-2011 10-40-04 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251989-d445c7e879c17426e3e7669a48a4c457.jpg)
Shot of the clone starting area. As you can see, my new T5 fixture was a very tight fit.
![10 Clone area 9-4-2011 10-40-21 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251984-7cbee033535d4f577b9cbe0dc0f09053.jpg)
Shot of the vegging area
![11 Veg area 9-4-2011 10-40-31 PM.jpg](/data/attachments/1251/1251986-dde7d4c89263181f0b5b20d7e90b97ae.jpg)