Need help sizing up my DIY grow cabinet

[lightSeeker]

Friends, next month's it's going to be 2 years that I'm here amongst you.
I read a lot, learned a lot and finally I have space so will get to have my own grow going.
Extremely excited but now that it's crunch time also feeling bit lost!

Long story short, I need your guidance and help planning a grow cabinet.
Mainly, I need help deciding on dimensions and sections.

Here are my constraints and requirements:

Maximum depth: 2 ft (~60cm)
Maximum width: 3 ft (~90cm)
Maximum height: 7 ft if depth less than 2 ft, 6.5 ft if depth over 2 ft.

Cabinet needs to contain everything (so filter, fan and electric / electronic components will be inside).

Since I have limited depth & width compared to height, I think it would be a good idea to divide it into 3 sections:
- A seedling / cloning space
- Main grow space
- And a space for fan, filter and electronics.

I built my own LED lights. Large full spectrum. No problems there. Done it for friends on many occasions.
I will also install side LED lighting (unless you advise otherwise, of course!)

What would you advise me to do?
Should I take advantage of full space and go with above mentioned dimensions? (2x3x7)
How should I divide the cabinet into sections? I mean, how much vertical space should I allocate to seedling/cloning area for instance?
Is it a good idea to have side lighting?

It is 100% DIY so I can follow your advice to the T.

Many many thanks in advance. Appreciate all your help.

Cheers!

 

[013]

Hey Lightseeker,

Welcome to 420…. check your pm’s

 

[RetiredRN]

Friends, next month's it's going to be 2 years that I'm here amongst you.
I read a lot, learned a lot and finally I have space so will get to have my own grow going.
Extremely excited but now that it's crunch time also feeling bit lost!

Long story short, I need your guidance and help planning a grow cabinet.
Mainly, I need help deciding on dimensions and sections.

Here are my constraints and requirements:

Maximum depth: 2 ft (~60cm)
Maximum width: 3 ft (~90cm)
Maximum height: 7 ft if depth less than 2 ft, 6.5 ft if depth over 2 ft.

Cabinet needs to contain everything (so filter, fan and electric / electronic components will be inside).

Since I have limited depth & width compared to height, I think it would be a good idea to divide it into 3 sections:
- A seedling / cloning space
- Main grow space
- And a space for fan, filter and electronics.

I built my own LED lights. Large full spectrum. No problems there. Done it for friends on many occasions.
I will also install side LED lighting (unless you advise otherwise, of course!)

What would you advise me to do?
Should I take advantage of full space and go with above mentioned dimensions? (2x3x7)
How should I divide the cabinet into sections? I mean, how much vertical space should I allocate to seedling/cloning area for instance?
Is it a good idea to have side lighting?

It is 100% DIY so I can follow your advice to the T.

Many many thanks in advance. Appreciate all your help.

Cheers!

Go as big as you can. I would not install side lights. The plants still have to be a minimum space away from the light.

 

[Phytoplankton]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't see how you can really divide a space that small. You'll only need one set of lights, as far as vertical space, go as high as you can, you can use buckets or stands to put seedlings on. In a space that small you're talking 2-3 plants max. Do your cloning/seedling in another space.

 

[Azimuth]

Welcome lightSeeker.

You might think about adding a fourth space for drying, maybe a pull out drawer and have it use the air flow (and more importantly smell control) you're using for the rest of the cab. It needs to be dark, but you could lay the buds flat on a screen if you don't mind sacrificing bag appeal due to some flat sides. If you did that, you'd only need to sacrifice maybe 4-5 inches of height and you'd have a handy secure place to dry.

You could also go vertical if you'd rather hang them, but that would cut into the grow space more.

I first thought about building a custom cabinet like you're planning, but ended up getting a beautiful maple over/under TV cabinet off Craigslist for $20, so I retro fitted that.

My veg/cloning space maxes out at 18" high or so and, after deducting for the lights, it's pretty tight. I'd suggest going higher if you can. I wish mine were 24" or so.

 

[lightSeeker]

Hi friends,

Thank you for all your messages.

I did some thinking and I will build a 3 x 4 x 7 ft. cabinet instead of a smaller one.

From what I understand this will save me a lot of headache.

I love the idea of including a drying space but I will definitely build a 2nd space for seedlings and veg.

 

[cr8grow]

LightSeeker, I built a 3x3x6.5 ft. cabinet, now in my 6th grow. I run four 5 gallon pots and train to fill the canopy. I veg, flower, dry and cure in my cabinet, so each grow is sequential. In my current grow plants are about 24” high and my light is raised as high as it can go. I wouldn’t be able to partition off any more height for seedlings or clones. My build pics may give you some ideas. Good luck with your cabinet project.

 

[Azimuth]

Wow! Thats a beautiful build, Cr8.

 

[Rexer]

Just the member I was going to tag. @cr8grow has one of the nicest grow cabinets. Love his light baffle as well!

Also for more inspiration there is lots on here!
Thread 'DIY grow boxes, cabinets, tents: show 'em off!' DIY grow boxes, cabinets, tents: show 'em off!

 

[Nine Toed Hippie]

LightSeeker, I built a 3x3x6.5 ft. cabinet, now in my 6th grow. I run four 5 gallon pots and train to fill the canopy. I veg, flower, dry and cure in my cabinet, so each grow is sequential. In my current grow plants are about 24” high and my light is raised as high as it can go. I wouldn’t be able to partition off any more height for seedlings or clones. My build pics may give you some ideas. Good luck with your cabinet project.

That is artwork! Beautifully done. If you don’t mind me asking what did that cost material wise?

NTH

 

[cr8grow]

Wow! Thats a beautiful build, Cr8.

Thanks Azimuth, the crate is living up to original design expectations. Goal is 3/4 lb. dried cured bud each grow, 1/2 lb. if autos. I’m getting my organic soil grow dialed in. Cheers

 

[cr8grow]

Just the member I was going to tag. @cr8grow has one of the nicest grow cabinets. Love his light baffle as well!

Also for more inspiration there is lots on here!
Thread 'DIY grow boxes, cabinets, tents: show 'em off!' DIY grow boxes, cabinets, tents: show 'em off!

Rexer, good to hear from you. Cheers

 

[cr8grow]

That is artwork! Beautifully done. If you don’t mind me asking what did that cost material wise?

NTH

NTH…hard to say with inflated lumber prices. My pic of the plans should give a check list for estimating material costs. My guess all in including lumber, light, bulbs, fan, filter, primer, paint, caulk, etc., would be maybe $800 early 2019. Cheers