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Google
DIY PVC Growlight Stand
+10
CindiLou
Megan
Goosegirl
Old Hippie
vinny09
kellyalley
BackyardBirdGardner
Lavender Debs
Blackrose
camprn
14 posters
Page 1 of 1
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Great link camprn. I came across this one the other day and sent it my hubby. Guess what he's building me for my seedlings!

Blackrose-
Posts : 710
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 50
Location : Aurora, Ontario, Zone 5a
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
The 2nd link didn't show for me BUT the first one was kewl!
Deborah....PVC is like tinker-toys for grown ups (does anyone actually remember tinker toys?)
Deborah....PVC is like tinker-toys for grown ups (does anyone actually remember tinker toys?)
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Lavender Debs wrote:PVC is like tinker-toys for grown ups (does anyone actually remember tinker toys?)
Couldn't agree more! Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys were mainstays in my childhood. Those, and the New Coke, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Bird vs Magic, Joe Montana, and parachute pants.

BackyardBirdGardner-
Posts : 2727
Join date : 2010-12-25
Age : 49
Location : St. Louis, MO
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
I totally remember tinker toys and they still sell them but I think they are plastic now. This is brilliant idea for seedling lighting. Someone in the comments mentioned warm and cool lights being the best for seedlings. Im a computer guy and know nothing of lighting. Can anyone expand on what the guy said? Im planning to build this stand and pick up the light fixture this weekend and I need to get the lights too.
kellyalley-
Posts : 11
Join date : 2011-01-19
Location : Fredericksburg, Virginia
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
BackyardBirdGardner wrote:Couldn't agree more! Lincoln Logs and Tinker Toys were mainstays in my childhood. Those, and the New Coke, Michael Jackson's Thriller, Bird vs Magic, Joe Montana, and parachute pants.
Oh boy! You just made me feel old! I remember all those things too.
May have to take a field trip to Home Depot with the kiddos to price these project.

Blackrose-
Posts : 710
Join date : 2010-03-21
Age : 50
Location : Aurora, Ontario, Zone 5a
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
His price may be pretty close....because of the fixture and bulb. I would just take his word on it. If I didn't already have my monstrosity, I would be popping two of these this weekend.
It's amazing what you can find if you google "sqaure foot garden trellis" or "square foot garden hoop house" or "square foot garden [whatever]". Then, click on the images tab and just browse through the pictures. No need to read useless articles covering things you already know. All you are doing is peeking in on some serious ingenuity. Clicking of videos can really chew up some boredome time if you want, too.
Most of the people I find at Wal-Mart aren't smart enough to put dirt in a box, but some of these people on youtube and in the images pages are super geniuses......it gives me hope after walking through Wally World...lol.
It's amazing what you can find if you google "sqaure foot garden trellis" or "square foot garden hoop house" or "square foot garden [whatever]". Then, click on the images tab and just browse through the pictures. No need to read useless articles covering things you already know. All you are doing is peeking in on some serious ingenuity. Clicking of videos can really chew up some boredome time if you want, too.
Most of the people I find at Wal-Mart aren't smart enough to put dirt in a box, but some of these people on youtube and in the images pages are super geniuses......it gives me hope after walking through Wally World...lol.
BackyardBirdGardner-
Posts : 2727
Join date : 2010-12-25
Age : 49
Location : St. Louis, MO
PVC Hoop House
I used your idea of googling square foot garden hoop house and found an article about a PVC hoop house that costs about $50 to make...heres the link...I figure it goes along with the thread of making pvc (insert stuff here)
$50 PVC HOOP HOUSE
Hey you can put your light stand in here
$50 PVC HOOP HOUSE
Hey you can put your light stand in here

kellyalley-
Posts : 11
Join date : 2011-01-19
Location : Fredericksburg, Virginia
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Thanks for the link! I like the adjustability of it! I went ultra low cost with mine. Similar set up, but used 1/2" electrical conduit PVC (cheaper than water PVC pipe) and used 90 degree connectors for "feet" rather than end caps. I also opted for the cheapest 4ft T12 two bulb lamp which happened to have the chain attachment at the ends of the lamp, so rather than use the 4ft crossbar to support the weight, I use the two vertical bars. So I adjust the height by moving the chain up the vertical bars using holes drilled every inch or so.
1 x 10ft 1/2" electrical conduit PVC: $0.99; cut to 1 x 50" piece, 2 x 21" pieces, 4 x 3.5" pieces
6 x 90 degree 1/2" schedule 40 PVC elbows: $1.20 ($0.20 ea)
2 x 1/2" schedule 40 T connectors: $0.54 ($0.27 ea)
1 x 3000K warm T12 bulb: $3.25
1 x 6500K cool T12 bulb: $3.25
1 x 4ft T12 fixture: $9.99
Total: ~$20
1 x 10ft 1/2" electrical conduit PVC: $0.99; cut to 1 x 50" piece, 2 x 21" pieces, 4 x 3.5" pieces
6 x 90 degree 1/2" schedule 40 PVC elbows: $1.20 ($0.20 ea)
2 x 1/2" schedule 40 T connectors: $0.54 ($0.27 ea)
1 x 3000K warm T12 bulb: $3.25
1 x 6500K cool T12 bulb: $3.25
1 x 4ft T12 fixture: $9.99
Total: ~$20
vinny09- Posts : 54
Join date : 2010-03-31
Location : CA
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
The new Tinker Toys are not very nice. Anybody remember Mechano Sets?
Gwynn
Gwynn
Old Hippie- Regional Hosts
-
Posts : 1156
Join date : 2010-08-12
Age : 72
Location : Canada 3b
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
I don't remember Mechano, but I had and Erecter Set - the metal straps with all the holes drilled in them and all the nuts and bolts to put them together into any shape and size. (I also had Lincoln Logs and original Hot Wheels). Anyone remember brunette Barbie - and before she was bendable?
Goosegirl-
Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 58
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Goosegirl wrote:Anyone remember brunette Barbie - and before she was bendable?
I do. I had one! It looked like it was from the 40's or 50's. Long gone.
@Vinny: I would love to see a photo of your setup!
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Now I know I am old! I had one of the first barbies lol...I was born in 1959!
I still have some of my first lincoln logs lol...and I continue to add to my collection because the grandkids love grandma's TOTES full of lincoln logs. They build whole cities with them!
I still have some of my first lincoln logs lol...and I continue to add to my collection because the grandkids love grandma's TOTES full of lincoln logs. They build whole cities with them!
CindiLou- Posts : 999
Join date : 2010-08-30
Age : 63
Location : South Central Iowa, Zone 5a (20mi dia area in 5b zone)rofl...
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Lavender Debs wrote:The 2nd link didn't show for me BUT the first one was kewl!
Deborah....PVC is like tinker-toys for grown ups (does anyone actually remember tinker toys?)
I couldn't agree more. That's some fun stuff to play around with.
My friend down the street made a very similar light stand last year (I think he even has the same diamond plate lamp) and uses it all of the time. Apparently it really helps the seedlings grow fast! I think I'll do one next year too.
Kabaju42-
Posts : 249
Join date : 2010-03-03
Location : Salt Lake City, UT
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Megan wrote:@Vinny: I would love to see a photo of your setup!


Sorry for the poor image quality. I think my iPhone may have some lint on the lens.
vinny09- Posts : 54
Join date : 2010-03-31
Location : CA
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Very nice! Much prettier than the hot mess I made, but then, I like
free..
I made mine out of scrap 2x3's and 2x4 I had leftover in my shop:

Next year, I think I'm going to buy one of these though, I've seen them in the hardare stores that are 48" wide:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_327517-986-9044_4294932521__?productId=3175533&Ntt=plastic+shelves&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl_Garage_4294932521__s%3FNs%3Dp_product_price|0%26Ntt%3Dplastic%2Bshelves
I figure I can hang a light under the top shelf for a tray and hang another under that shelf when I need to. I'm already running out of room on my tiny seed table!
free..

I made mine out of scrap 2x3's and 2x4 I had leftover in my shop:

Next year, I think I'm going to buy one of these though, I've seen them in the hardare stores that are 48" wide:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_327517-986-9044_4294932521__?productId=3175533&Ntt=plastic+shelves&Ns=p_product_price|0&pl=1¤tURL=%2Fpl_Garage_4294932521__s%3FNs%3Dp_product_price|0%26Ntt%3Dplastic%2Bshelves
I figure I can hang a light under the top shelf for a tray and hang another under that shelf when I need to. I'm already running out of room on my tiny seed table!
Glendale-gardener-
Posts : 293
Join date : 2011-03-10
Age : 48
Location : Cincinnati Zone 6A
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
My isn't pvc but it is recycled...well the cabinet was..lights from Menards. The middle shelf is smaller for germinating. The lower lights work like a heat matt...worked great again this year!


CindiLou- Posts : 999
Join date : 2010-08-30
Age : 63
Location : South Central Iowa, Zone 5a (20mi dia area in 5b zone)rofl...
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
That is great! I can't tell, are those open shelves? I might try to find some shelves at a garage sale or something this spring!
Glendale-gardener-
Posts : 293
Join date : 2011-03-10
Age : 48
Location : Cincinnati Zone 6A
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
Yup it was a set of unfinished wood shelves bought at a department store we had painted but were not using at the time. Hubby just adjusted them to allow for the smaller shelf and added and set the extra one in the back to use if I need to reconfigure. The top and bottom shelves are set for my houseplants and I just move everything around when I have seedlings on them. When the seedlings get bigger they go on a bakers rack in front of a south facing picture window and my house plants go back to their home spot.
The shelves are easy to adjust with predrilled holes. The set up has been fun to have. I have grown lettuce all winter last year. Just never got around to it this winter. With the price of lettuce now I better start some more! Teeny tiny head was $2.59 at Hy-Vee this week!
I keep my violet (first one that I ever kept alive) on the top shelf year round. An aloe vera, rosemary, ivy, and odds and ends in it in the winter.
It took him, at most, an hour to have it up and ready for me!
I do use stuff for lifts as you see! rofl...I like having the shelves further apart for taller plants sometimes.
The lights are on a surge protector which is on a timer. Lights on at 6am and off at 7:30 pm.
He added a 24inch two bulb shop light

Behind the light he put a section of flashing for reflection

The shelves are easy to adjust with predrilled holes. The set up has been fun to have. I have grown lettuce all winter last year. Just never got around to it this winter. With the price of lettuce now I better start some more! Teeny tiny head was $2.59 at Hy-Vee this week!
I keep my violet (first one that I ever kept alive) on the top shelf year round. An aloe vera, rosemary, ivy, and odds and ends in it in the winter.
It took him, at most, an hour to have it up and ready for me!
I do use stuff for lifts as you see! rofl...I like having the shelves further apart for taller plants sometimes.
The lights are on a surge protector which is on a timer. Lights on at 6am and off at 7:30 pm.
He added a 24inch two bulb shop light

Behind the light he put a section of flashing for reflection

CindiLou- Posts : 999
Join date : 2010-08-30
Age : 63
Location : South Central Iowa, Zone 5a (20mi dia area in 5b zone)rofl...
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
This is the seed starting station we made from cinder blocks and various widths of scrap wood.
From the floor, there is one cinderblock, then a shelf
Three cinderblocks then a shelf
Three cinder blocks then the top shelf
2 - 4 ft fluorescent shop lights. One cool and one warm bulb is in each shop light
The chains from the shop lights are attached to 1 inch screw in hooks, which makes the lights adjustable.
Because this set up is in the guest room, we were unable to get a straight on shot of the seedling station.
]

For the purposes of this photo, the top light is much farther away from the plants than I would normally set it.

The very top shelf (not shown in the second photo) is used for supplies and my Anasazi seeds germinating on wet paper towels
The upper shelf currently has seeds germinating in vermiculite and some of my tomato seedlings.
The lower shelf has artichokes, various varieties of peppers and eggplants.
The broccoli and broccliflower (green cauliflower) seedlings have been hardening off outdoors for five days and will go in the SFG in a day or two.
Furbalsmom-
Posts : 3141
Join date : 2010-06-10
Age : 76
Location : Coastal Oregon, Zone 9a, Heat Zone 2 :(
Re: DIY PVC Growlight Stand
FarmerValerie wrote:![]()
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I WANT ONE!!!
+1
Goosegirl-
Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 58
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD

» boffer...here is the starwberry stand I was telling you about
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» Cash from Square Foot Gardening question
» Folding plant stand
» Homemade Tiered Growing Stand
» Is there a veggie that you can't stand to eat?
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