Hi from a new member in the midwest

[justatypn]

Aboard glad you found the OB with your great setup should help those "inquiring minds"

Your basement ideas sounds great but my fear is mildew from all the moisture, now this might be stupid from a Fl girl but aren't basements normally humid and with the additional watering and such in my book would equal mold and mildew

Glad you found us...

[Ross]

[QUOTE=justatypn;53167but aren't basements normally humid and with the additional watering and such in my book would equal mold and mildew [/QUOTE]

Cheryl, not here in most of midwest. Mine runs approx 50% in summer (damp season) and down to 20% or lower in winter. Not sure about John's, but I'm sure he has it covered.

[John]

Hi Cheryl, It's great to have you join us. You had a very good question. In my basement I have a dehumidifier running so the humidity is about 40% and the temp is around 70F. Inside the orchid room there is a humidifier running and the trays add to that so the humidity is right now 58% at 78F. When I water or at night when the temp in the room drops (even in the summer the temp will drop into the 60's) the humidity goes up to 80+ %. When I built the room, I lined it with plastic under the drywall so the moisture tends to stay in. I also have two MH/HPS light units that I have vented to the outside. The venting fan pulls air from the basement area which helps change the air there and it helps to keep the moisture down. If I have to spray insecticide in the plant room, I can disconnect the ducting from the basement and it draws from the plant room and takes the insecticide smell out. What I really like is the temp difference. I don't have proof but I almost feel that temp diff is more important (to an extent) than light levels. I have a friend who grows in a greenhouse not too far from here and he lamented one day that he could not get Den nobile to grow or bloom in his greenhouse. I have at least six that love my setup and bloom profusely.

Ross...back to our disscussion on the trays. I have included a few pictures for you to look at. One is a wood block that I cut a slot in to hold the plastic side straight while gluing. The slot was just a little less than the height of the side so clamping it puts pressure on the side. The next shows how I clamp the side to the bottom (there will be a clamp about every three inches and a wood block every foot or so). There is a picture on the drain reinforcement and one showing braces in the middle of the tray to help support the egg crate and sides. Where I live there are several plastic supply houses where you can purchase the PVC sheets. Most will cut it to your dimensions. I used a table saw with a sharp carbide blade and a power mitre box saw. I would glue the sides first, one at a time. Then the ends, using a long clamp in addition to the other clamps to pull the corners tight. When everything was glued, I would go back and recoat the seams with cement and then test it with water when the glue was dry. Because this is PVC, you can use the same PVC cement used for plumbing. I try to get either regular or medium cement. When I started I sanded the saw marks smooth on the edges to be glued but soon discovered that it is not needed. I have made twenty trays this way so far. Let me know what doesn't make sense. By the way, has anyone mentioned that if you are working under the high output lamps it may be a good idea to wear a hat. I always try to when I'm in my room.

John

[Ross]

Originally Posted by John

Let me know what doesn't make sense.
John

John, It all makes total sense and I thank you for your help and sticking with me, so far. What I am lacking is a source of product. You say you have sources nearby. Can you steer me to one on web? I am pretty savvy in construction and woodworking so that doesn't scare me. I just need a source or product.

Ross

[John]

Hi Ross...I called Rockford Central Plastics in Rockford today and the owner Danni said she would be glad to ship to you. She was telling me that she has other customers in Mich also. The product is called Sintra expanded foam PVC. A 1/4" 4x8 sheet in white was quoted to me at $58.86 and the same in grey was $70.00-go figure. A sheet weighs about 28lb. She can also cut the sheet to your specs. Any trouble let me know and I will help.
I saw your web site last night, Very very nice. Maybe you can give me tips on photography.

John

[Ross]

John, did you check out our photography forum area? I started a thread on tips here http://www.orchidboard.com/community...ts-thread.html

Thanks for the help with the PVC. I plan to start design on a custom drain pan for my box-bay window grow area. I just have to figure out the drain. This one is upstairs and should be easier to drain directly outside.



The box-bay is canti-levered outside and has a floor where I could run a drain, maybe. Or maybe I'll rebuild the window section, while giving me a bit more space and build in a drain? I gotta think about this one!

[John]

Boy Ross that was a quick reply. I haven't checked out the other forum yet but I will. I will try to send an email to your personal address with my phone number and email address in case you need to contact me outside of the board. I also have equipment to cut the plastic if you need me to it's just that shipping will be harder for me than them.

John