Part 1 of 2
Well, seeing the prices of air cooled hoods on some websites ($170, wtfomgbbq!!1) I decided to build my own. It's not yet completed as I've been working alot these last couple days but I'll give you the general idea and parts needed. This is definately not step by step, but again, use it to modify your own ideas. This isn't for the layman, or noobs. It's for the DIY-selfer.
Using my razr for pics. Lets see how they turn out.
Material needed: (all parts can be aquired at the depo of home or lowes etc, except the glass. I'll explain in a bit)
Sheet Metal (Available at home depot, lowes, any heating & cooling distributer) Depending on size of reflector needed. Mine is quite large, housing a 1000 watt HID. I bought about a 4' x 4' square that was rolled up for me. I had extra, so take your best guess, or buy a 4' x 4' square.
Sheet metal screws I used 1 inch sheet metal screws. Any size close enough will work. Grab 20 or so.
Needle nose pliers Most people don't have sheet metal bending tools lying around but these work just nicely.
Metal hanging wire Just plain old metal hanging wire, the same kind they use for hanging hangdrop ceilings. I got mine at the dollar store.
Glass This is a bit tricky. But not as you may think. Where to find a piece of glass that is going to fit the hood perfectly? Well I found the answer. Have one made! I went to the nearest glass shop. (If you live in a city with more then 15-20k people, you will have one within 15 miles, look in the phone book under glass) It cost me $12.99 for a custom cut 1'10" x 15" piece of 1/8th inch thick piece of glass.
Aluminum Tape This is really reflective tape meant for use on furnaces to keep the plenum and other ducting air tight. Alot of people here alrdy use the stuff. It's not cheap for tape, but this stuff rocks. I always have 2 rolls on hand, it can be used for anything.
Sheet metal Sheers Home depo or Lowes carry this, can get a pair for under $4. Or if you prefer, electric sheet metal sheers for $35.
I started by cutting a rectangle piece of of sheet metal out that I bent into a pyramid shape.
You will see that I cut the pyramid in half, not only that but I cut one half larger then the other so I could bend a flange with my needle nose pliers to screw the two halves together. Once that is done, you will need to bend the bottom of each end (about 1/4 of an inch) up. This is what is going to hold the glass.
Next, you need to cap both ends. Measure 2 triangles out, (taking measurements from each end of your previously bent duct) then add 1/2 an inch to your measurements to add for a flange that will need bent to cap each end like so:
Be careful because sheet metal can be very sharp. If you've never worked with before, I suggest wearing gloves or something.
Now it's gonna start to look like a hood. Ghetto as it is, once finished, will work as good as any of those over priced $150+ hoods.
The aluminum tape will be used to tape up and make airproof all joints and connections. Holes will be cut into the triangle caps for ducting and the light will be hung on one side. As I said before, I wasn't finished yet and look for part two which will be up tuesday night. (I have tuesday off, and expect to finish this then.) This is what mine looks like now, I added the small duct pipe for effect. I'm actually going to be using a larger 4 inch (possibily 6 inch).
Oh, when making your cap, try and leave a little extra flap at the tops so you can drill a hole through each end to put metal hanging wire to suspend your new light like so:
Overall the project has cost me a total of $25. Not bad eh...
I don't see to many traditional air cooled reflector style hood tutorials. All I see are the glass tube cheapo ones and decided help out for once. I will repeat though, this is definately not for a noob or someone who has no imagination. Only DIYselfers need try this.
Leeroy Jenkins rules you. Nuff Said.
Well, seeing the prices of air cooled hoods on some websites ($170, wtfomgbbq!!1) I decided to build my own. It's not yet completed as I've been working alot these last couple days but I'll give you the general idea and parts needed. This is definately not step by step, but again, use it to modify your own ideas. This isn't for the layman, or noobs. It's for the DIY-selfer.
Using my razr for pics. Lets see how they turn out.
Material needed: (all parts can be aquired at the depo of home or lowes etc, except the glass. I'll explain in a bit)
Sheet Metal (Available at home depot, lowes, any heating & cooling distributer) Depending on size of reflector needed. Mine is quite large, housing a 1000 watt HID. I bought about a 4' x 4' square that was rolled up for me. I had extra, so take your best guess, or buy a 4' x 4' square.
Sheet metal screws I used 1 inch sheet metal screws. Any size close enough will work. Grab 20 or so.
Needle nose pliers Most people don't have sheet metal bending tools lying around but these work just nicely.
Metal hanging wire Just plain old metal hanging wire, the same kind they use for hanging hangdrop ceilings. I got mine at the dollar store.
Glass This is a bit tricky. But not as you may think. Where to find a piece of glass that is going to fit the hood perfectly? Well I found the answer. Have one made! I went to the nearest glass shop. (If you live in a city with more then 15-20k people, you will have one within 15 miles, look in the phone book under glass) It cost me $12.99 for a custom cut 1'10" x 15" piece of 1/8th inch thick piece of glass.
Aluminum Tape This is really reflective tape meant for use on furnaces to keep the plenum and other ducting air tight. Alot of people here alrdy use the stuff. It's not cheap for tape, but this stuff rocks. I always have 2 rolls on hand, it can be used for anything.
Sheet metal Sheers Home depo or Lowes carry this, can get a pair for under $4. Or if you prefer, electric sheet metal sheers for $35.
I started by cutting a rectangle piece of of sheet metal out that I bent into a pyramid shape.
You will see that I cut the pyramid in half, not only that but I cut one half larger then the other so I could bend a flange with my needle nose pliers to screw the two halves together. Once that is done, you will need to bend the bottom of each end (about 1/4 of an inch) up. This is what is going to hold the glass.
Next, you need to cap both ends. Measure 2 triangles out, (taking measurements from each end of your previously bent duct) then add 1/2 an inch to your measurements to add for a flange that will need bent to cap each end like so:
Be careful because sheet metal can be very sharp. If you've never worked with before, I suggest wearing gloves or something.
Now it's gonna start to look like a hood. Ghetto as it is, once finished, will work as good as any of those over priced $150+ hoods.
The aluminum tape will be used to tape up and make airproof all joints and connections. Holes will be cut into the triangle caps for ducting and the light will be hung on one side. As I said before, I wasn't finished yet and look for part two which will be up tuesday night. (I have tuesday off, and expect to finish this then.) This is what mine looks like now, I added the small duct pipe for effect. I'm actually going to be using a larger 4 inch (possibily 6 inch).
Oh, when making your cap, try and leave a little extra flap at the tops so you can drill a hole through each end to put metal hanging wire to suspend your new light like so:
Overall the project has cost me a total of $25. Not bad eh...
I don't see to many traditional air cooled reflector style hood tutorials. All I see are the glass tube cheapo ones and decided help out for once. I will repeat though, this is definately not for a noob or someone who has no imagination. Only DIYselfers need try this.
Leeroy Jenkins rules you. Nuff Said.
