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DIY: A new angle on light proof vents

StarFox

Member
really nice clone cab scrubs!.. btw definitely stealing the idea :)

way cheap alternative to commercial traps
 

KosmoKramer

Member
Just what I was looking for to block out the light on my new tent. Thinking of using some of that cheap plastic wood-looking trim. Se if I can find some larger sized corner trim to use. Lighter weight and should be able to cut with a razor knife.

Nice idea with the corner bead! I'm on it!
 

Arobskittle

New member
yeah i just did mine with the clear plastic corner guard and small strips of weather stripping for the spacers. I painted it first. this is the shit! thanks.
 

messn'n'gommin'

ember
Veteran
Just my :2cents: , but, for 3/4" angle, I would use 1/4" spacers.

Even then, 3/8" spacers might work. I would dry fit to check for light leaks before final assembly, though.

Arobskittle, has an inexpensive take on it, too!

hth
 
yeah i just did mine with the clear plastic corner guard and small strips of weather stripping for the spacers. I painted it first. this is the shit! thanks.


where can you buy the clear plastic corner gaurd? I want to make a design like this, but I dont have access to a tool that can cut the metal all i have is a circular saw and a drill. What else can i use as the angles that I can get at home depot guys?

any help would be great
 
Most home improvement stores will probably be your best bet and you can use light duty tin snips or heavy duty scissors.

thanks for the help, after wandering around home depot i found something that should work, i set it up today, glued it let it dry, tomorrow I'm building a frame for it then painting it black and then throwing it on my door.

ill post pictures of my finished creation later.


thanks for this wonderful thread and all the help/ideas that accompanied it, you guys truly are amazing
 
HA HA! I love other innovators I was just tinkering with an idea like this I and think a few of you just help with some missing pieces! I needed something like this as I'm highly restricted on space! I think I'll implement what I'll call the "stacked 'Z' channel" design with a few of my own tweaks. Thank you scrub for starting it off with your (I'll call it this) "stacked 'V' channel" design and spurring progress I feel as tho I could shake each of your hands and give out a round of hugs! (tho I'm far from touchy feely) Oh man it's off to 'tinkering' again I was blocked light like in your guys' traps til i saw it! :laughing:

Take care guys and grow safe!

-S.E.
:thank you:


P.S. loved the little vader bit too haha if only we didn't have to be ninjas in this culture!:jump:
 

ellingjs

New member
I hate to be a buzz kill on an excellent DIY thread... but whenever I get in this mode, I have learned that I need to take a step make and see what is out there, because most likely, I'm trying to reinvent the wheel.

I did just that... and here's what I came up with:

http://www.adorama.com/DKL8.html

Pre-fabbed 8"x 8" darkroom vent... now for me, I'd rather save the time, effort, frustration, and mess of cutting and painting the DIY version... that, at the end of it all, doesn't have a mounting flange.

However, in the DIY's defense... it is very scalable... If I had to make something larger than an 8" x 8"... then this method starts to be a whole lot more cost effective.

Just my $.02! ...rock on...
 

real ting

Member
The only problem is that for any serious air flow (read bigger than micro cab/rubbermaid size) you will need like 10 of those.
 

messn'n'gommin'

ember
Veteran
I hate to be a buzz kill on an excellent DIY thread... but whenever I get in this mode, I have learned that I need to take a step make and see what is out there, because most likely, I'm trying to reinvent the wheel.

I did just that... and here's what I came up with:

http://www.adorama.com/DKL8.html

Pre-fabbed 8"x 8" darkroom vent... now for me, I'd rather save the time, effort, frustration, and mess of cutting and painting the DIY version... that, at the end of it all, doesn't have a mounting flange.

However, in the DIY's defense... it is very scalable... If I had to make something larger than an 8" x 8"... then this method starts to be a whole lot more cost effective.

Just my $.02! ...rock on...

I can't speak for ScrubNinja, but, I don't think he was trying to reinvent the wheel. He did, however, put spinners on it! :jump:

With minimal tools, materials, expense, and expertise most anyone can light-proof their cab/closet/tent. The manufactured louvers are easy to install but they have their own limitations. Namely, area for air-flow. I installed three of the pre-fabbed 8"x8" before I found this thread and doubled my airflow with one DIY unit for about half-again the cost of a single Adorama DR louver and that was with more expensive aluminum stock. Arobskittle has an inexpensive take that can do the same for about the price (or less!) of one pre-fabbed unit.

Btw, I double checked and there is a simple to make frame and mounting flange for the DIY version.

@ jayww: Roughly 10.5 sq/in for an 8"x8".
 

jgrow

Member
how much would it affect the airflow if you put some breathable cloth of some sort over the outside of the vent to block the little amount of light thats getting in?
 

messn'n'gommin'

ember
Veteran
how much would it affect the airflow if you put some breathable cloth of some sort over the outside of the vent to block the little amount of light thats getting in?

Off the top of my head, I would think a lot! But, whether it's a pre-fab unit or a DIY one, done right, I wouldn't think you would need any.
 

prophecy

Member
Ok i've done it with cardboard....way more easier to do and we can make it a little bigger. Not to mention that its a lot more cheaper.

It work!! I took 8 inchs long piece of cardboard and bend them in half to make a 80 degree angle and proceed like in this thread.
 
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