Stealth File Cabinet Indoor Soil Grow Box

[concreteguy]

Hello all,

Just wanted to share some pictures of a little project that I started about 8 years ago with this small Fire Fighters utility box. Fan in and fan out with an adjustable light table and some CFL lights. I was able to produce a little, but it was more of a fun, minimal effort project than anything.
I tried to build my own carbon scrubber to eliminate odour but my environment was too dusty and it caused me issues.


This box now serves as a nice little clone box where smell is of no concern to me.
I immediately started figuring out to build an actual true stealth box.
More pictures to come.

 

[firetech89]

Looking forward to seeing the new setup. i have a basic cab. nothing fully stealth but does the job.

 

[ReikoX]

What size filing cabinet are you thinking about? Lighting? Have you seen my filing cabinet, it may give you some ideas. There was another filing cabinet thread here a while ago that may also give you some ideas. Is this going to be the next PC grow club?


This should be a good show.

 

[firetech89]

What size filing cabinet are you thinking about? Lighting? Have you seen my filing cabinet, it may give you some ideas. There was another filing cabinet thread here a while ago that may also give you some ideas. Is this going to be the next PC grow club?


This should be a good show.

I guess I got to get building a PC. Maybe use those small led with driver setup.

 

[concreteguy]

Contruction of the new cabinet begins

Contruction of the new cabinet begins


I attached heavy duty wheels on the bottom ( 2 wheels had locks on them, but on a hard floor surface, they were not good enough to stop the box from sliding while the door is being opened) to allow both movement of the box and airflow in around the outside edges. The screen just helps stop any large dust particles from getting in.

 

[concreteguy]

Intake air filter and light bender

Intake air filter and light bender

The fresh air enters in from around the outside of the box through a simple light bender. (If the box was sat on any type of rug, this system may not have worked as well. Perhaps another hole out the lower back of the box would have been better to allow the fresh air in.)
https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=353494
Air runs through a small furnace filter (10x20x1) and into the grow area.

 

[concreteguy]

Puttin together the main box

Puttin together the main box

The back panel shows an output air vent that allows the filtered air back into the room.

3/4" Maple plywood was used through out. Painted white through out the inside


The top area of the box was designed to allow access to plugs and wiring etc through a secret access panel on the top. the back section of the top is the output area for the carbon scrubbed air. There is also a light bender there that prevents light escaping out the back

 

[MileHighGlass]

This is sweet

 

[concreteguy]

Fan and carbon scrubber install

Fan and carbon scrubber install

https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=353356
An inline duct fan is all the air flow I need for in and out

https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=353559 https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=353500
One of the most important things in a "stealth" grow box is the elimination of any potential odor. This replaceable carbon filter was around a $100 and is 100% effective. In my application the furnace filter on the air intake was key in prolonging the life of the carbon scrubber.

 

[chronosync]

What I can see looks great. I can't see all the pictures though.

 

[concreteguy]

Lights and air filters

Lights and air filters

Because of heat concerns, I chose this Sun System Grow light.
At 150 watts, this light is more than I need for growing but, with out the crazy heat that can be produced by other "better" lights


Here you can see the bottom of the box where filtered air enters in. 2 small fans (added later) will provide air movement through out the box, then it goes through the scrubber and exits out the top back of the box

 

[concreteguy]

Show me the stealth part

Show me the stealth part

Ok, with the general box shape already taking place, it was time to start on the Stealth part. In my mind, you have to first control the potential odor (if you are concerned about that) and you also have to have something that no one would ever expect had a grow operation in it.


The front of the box is where I access everything. Building the door was a lot of work and I likely used wood panels that were too heavy. Ensuring the hinge system was strong enough was really important.

Here the design of the cabinet front starts to take place with the "drawers and doors" being attached to the actual door.

 

[concreteguy]

Crap. Are the pictures not showing up at all? or just some of them? Which ones cant you see?

 

[concreteguy]

Haning the front door

Haning the front door

The front of the box appears to be a regular file cabinet but it is a false front. Keyed locks were added for show but the one on the right hand side does actually works to lock the cabinet.



Here with the front door closed you finally see the finished outside.

https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=353576

 

[concreteguy]

Final touches

Final touches

https://www.icmag.com/ic/attachment.php?attachmentid=353571
The door closes and latches in top and bottom to hold it tight and not allow light or odor to sneak out.



A couple of computer fans help with air flow inside.


My floor was incredibly uneven so I had to temporarily add a sheet of plywood underneath to allow the door to open freely.

Aaaaaaaaand, BAM!

 

[chronosync]

Okay! Now I see em all. Nice journal and photos! The cabinet looks great! Stealthy and stylish. Great design, thanks for sharing. I can't wait to see it fill up

 

[herogrow]

Can you show the exhaust fan you have connected to the carbon filter? model / type

 

[Dion]

 

[jaayjaay]

Would love to see more of the build!

 

[RoostaPhish]

Looks nice i have made similar before. I would have went with a fixture that is flanged and an inline carbon filter for better heat control. But that's just me. Looks great none the less.