I got the instructions for this plant stand off the Internet but didn't make note of where, so I can't give credit. I will say that it was inexpensive and easy to make and, after two years of using it, I can vouch that it works great. The only thing I did wrong is that I only made one!
Grow Light Stand
The list of things you'll need:
•
48" Fluorescent twin-bulb shoplight fixture with recommended bulbs (1).
(BTW, I chose one with a metal surface that would reflect more light (and because it looked cool!)
(BTW, I chose one with a metal surface that would reflect more light (and because it looked cool!)
•
10-foot length of 1 1/4" (1.25) PVC tubing (2)
•
Two 2-foot (24") pieces of 1" PVC tubing (3)
•
Two 1 1/4" (1.25) "Tee" PVC connectors (4)
•
Two 1 1/4" (1.25) 90-degree "elbow" PVC connectors (5)
•
Four 1 1/4" (1.25) PVC end caps (6)
•
Two lag bolts or equivalent, and their accompanying nuts. I would recommend
1/4" diameter by 3" bolts
•
Pack of two 1/4" x 4" "eye hooks" and their accompanying
nuts.
•
Pack of two 1" "S-hooks"
•
Drill and assortment of drill bits
•
Hacksaw or PVC cutting tool
•
Tape measure
•
PVC cement
•
Pen or permanent marker
•
Timer
Skill Level:
Easy
to intermediate, depending on your craft and cutting skills.
Construction:
1.
Gather all of the needed parts and tools (Photo A).
2.
Cut a length of the 1 1/4" PVC tubing long enough to go beyond the length
of your fluorescent light fixture. For the 4-foot fixture, I cut a piece about
55". Then glue one of the elbow connectors to each end. You now have the
"top support bar" completed (Photo B).
3.
Cut 4 equal lengths of the 1 1/4" PVC tubing to serve as support
"legs". These can be whatever length you wish, but I wouldn't go any
shorter than 8". I cut mine to 10" (Photo C).
4.
Take two of those 4 equal length pieces and glue them to the Tee connector.
Then glue two of the 4 end caps to that. You have now finished one of the
"leg stands". Repeat this step for the second leg stand (Photo
D).
5.
Cut 2 more equal lengths of the 1 1/4" PVC tubing, and glue into the ends
of the "top support bar" you finished in STEP #2. I made mine about 2
1/2" (2.5), but that length can be between 2-6" (Photo
E).
6.
Cut 2 more equal lengths (again) of the 1 1/4" PVC tubing to serve as the
"risers" coming up from the leg stands. These can again be whatever
length you wish. I made mine about 6". These pieces are one of the two
pieces that will raise and lower the light fixture(Photo
F).
Yep,
that's right! This baby is adjustable. Not the fancy mechanism that the more
expensive commercial ones have, but it will do the job. Here's how it happens:
7.
Insert one of the 1" PVC tubing pieces into the "leg stands" you
finished in STEP 4. This is the other piece that will determine how tall your
light fixture is raised. Drill a hole into BOTH the outer 1 1/4" AND the
inner 1" pieces of PVC tubing. The hole diameter should be wide enough to
allow the adjustment bolts to go in and out of the hole easily. Repeat this for
the other side (Photo G).
This is the lowest point that the light fixture will be, so keep that in mind. Remember to compensate for the height of your seed trays. Yes, you can also adjust the chains on the light fixture, but this way is easier.
This is the lowest point that the light fixture will be, so keep that in mind. Remember to compensate for the height of your seed trays. Yes, you can also adjust the chains on the light fixture, but this way is easier.
8.
Take both of the 1" PVC pieces out, and mark 4-5 points, in 1"
increments, to the LEFT of the hole that you previously drilled. These will be
the different positions you can raise the light fixture with (Photo
H).
9.
Using the pen marks as a guide, drill the other holes. If you put the piece
with the holes back into the base, you can now see how the fixture will be
raised and lowered (Photo I).
10.
Put the top support bar onto the two leg pieces and you're almost finished (Photo
J).
11.
Drill two holes, at equal distance from each side, on the top of the support
bar. Put in the eye hooks, "hole" in bottom. These will connect to
the chains provided by the light fixture(Photo K).
12.
Unpackage your light fixture and attach the support chains to the eye hooks on
the PVC support.
Note: I had to cut one of the included chains and use each half because they were too long. So you might have to adjust yours as well. If all the adjustments are good, install the bulbs in the fixture (Photo L).
Note: I had to cut one of the included chains and use each half because they were too long. So you might have to adjust yours as well. If all the adjustments are good, install the bulbs in the fixture (Photo L).
At
this point my friends, you're pretty much done. Plug it in, attach an optional
(but highly recommended) timer to it, and you're ready to go.
So
go forth and let your seedlings "see the light"
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