need ideas for super cheap hood
- Thread starter rocks
- Start date
I'm trying to think of things like the plastic they used in light fixtures in drop ceilings, or other things people have used to recycle scraps into something useful. it wouild be nice to see some of the home made hoods people have built, I'd be willing to bet many of them are built from recycled things most of us hadn't even thought of. In this hobby we use many things for purposes other than what they were meant for, we think outside the box. Its just that some people can't think so they resort to just being nasty.
Whatever material you use you would want it to be:
1) Reflective (wood unless painted is not reflective!)
2) Able to hold up in a wet/humid/moist environment (wood would not hold up well unless it was painted)
3) Able to hold up to a fair amount of heat and not melt or catch fire!
Cheap is not always best in the long run!
1) Reflective (wood unless painted is not reflective!)
2) Able to hold up in a wet/humid/moist environment (wood would not hold up well unless it was painted)
3) Able to hold up to a fair amount of heat and not melt or catch fire!
Cheap is not always best in the long run!
rocks - I am sorry if I offended you. I was just pointing out that wood is quite cheap and probably the best material for the job (thats why people use it) As far as my this may be the wrong hobby comment... Well this is not a cheap hobby as you may have noticed but i do appreciate trying to find cheaper alternatives in this hobby however wood is about the cheapest its gona get in many cases as far enclosure/hood fabrication in this hobby.
If you have access to a cheap or free source of plexiglass that can and has been used sucsessfully however it is not normaly cheap and harder to work with...
when one of my glass tops broke just went to lowes and got a piece of 18x24 piece of plexi-glass and cut to size, plexi bows as condensation builds though so get as thick as you can IMO, you can even install hinges and handles, I turned my broken glass top into a plexi with hinges and handle was $15.
you could also find a ppeice of scrapped glass and cut it to size, you can get a little glass cutter cheap, its actually a lot easier than you think, just be careful with the edges, steel wool will round the edges off nicely too
http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41996
100% reused materials and zero out of pocket (except for the lights).
Keep an eye on the free section of Craigslist.com for anything made of solid wood or whatever material you choose. I frequently build using free or inexpensive material.
100% reused materials and zero out of pocket (except for the lights).
Keep an eye on the free section of Craigslist.com for anything made of solid wood or whatever material you choose. I frequently build using free or inexpensive material.