Dons diy project

[Pbrown3701]

i've always had good results with DW....but most of my stuff was bought before they were bought out by Black and Decker...

Their new Li Ion stuff is really nice though (if you have unlimited funds). My company works with the manufacturer of their batteries and they have a great new technology using phosphates... A123 if you're interested

 

[Donw]

Dewalt used to be a good contractor grade, but since they moved to the consumer market they like bosch, makita, MW and a few other have gone down hill. I say use what works and what youve had good luck with. We all have had different experiences with different tool makers. I love PC and some folks hate them.

My new found love is FesTool and I'll be completely retooling over time with their tools.
I already have two of their saws and youd be hard pressed to find anything that even comes close.

Don

 

[woz9683]

That's funny, I was just looking at some of their stuff in a new Rockler catalog last night. It does look pretty nice.

 

[Donw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10799607#post10799607 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by woz9683
That's funny, I was just looking at some of their stuff in a new Rockler catalog last night. It does look pretty nice.

Find a local dealer. Ask to demo one of the saws and a router. For giggles demo it with mdf and the dust collector.
I guarantee you will be very impressed and wont have any sawdust on you. The ramping motors are so cool unlike any other tool youve ever used.
I sold my huge panel saw in exchange for the two models of circular saws. A ten year old can square up a 8f sheet of plywood with 0 tearout.

Don

 

[Milleme]

But can a ten year old afford one ?

 

[Donw]

Well KRAP!! Ive had my light running three days now. All I can say is Hello lights DE retrofit reflectors are garbage. They make two beams of light with a dark spot right in the middle and their only 18". The light has to be 24" high above the water so that the dark spot isnt visible in the water. What a joke they have about 12" of spread and their 11" long. My old garbage pfo's with wore out bulbs work better.

Don

 

[jnarowe]

bummer. the only DIY retro-fit I have done is my 4' NO's with Ice Cap end caps and over driven by an Ice Cap 660. Works great but I think th eparts were a bit more expensive than Hello Lights.

 

[Donw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10802613#post10802613 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
bummer. the only DIY retro-fit I have done is my 4' NO's with Ice Cap end caps and over driven by an Ice Cap 660. Works great but I think th eparts were a bit more expensive than Hello Lights.

I should have done more research. Heck I should have just mounted de sockets in my big gigas shell halves. That was my first idea but I didnt think It would work so I went with the hello lights.

 

[jnarowe]

:lol: You know Custom Aquatic has a really nice selection of DIY lighting stuff at great prices. You can also check out Property Room. That's where I got my Diamond reflectors for like $40...

 

[Pbrown3701]

again, i've use hello lights DIY DE reflectors and i think they're great. To each his own i guess Good luck finding some replacements

 

[erics3000]

There reflectors look cheap. I would have figured you would have made your own. There is a bunch of diy out there.

I forgot that site J. I never booked it when you posted it on another thread way back. I am marking it now.

 

[jnarowe]

yeah, it's hit & miss, but there is good stuff sometimes. I oftened wondered about all the bicycles and then an ATF guy told me that is because of all the drug runners using bikes to make their deliveries.

 

[Donw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10803550#post10803550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
There reflectors look cheap. I would have figured you would have made your own. There is a bunch of diy out there.

They are about as good as the average diy. We hung one next to a luminarc, dont know what model 14" black one. The difference was ammazing. Ive got alot of work into the light so need to make up my mind wether of not to scrap it or just deal with it. Its still a reef tank irregardless of how fancy the stand is and I want it to look good uner the water also. The tank is only going to be 14" deep so it doesnt need alot. They may be fine lifted up high, lighting is something I never took the time to learn about.

Don

 

[BeanAnimal]

Reflectors make all the difference in the world. A good 150W bulb and proper reflecotr can easily outperform a 400W bulb and a crappy reflector

Do you know anybody with an apogee par meter? You could get some readings and see where you are at.

 

[medic29]

Luminarc reflectors are probably one of the best out there now. If you can possibly fit them, either the full size or the mini's you would be better off. We checked the par between some of the popular reflectors we were using vs. the luminarc and the difference was amazing, the par was about 6-7 times the difference.

 

[Donw]

If I change reflectors there is no way I could fit them in the half circle fixture I made. I could easily make the luminarcs look nice with just lifted panels.
While doing some research this morning, I'm seeing alot of t-5 stuff. Can t-5 be mounted 12 to 14" over the water on a 14" deep tank?

Don

 

[JCTewks]

T5's are best mounted close to the water surface. I'm sure you could mount them high, but you'll lose some PAR doing it that way. If you put enough T5's over it to compensate for light lost you should be fine.

 

[erics3000]

What are the measurements of the new tank you are building?

 

[medic29]

The wierd things you think about when you are lying in bed sleeping....

Probably the best thing you could do for this new system is modify your design to allow you to use the Luminarc reflectors. In my experience, adding these reflectors to my setup has made the biggest impact. I've seen greater growth and improved health of all the inhabitants of my system. Take it for what it is worth, but from seeing the quality of workmanship and materials you are using in this setup, I'd hate for you to settle on litterally inferior reflectors.

 

[Donw]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10811474#post10811474 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
What are the measurements of the new tank you are building?

Tank is odd sized. 48 L 18 W 14 H The foot print with "gutters" is 53 x 22.5.

I think I'm just going to set the lights off to the side and finish the tank. That will give me a little more time to decide what to do. The little Luminarcs seem like a good option that can easiy be modified with some panels to match the stand.

I dont know how lighting is going to effect the look of the top meaning the waters surface. I do think a dark spot would make a difference but I'm not sure. Ive also never seen one of these tanks in person.

Don