Building Your Own Seedling Light Cart

Seedling Light Cart Base

• 1

  Drill a hole that is ¼-inch in diameter and 1-inch deep in the side of one of the 2-by-4-inch boards that is 3-inches from each end of one of the boards. Measure the width of the board and position the holes in the middle. Repeat the process on the other 2-by-4-inch board.

• 2

  Insert the stem of the caster wheels into the holes in the 2-by-4-inch boards and tamp them into place with the rubber mallet.

• 3

  Lay the sheet of plywood on the floor. Start at one end of the 52-inch length of the plywood and place one of the 2-by-4-inch boards with the casters up in the air flat on the plywood. Ensure that its edge lines up with the edge of the plywood. Outline the 2-by-4-inch board with a pencil. Repeat the same process at the other end of the 48-inch long plywood with the other caster board.

• 4

  Spread the wood glue according to package directions within the outline of pencil marks at each end of the board. Place one caster board onto the glued surface at each end of the board. Lay a heavy weight on it and allow the glue to bond the wood together.

• 5

  Turn the plywood platform over so the wheels are on the floor and the plywood is ready to serve as a large shelf for seedlings.

Seedling Light Cart Frame

• 6

  Brush PVC pipe cement on one end of one 6-inch pipe and immediately slide a coupling on it before the cement sets.

• 7

  Repeat the same process – one at a time – with each of the other three 6-inch sections of pipe.

• 8

  Apply cement to the end of one side of a T-connector and slide the coupling of the 6-inch pipe onto it. Repeat the process with another 6-inch pipe on the other side of the T-connector. The stem of the T-connector is now sticking straight up with a 6-inch pipe stuck into the joint on both sides.

• 9

  Spread cement around the end of the stem of the T-connector and slide the 16-inch pipe onto it. Tamp it down snugly before the cement sets. Repeat the process with the other 16-inch pipe and T-connector.

• 10

  Put one side of another T-connector, brushed with cement, into the top of the 16-inch pipe with the other side sticking straight up. Point the stem of the T-connector at a 90 degree angle to the 6-inch pipes previously assembled.

• 11

  Slide one end of the 48-inch section of pipe – without applying cement – over the stem of one of the T-connectors and tamp it in place with the rubber mallet. Repeat the process with the other end of the 48-inch pipe on the other T-connector.

• 12

  Stand the seedling light fixture frame on the legs formed by the 6-inchs sections of pipe with the 48-inch section running horizontally between them.

• 13

  Position the light fixture frame so that it is centered on top of the plywood platform. Place a pipe clamp bracket at the middle point and over each of the four 6-inch long PVC pipes that form the legs of the frame. Screw them down with the screws provided with the brackets.

Installing the Lighting Fixture

• 14

  Hook one end of an 18-inch chain to each end of the fluorescent light fixture box.

• 15

  Loop the open end of the chain over the 48-inch bar and adjust the height of the light fixture by hooking the end of the chain anywhere along its length.

• 16

  Insert one warm and one cool fluorescent bulb in the 48-inch long light fixture and plug it into the nearest electrical outlet.