Well tubes are cut and ready for welding

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC_6757.jpg

Here you can see the notches to direct the air through each tube

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC_6759.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC_6758.jpg

Didn't realize you were using Steve's...will be interesting to see how you like them. How has his service and communication been?

Very interesting idea using aluminum tube, will be watching you thread to see how this turns out. Might have to do the same thing for my 8'er.

Good, no complaints, seems to know his stuff. For the price his products seemed to be the best value for my needs. He claims the LEDs have a 90 degree beam so I won't need optics which I liked. I realize there are more efficient LEDs out there but to me these should be plenty efficient and although I could have used less LEDs for the same amount of output I figured it made more sense to spend the same money on more LEDs which will reduce the typical blue/white spot light effect I've seen with other fixtures. The separate single power supply was also a bonus as it keeps the drivers very small, essentially I'll have less clutter in the hood and only have to run a couple wires down below.

really looking forward to how you put this together...

Working on the LED layout.... Thoughts? (The back is at the bottom with the gap centered over the overflow)

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...LEDpattern.jpg

Don't ask me why this helps but it made more sense when I started, looking now I'm not sure if this qualifies as useful data :redface:

White beams
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...hiteBeams1.jpg

Blue beams
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1.../BlueBeams.jpg

Blue and White
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...hiteBeams1.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...hiteBeams2.jpg

Here's the red and yellow, this will really only be used as a sunset/rise effect, doubt they'll even be on during regular hours but we'll see.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...ellowbeams.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...llowbeams2.jpg

The welding will be done tomorrow but since this weekend will be a right off I won't be doing any mounting/soldering until next week. :cry:

I did get some hinges mounted today:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC_6760.jpg

This will just allow me to lift and lower the fixture without removing it for maintenance and such if needed.

Here's a little look at the grooves I put in for the shield as well, nothing special but worth pointing out.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC_6762.jpg http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...1/DSC_6761.jpg

That's actually called 'scribing' and a very nice example of it :biggrin:

I don't think so, I used a table saw prior to assembly so I'd call it cutting with a plan. Now if I used a knife to cut them after everything was said and done I'd let you define it as "scribing" but that's not a skill I could pull off :wink:

Lol stick with your way unless you want to give your forearms a run for their money =)

The fans seem even more important to your design than fixtures with fins as these won't do much without the fans is that right? Will you have a way to monitor temp or air flow in case they slow down or fail?