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Thread: Aluminium bar for DIY lighting

  1. #1
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    Aluminium bar for DIY lighting

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    Hi, I'm looking for the above mentioned (hope I didn't use the wrong term). I prefer to get it from a shop that is willing to cut it into the length I need.

    Please help. Thanks.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    What do you mean by bar? rods? if so then normal DIY shops have the standard types people use for toilet towel holders. if bigger most industrial place have a big load of sizes

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    Sorry for the confusion. I'm referring to the aluminium used for the door/window frame. If anyone knows about the pricing, please PM me. Thanks.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    You can try calling this shop, check if they custom to your needs:

    Teck Cheong Aluminium Pte Ltd
    Blk803 King Geroge Ave #01-246
    Tel:62949650

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    Hi Lau,

    You referring to those rectangular/squarish hollow aluminium "tubes"?
    I used those for a DIY light for 3ft tank before as well.

    Got mine from one of the warehouse in Eunos industrial park, you know the stretch of warehouses between Eunos crescent and Singapore Post (Paya Lebar). The shop was nearer to Eunos Cresscent, can't remember the exact address though.. sorry!

    Will post a pic of it tonite for you to verify if it is what you're looking for.
    I can't remember the price as well, but I know the shop will not cut them into the right sizes for you, you got to get a metal saw and DIY.
    - eric

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    Quote Originally Posted by bossteck View Post
    You referring to those rectangular/squarish hollow aluminium "tubes"?
    That's exactly what I'm looking for, Eric. Thanks.

    Can't wait to see your DIY lighting.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    Hi!

    I also use that kind of square hollow for my DIY lighting bracket. Since I use 3 MHs, spanning over 6ft+, the aluminium bar gets quite big so it can support the whole structure. Aluminium is easy to work on, and all you need is a rivet gun to bolt them together. The hollow structure is great to hide all the cables, and perhaps the bigger ones even to hide all you ballast.

    Good luck building one, Lau!

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    Interesting!

    please do post pics and links to the diy setup. might build one for myself.

    much appreciated.
    www.nareshinc.com
    print | web designer


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    Hi folks,

    Here're the pics, it was my very first DIY and got to admit it is very ugly, but, it worked very well for me.



    As mentioned by another reader here... all you need is a rivert gun to hold the tubes together.



    The white board at the back is some cheap plywood, the back of it is kinda ugly.


    BTW, the lights were for my 3 ft tank. As my tank did not have any bracings, I added about 0.5 feet to the length of the tubes, hence the light is about 3.5 ft, I was very afraid that it will slip and drop into the tank while I am doing my trimming, hence the extra 0.5 feet.
    - eric

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    Thanks for sharing, Eric. Who cares whether it is ugly or not. It's the creativity & self satisfaction that matter the most when it comes to DIYing.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    you can take a look at curtain tracks from any hardware shops.
    they come in 40' length as standard but i am sure the hardware shop can cut it to your required lengths.
    thomas liew

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    Thanks, Tawauboy.

    Anyone knows if there is an easy way to make a square hole on the aluminium trunking?

    The only way I can think of is to drill multiple small holes along the line & later use a file to flatten them. LOTS of work. Appreciate some form of help here. Thanks in advance
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    I don't suppose you have access to electric jig saw, because if you do, you only need to drill a couple of holes and let the saw do the rest of the work. I don't have either, else can lend it to you.

    The method you described is probably the next best alternative, imo.
    - eric

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    Some updates on findings after visiting hardware shops at Jalan Besar.

    1) Anything in square is called trunking & not called bar, be it aluminium or PVC.

    2) Most hardware shop are willing to cut to the length that I need.

    Unfortunately, I can't find aluminium trunking that suits my needs. So, I went for 4"x2" uPVC trunking (slightly bigger than the normal aircon trunking). The cons of using PVC trunking is that the heat generated by the ballast cannot be dissipated easily. I'm thinking leaving both ends open & install a fan on top of the trunking ventilation. Any comments? Thanks.
    Cheers,
    U.K.Lau

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    Quote Originally Posted by uklau View Post
    Thanks, Tawauboy.

    Anyone knows if there is an easy way to make a square hole on the aluminium trunking?

    The only way I can think of is to drill multiple small holes along the line & later use a file to flatten them. LOTS of work. Appreciate some form of help here. Thanks in advance
    you can try looking for a hand nibbler which can be used on thin soft materials.

    another option is to use a knockout die. this is a punch and die set which cuts the metal by sandwiching the metal between the punch and die.

    you can also use an electric dremel tool with a cutting disc.
    thomas liew

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    Quote Originally Posted by uklau View Post
    ...................
    Unfortunately, I can't find aluminium trunking that suits my needs. So, I went for 4"x2" uPVC trunking (slightly bigger than the normal aircon trunking). The cons of using PVC trunking is that the heat generated by the ballast cannot be dissipated easily. I'm thinking leaving both ends open & install a fan on top of the trunking ventilation. Any comments? Thanks.
    installing a fan helps a lot.
    you should be ok with open ends which allows cooling, though slower.
    thomas liew

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