are you just looking for something to last you one season? if so then just bang something together out of 2x2's and 2x1's... and staple some hydro store panda film onto it. for seems and vent holes use that all weather LDPE tape that 3m makes.
if you want something that you can like... store in your closet when the indoor seasons over, just look on ebay at the cheapo tents, and treat them very gently, they should last several years i suspect. they dont look half bad either.
there's alot of competition out there for those grow tents. its getting pretty hard to justify building your own these days. they used to be like 250 for a 4x4 now you can get a 4x4 for like 130 bucks. the only company i can vouch for is lighthouse hydro. i have their mini 18" wide tent for seedlings, and the build quality is impressive and easily compares to the more expensive tents ive seen like the sun huts etc.
http://www.ebay.com/...=item4168a54e3b
http://www.ebay.com/...=item3f2061fada
http://www.ebay.com/...=item43b16cf7b4
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-x18-x36-MYLAR-HYDROPONICS-GROW-TENT-ROOM-2-5X1-5X3-CLONE-T001-/290826411099?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43b69adc5bI don't know why you don't see grow tents made for seedling applications, they are all like 6' and taller. If I could find one that was 2' tall, I would be happy. Gives me plenty of time indoors to raise the seedlings for a little while and saves a ton of space.
http://www.ebay.com/...=item43b69adc5b
they do actually. this is the one i own. its the perfect size for a single seed flat.
i have a 220 watt pll in this thing, plus a crummy little clip on fan. works great.
yea its expensive, but i was not interested in trying to build something better. if you dont need to put it away in the summer like i do, then consider a small cabinet and just saw holes in the sides for a 4" vent.
I put in some of those wire shelves you get at home depot (I think rubber maid makes them). I was thinking how you could very easily make a nice grow tent out of that
Thanks for the props Denniz...the materials for this were cheap and assembly was easy. 2x2 lumber, silver sided styrofoam sheathing and some duct tape. Working really well so far, I used clamps at the corners so at season's end I can dismantle it and stow it away. I used mylar last year, this stuff works better for me because I can keep it in a cold garage and the lights keep the temp in there around 80 degrees. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!heres a good one.. shane made this one...
http://thehotpepper....in/page__st__40
Inside my small tent? theres really not enought height for that unless i put in some 2' t8's or something.