Alex

I made a cold frame to get a head start on spring here in Canberra. The
design is much the same as that in Dwayne's response however, in OZ face
north to take advantage of the sun. I got an old timber window and made a
frame about 600mm high at the rear sloping down to about 550mm at the front.
The height can be altered to suit the type/size of plants you intend to
grow. Of course the higher you make it, the darker it is at the bottom and
less effective your cold frame. The outside dimensions of the frame were
made to suit the window. I clad the frame in fibro sheeting and hinged the
window for ease of access. I also painted the inside of the glass with
white shoe cleaner to reduce the sunlight and as the weather got warmer, I
covered the lot with shade cloth. Great way to start the seedlings off.

I did make a Rolls Royce one a few years ago that had a laminex base in
which I inserted an old electric blanket element (love them earth leakage
devices). A layer of sand over the laminex and I was able to maintain the
base temperature at about 20 degrees C. Worked brilliantly all year round.
Before the electro-nazis get excited, this frame was for indoor use only.

Cheers

Bob Z

"Dwayne" wrote in message
...
Alex, I am not sure what you mean when you say Cold Frame. What is it
used
for and how big is it. I built a "hot bed" on the south side of my house
for starting plants in the spring time. I used wood for the front and
both
ends, and the house for the back. Then I tool an old glass/aluminum
shower
door with hinges, and laid it on the top. It was sloped so water would
run
off, and I can raise the shower door an inch or all the way if it is going
to be hot. Worked well this year (I am in the U.S.). Hope this helped.

Good luck. Dwayne
"Alex" wrote in message
u...
I wonder if anyone knows of a company selling cold frames (the small
domestic kind) in or near Melbourne?


Thanks in anticipation

-Alex