tin foil

[nickit]

ok, another question.

ive heard this rumor that if you line your grow room with tin foil it will magnify the light untill it starts to burn a hole in your plant. is this true or false?

[BigDaddyc9]

You have to turn the dull side of the foil out so you dont get any light concentration,like you would if you used the foil shiny side out.Yes its true.I use "Space blanket" emergency blankets that are light and shiny-they are cheaper than foil and work awesome-$1.98 cents at WalMart-Peace BigD

[coco_artist]

Tin foil is not a good thing to use for reflection. Try to get some Mylar.

[celtic]

i dont know if it will literally burn a hole but it will cause heat burns. bad idea, i believe (do not know offhand, do a quick google) that it has very poor reflectivity also.

you're much better off with black/white poly aka panda plastic, or mylar.

[nickit]

You have to turn the dull side of the foil out so you dont get any light concentration,like you would if you used the foil shiny side out.Yes its true.I use "Space blanket" emergency blankets that are light and shiny-they are cheaper than foil and work awesome-$1.98 cents at WalMart-Peace BigD


thanks, ill have to look into that considering its under 2 dollars and my budget isnt much larger than that.

[salmayo]

If you are using a fan, foil and even mylar can make rustling noises (rattlin in the wind). Something to consider, if you are worried about stealth.

I like Panda film and flat white paint. Both reflect well and there are no noise issues.

[buddyh]

White paint.

[nogoodnamesleft]

keep in mind all the creases and folds in tinfoil and mylar space blankest will not reflect light back evenly. buddyh has the cheapest and most efective solution w the white paint. if it comes down to it tho, take a space blanket over the tinfoil anyday of the week. what can "burn a hole" in your plant is when the plant is foliar sprayed while the lights are still on and the water creates a small magnifiying glass due to the surface tension and can drill right thru a plant. if its available to you, the panda film is the way to go...its cheap and you can wipe it down, unlike mylar which will spot and streak and decrease reflectivity. sticky plants smudging up against mylar aslo leaves streaks. at the end of the day, i think mylar is best left for ballons.

[Crazy_Eagle]

I'd say don't bother with tin foil it can burn your plants,you can buy those emergency blankets for cheap at wally world or canadain tire,home depot etc.. and they work like mylar,just not as thick.That's what i started out with then changed to mylar and stapled it to my wall so it doesn't make noise when my fans are on..:)Just my 2 cents!!

[Carpet Muncher]

buddyh has the cheapest and most efective solution w the white paint. what can "burn a hole" in your plant is when the plant is foliar sprayed while the lights are still on and the water creates a small magnifiying glass due to the surface tension and can drill right thru a plant.

i agree, and based on the studies i've read, (and one extensive one in particular done by cp @CW with a light meter,) flat white paint is as good as it gets.. not to mention the huge efficiency loss when mylar gets dirty.. which don't take long.

about burning a hole in your plant with water myth.. it's just that, a myth.. one i'll gladly back up with a bet. otherwise, (this is the second time i've seen this one perpetuated on this site in 2 days,) can we please put this one to rest? :) (or bet me and lets do an experiment? :D)

about alum foil, heat, and mylar. first of all, i haven't used mylar since i read a story about a bust related to it.. a guy went to work and left the grow rm door open.. the hps light + fans + loose mylar + one of the neighbors seeing the undulating colored light reflected off the mylar = he thought the house was on fire and called 911.

don't know why, but mylar doesn't reflect heat, but alum foil does.. but not enough to burn holes in your plants. what it also does that mylar doesn't; is hold radiant heat. but i still say you would have to work really hard at it to burn your plants that way.

what i don't understand about the hole stories is.. wouldn't the direct light be much stronger than anything reflected?

peace.. CM

[pflover]

i have never experienced this issue myself. i think it is myth personally BUT i would still not recomend foil. it is loud and hard to make stay up in the face of good ventilation. mylar and white paint work better and are generally quiter.