Building cheap light reflector

Ok.. I'm not sure if this is worth posting but maybe it will help someone else.

I wanted to make my own reflector because I don't care for the ones that come on the CFL light cords at Home Depot... and everything else seemed expensive..

Anyways... Here is the idea.

Needed:
- Posterboard (for presentations) or cardstock paper (got mine free, but it should be under $2 for a good size *2.5x3 ft or so*)
- pipe cleaners (These were like $1.70 at wally)
- mylar or reflective wrapping paper (Got mine at $0.15 a foot at the party store)
- spray adhesive (Borrowed mine, but it shouldnt be more than like $4.50??)

optional:
- power strip (this was $2)
- those straight from outlet to bulb plugs (These were $2 each)


First you cut your posterboard to the desired size... Mine is like 11x14 or something...

Then you spray one side of that with spray adhesive..
Then you lay the mylar on it, nice and smooth, TRY to not get any bubbles or anything (because later they will become inevitable and you dont want any more than you have to have).

After you smooth it out you cut the mylar to fit the posterboard piece:

Then clean up the edges and you got this:

The next few steps I dont really have images for but its fairly easy to understand by looking at the next picture...

Punch holes and connect with pipe cleaners...

NOTE: I took 2 pipecleaners and twisted them together to create one... So when I stuck it through the holes I could create a "T" out of them to keep them locked in place.

Then I attached a powerstrip to our curved reflector... Basically for this I put the strip down on the reflector and drilled 3 holes on either side of the power strip and strapped it on with these super neato (sarcastic - they were free tho) zip ties!

Here are a few pictures

Right now I am going to temporarily hand this for use with my seedling cups... Later on I will modify whatever I need to for this to continue to help me through out my grow.

Hope this helps someone.

Oh and ive tested the lights... Left them on to see if the fur on the pipe cleaners get burnt on the light but they didnt for me... 26w daylights GE

This looks like a great DIY for CFL's but I don't think I'd trust posterboard around an HID.

Nice post man.

no it wouldn't be good for hid, but its frigen awesome for CFL's!! good job man. i think i may build one of those for my veg cabinet.

Yeah, the more I check out the lighting in the box while I wait for the seeds to break, the more I like this thing. It created a nice tunnel of light down there and really traps a lot of the light at the desired height in my box.

The temps aren't bad either I dont think.

I cannot wait for the beans to crack. It's been 89 hours germing... Im so impatient! lol

89 hours? are they in a warm dark place? where did youi get your seeds? ive been debating where i should buy my seeds from. ive never bought seeds before

only ever grew bagseed

khujo said:

89 hours? are they in a warm dark place? where did youi get your seeds? ive been debating where i should buy my seeds from. ive never bought seeds before

only ever grew bagseed

Click to expand...

Yeah.. Iunno 3.5 days isnt too bad considering (I think) that they should crack in 3-6 days...

They are just bag seed and last time I did this I just stuck them in a drawer... I did it again and I wonder if it isnt warm enough, so earlier I put them in a container and put them on top of the DVR since it generates some warm-ness.

Cross your fingers for me bro!

mine cracked within 24 hours
both times from nirvana seeds, and about the same time every time i grow
i put it in a paper towel wet it and squeeze a little water out then place it in a plastic bag and it goes on top of my Cable Modem ( produces a little bit of heat ) so the seed can be warm and moist

MisterNiceGuy said:

mine cracked within 24 hours
both times from nirvana seeds, and about the same time every time i grow
i put it in a paper towel wet it and squeeze a little water out then place it in a plastic bag and it goes on top of my Cable Modem ( produces a little bit of heat ) so the seed can be warm and moist

Click to expand...

Ive had mine on top of the DVR since last night... Still nothing.

On thing could be that I got the seeds from a young plant that met it's demise much too soon. Maybe the seeds aren't mature enough?

Iunno.. either way.. Im going to give it 3-4 more days and if nothing occurs then I will just buy some.

good post bro... very cheap and usefull idea..

Very cool....i didn't know they had light bulb setups that just plug into a outlet...that would make my life so much easier....you can get them at home depot??

Cannonbud said:

Very cool....i didn't know they had light bulb setups that just plug into a outlet...that would make my life so much easier....you can get them at home depot??

Click to expand...

Definitely, they are $2 at homedepot in the light aisle.. A little more spendy than I had hoped they'd be but they do the trick for sure!

what are the plugs called that the lights screw into?

I have no clue what they are.. They are very easy to find though.

would it be cool to use a 70w hps and mh with that?

jooooooosh1934 said:

would it be cool to use a 70w hps and mh with that?

Click to expand...

Doubtful, the heat generated from those could burn it. I am unfamiliar with how much heat those put out. Use discretion.

just a thought... would it be easier to get the mylar to not have bubble if you layed it on the posterboard, or if you flattened it out on a flat surface and the layed the poster on top of that? alsodo you have any temp problems with that setup?

you think the pipe cleaners would work instead of the zipties to hold the power strip?

Great guide.

Easiest way to make a reflector for a CFL: Cut out one side of a soda can and put it over the bulb.

I have no heat issues at all, I put a fan at one end, so it blows any heat out.

Not sure if pipe cleaners would work, zipties I know for sure are secure.

PASS & SEYMOUR 61ICC10 Ivory Edison Sock Adapter

Socket adapter.