is it ok to use foil instead of poly?

i dont really know if this would work but i think it would be more in my budget so would this be ok to do?

Hello en4cer123, Foil can burn your girl with it's reflection and you also lose most of the light that is reflected of off it. I found when i first started growing at the begining of the year (i was also on a budget of £0.00) Thick White A4 Paper reflected the light much better than Foil and White Plastic Bags, or you can use a Matt White Paint (Water Based). Hope this Helps you a little?
Good luck & Happy Growing

nothing wrong with using foil if nothing else, i would shoot for whitepaint first if u can..foil wont burn your girls its a shitty myth that wont die.

en4cer123 said:

i dont really know if this would work but i think it would be more in my budget so would this be ok to do?

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better than nothing, I had no problems with it but I use the inside surface of old potato chip bags which are the more desirable mylar.(my fav munchies killer)

It might not burn your plants but its diffenelty not ideal and how many rolls you gotta buy?? when you add up the cost of the foil and the hassle of using it cleaning it and working with it your better off just buying some cheap FLAT white paint....that will be MUCH better in the short and long run....ya it might cost a few more bucks but if your budged is so small that you are stressing over buying foil verse paint then you really dont have a budget to grow in the first place......

If you HAVE to use any type Al foil, get foil tape. Sure it's a bitch to get on, but at least you'll have a more uniform reflectivity and less hot spots.

But I agree with FootClan. If you're doing DIY, the best thing for you is white paint, more specifically flat-white. It'll keep your space a little bit cooler than mylar or poly.

mjeh, im using foil at the moment, but ive used flat white paint too.

white cardboard (from cardboard boxes) works fine too. (similar to that a4 paper idea)

foil works allright, heck of a lot brighter than without it and it was a cheap easy fix (only needed for 2 sides that im too lazy to paint )

If you are working in a small space remember that the foil absorbs and keeps the heat, while the poly and mylar don't absorb and keep the heat. I would opt for one of those shiny fire blankets, they are only like $2 and are pretty big. However I just us Killz 2 primer in my closet. Not only is it flat white, but it's designed to kill and prevent mold. So it's a double win.

thanks that does help. ive heard of some people making reflectors that fit the bulbs out of pop cans has any one tried this and if so what are the results?

Rotweiller said:

Hello en4cer123, Foil can burn your girl with it's reflection and you also lose most of the light that is reflected of off it. I found when i first started growing at the begining of the year (i was also on a budget of £0.00) Thick White A4 Paper reflected the light much better than Foil and White Plastic Bags, or you can use a Matt White Paint (Water Based). Hope this Helps you a little?
Good luck & Happy Growing

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considering he was thinking about using tinfoil .... i dont think he has a HID... I have only witnesses heat spot from foil using a HID.

Use what you got but be smart, 2 rolls foil vs 10 feet black and white?$$ do the math.