need help on making a reflector

hi im going to try and make a couple of reflectors and could use a little help.
2) parabolic reflectors for vertical bulb
2) batwing reflectors for horizontal bulb

i will be making more than 1 of each type because i like options.

would that aluminum flashing used for roofs be any good for reflecting light for plants?
and if anyone has any plans on how to make one would be great especially with pics.
heres a link i found it should be useful.

http://www.solarcooking.org/plans/parabolic-from-flat-sheet.htm

solarcooker !!!!! lol i dont want to cook my girls.

thanks in advance

quite a few views but no one has an opinion

with the the parabolic you could use mylar. dont know if that would be a good reflector. doesn't it reflect all the enrgy to one point. like 4" off the bottom??

well on the parabolic i figure at least a 7 or 8" hole in the center and then have a gradual bend to the outside for maybe 18 to 24" dia. about 5"deep. not sure on measurements just yet.
but would aluminum flashing make a good reflector?

smoke and coke said:

well on the parabolic i figure at least a 7 or 8" hole in the center and then have a gradual bend to the outside for maybe 18 to 24" dia. about 5"deep. not sure on measurements just yet.
but would aluminum flashing make a good reflector?

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I'd say it might get a little hot and be a bit heavy. All depends on how you're hanging it. mainly because if you have to raise and lower it you don't want it to slip and fall on your plants...anyway, if you have a sign shop around you go in there and ask for 1/16 inch pvc...it comes in 4x8 sheets and most sign shops have scraps of it laying around so just ask for whatever size you think you need....it's super thin and easier to cut...not expensive either...if you cant find that then shoot for some cheap sheet metal...you can use some super 77 and stick some mylar on it. i think that would be cheaper and easier to work with. imo

mud1dnot2 said:

I'd say it might get a little hot and be a bit heavy. All depends on how you're hanging it. mainly because if you have to raise and lower it you don't want it to slip and fall on your plants...anyway, if you have a sign shop around you go in there and ask for 1/16 inch pvc...it comes in 4x8 sheets and most sign shops have scraps of it laying around so just ask for whatever size you think you need....it's super thin and easier to cut...not expensive either...if you cant find that then shoot for some cheap sheet metal...you can use some super 77 and stick some mylar on it. i think that would be cheaper and easier to work with. imo

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aluminum flashing isnt that heavy and hanging it isnt an issue. just want to know about the reflectivity of it. sheet metal is just as heavy. i dont have mylar i picked up panda film instead and im not using that. i would paint the flashing white if i have to, but dont think i need to. it will also be a vertical cool tube so heat isnt an issue.

a little heavy but you could use a 24" sat light dish. all ready parabolic talked to a tech said i could have all I wanted

The flashing is cheap and effective.
What I did was
One: cut your measurement and FOIL tape the edges.
you dont want to walk into a guillotine.

drill holes for your chain/hooks,plug.
you can use the sheetrock springs that open up.

Two:bend you shape w/ 2x4, 2x6 Wear Gloves.
You know where you can see a pic.

thanks joe i will keep that in mind

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My cousin made his out of street signs he had from his younger days. It didnt take much to polish the back side to a mirror finish. A few bends in the sign, a couple little holes for hanging and 1 in the center for the bulb. He's been putting out quality norcal purp for close to 20 years and wont change it.

halzey68 said:

My cousin made his out of street signs he had from his younger days. It didnt take much to polish the back side to a mirror finish. A few bends in the sign, a couple little holes for hanging and 1 in the center for the bulb. He's been putting out quality norcal purp for close to 20 years and wont change it.

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street signs is a pretty good idea. ive got a couple of polycarbonate reflectors that came with the light but im not sure if they reflect the spectrum that the plants need. has anyone seen those polycarbonate reflectors? they are what comes on an industrial fixture like in a warehouse.

alot of views but only a few opinions. you know opinions are like aholes everyone has one.

back to the top

ive never made one but..

try one of those disposable aluminum baking pans ( deep ones for turkeys and suck ) there really thin
or
cardboard covered w/ a heat resistant reflective material?
or
white poster board

not sure about fire hazards though.. just thought i'd try and help out.

gl

justatoker said:

ive never made one but..

try one of those disposable aluminum baking pans ( deep ones for turkeys and suck ) there really thin
or
cardboard covered w/ a heat resistant reflective material?
or
white poster board

not sure about fire hazards though.. just thought i'd try and help out.

gl

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thanks i was thinking of these also for cfl,s
im concentrating on something for 400 hps

I am using white paint right now but you could use mylar which is more expensive than paint but more effective

Don't use mylar or anything flammable and don't mix up cooltubes with parabolic reflectors that makes no sense at all.

My preferred method for a diy batwing is buy some of the rigid 6" heating duct (aluminum). It has a seam the full length that opens easily and then bend it the other direction down the middle and it's an instant batwing.

Whatever you do you're far better off painting the metal white with high temp flat white automotive paint. (You can get a spray can at auto stores) Anything else, including polishing the metal would be highly inferior. Regular unpolished aluminum has terrible reflective qualities (50%) and polished can only reach into the 80% range. A goot true flat white paint (HIGH TEMP) can reach 98% reflectivity.

Lastly trying to make a parabolic reflector is just beyond DIY. You couldn't get a truly good parabolic shape, and reflectors of that type that aren't truly parabolic really suck efficiency wise.

Again let me say you do not mix a cooltube and a parabiloc reflector.

And reflectors on cfl's make no sense, they just reflect heat and trap the heat around the ballast making them run much hotter than they are supposed to and thus giving less efficiently and putting out less light overall.

OregonMeds said:

Don't use mylar or anything flammable and don't mix up cooltubes with parabolic reflectors that makes no sense at all.

My preferred method for a diy batwing is buy some of the rigid 6" heating duct (aluminum). It has a seam the full length that opens easily and then bend it the other direction down the middle and it's an instant batwing.

Whatever you do you're far better off painting the metal white with high temp flat white automotive paint. (You can get a spray can at auto stores) Anything else, including polishing the metal would be highly inferior. Regular unpolished aluminum has terrible reflective qualities (50%) and polished can only reach into the 80% range. A goot true flat white paint (HIGH TEMP) can reach 98% reflectivity.

Lastly trying to make a parabolic reflector is just beyond DIY. You couldn't get a truly good parabolic shape, and reflectors of that type that aren't truly parabolic really suck efficiency wise.

Again let me say you do not mix a cooltube and a parabolic reflector.

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no not going to use mylar and i have panda film anyways and not useing that.

i will be making 2 vertical cooltubs and 2 horizontal cooltubes.

i need the cooltube due to heat issue during some times of the year and the parobolic reflector is for a vertical cool tubes.
the batwing is for the horizontal cooltubes.

i may have to rethink the the parabolic cooltube.
but still want to make a parabolic for the veg with the MH cause i burn that vertical and thats not a cooltube. and it may be less efficient but just cant purchase one at this time, so any reflector is better than none.

when growing vertical during flower i remove the reflectors anyway, but just thought that maybe the upper bulb could use a reflector.

good idea with the aluminum pipeing for the batwing, but do you think a 6" dia. is big enough? was definately going to get high temp paint if i needed paint. but useing this pipeing i would definatly need to paint it by what you are saying.

and you state twice not to mix a cooltube with a parabolic reflector, and i would like to know why you think that.
thanks you for your help