would stainless steel be good for reflecting light?
would it create hot spots?
has anyone try'd to make a veg box from this material?
1) That depends on how you define 'good'. The best light reflectors are made out of a dimpled, satin sheen aluminum material. The dimples help increase the surface area and diffuse the light evenly, without creating any hotspots. The cheapest and worst light reflectors are made out of a highly polished smooth mirror like aluminum and they don't diffuse the light well and create hotspots - I'd suggest that stainless steel was much closer to the cheaper polished light reflectors than the better dimpled ones. So, it'll do a reasonable job at reflecting light, but it won't do as good a job as something like diamond patterned mylar type matterial.
2) I think has been answered by the above - yes it will create hotspots.
3) Nope, I think most people prefer to construct out of wood and use either mylar, diamond pattern mylar or plain white matt paint.
The other problem you'll have along with the creation of hotspots is that all the heat will also be reflected, unlike mylar type materials and flat white paint which absorbs some heat - stainless steel will simply reflect it all back into the grow area meaning you'll have to use more efficient ventilation.
It'll work, but probably not as well as a more efficient reflector of light such as diamond patterned mylar.
