reflectors

cannabis14

Active Member
I was considering just ignoring reflectors, but now i think i might be better off.
some people say soda can ones work well, but others say the dome-like ones work better. which should i use for cfls if any?
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
Soda cans make excellent reflectors for CFLs, I would highly recommend trying it. It makes a perfect round reflector that focuses the light right where you want it, since most of the light in the spiral CFL doesn't go where you want it, a can reflector catches it right as its outputted and shoots it in the right direction.

Soda can reflectors can also be made fairly quickly... and hella cheaply.
 

Zhu

Well-Known Member
you can get dome reflectors at walmart for 6-8$ a piece. Soda cans are ok but they do get hella hot. I lined my closet with some crazy reflective mylar, since then had no need for reflectors.
 

cannabis14

Active Member
thanks, ive made out of a soda can, and i might put a small computer fan at the end to decrese the heat build up.
 

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member
you can get dome reflectors at walmart for 6-8$ a piece. Soda cans are ok but they do get hella hot. I lined my closet with some crazy reflective mylar, since then had no need for reflectors.
Yeah they do build up quite a bit of heat, especially if you leave the end of the can on for support. My can reflectors sometimes get so hot it melts the duct tapes adhesive, that holds the can to the CFLs ballast, causing the reflector to droop down... but it usually doesn't happen.
 

aztecline

Active Member
I didn't think about using cans. I kinda ghetto rigged mine up w/ aluminum foil around the cfl's. They are doing me good for now, just reflecting the light downward and not too much sideways/up.
 

miggzeh

Well-Known Member
I bought a couple of those diposable foil cooking trays and cut/bent/shaped them around the bulbs.
 

LegalizeNature420

Well-Known Member
Go buy the domed metal reflectors from Home Depot/ WalMart! I got 3 with a 42 watt Cfl in each. Great reflection, easy to hang, cheap!
 
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