mylar substitute?

[juice419]

hello, i couldn't find mylar anywhere and i can't paint the walls of my growcloset, so instead I bout this shiny metallic silver paper at an arts and crafts store. Was this a waste of money? should I even hang it up? and for some reason I feel like if i use this paper im gonna start a fire or something, has anybody else used metallic paper like this?

also is there anything else i could use for the walls besides mylar and white paint

[kurie726]

Alluminum foil is cheap, and can be easily taken down. It's pretty shiny.

[cigarettes42]

aluminum foil is garbage. go to wallmart and get an emergency blanket.

[stinkyattic]

Aluminum foil is about the worst thing you could use. I mean, flat black paint is worse but Al foil is pretty bad- that's bush league shit.

Try flat white paint. That's close to the reflectivity of mylar and cheap. So are the emergency blankets Ciggies mentioned.

[daihashi]

Try flat white paint. That's close to the reflectivity of mylar and cheap. So are the emergency blankets Ciggies mentioned.

He can't use paint.. part of his problem. Stinky is right, if you go to walmart or Academy or some hunting store or whatnot you can find emergency blankets. They may be called solar blankets, or Emergency solar blankets.. or what not.

If you can't find that then go buy some push pins and buy some flat white poster board (the flimsy kind you used for school projects) and line your walls with that; flat white of course :hippy:.

[feroce]

I was faced with the same problem, so I went to Dope Depo...er, Home Depot and got a few sheets of styrofoam insulation, 0.5" thick by 2' x 4'. Tape them in place and you're good to go. Mondo cheap too.

[stinkyattic]

lol! Home De POT anyone?
Did you get the foily kind or the plain white kind? You can spray-glue mylar camping blankets to styro insulation slabs and actually build totally modular grow huts of them! Connect them with 3" sheetrock screws and check for light leaks, and you're good to go.
Bonus is that you don't need a lot of tools to build this- just a utility knife and if you are feelin' sassy a power drill.

[lunarose]

Hi, You can get mylar through amazon at least through their us site.

[feroce]

lol! Home De POT anyone?
Did you get the foily kind or the plain white kind?

Plain white. Didn't see any of the foil type there, and I'm going cheap as possible, as I'm not working ATM.

You're right though, you could make a pretty good grow hut out of the stuff, they've got it up to 2 inches thick. Just need to add enough reinforcement to the top to support the lights.:thumbsup:

[atticventure]

I didnt want to have to work to try to find some mylar even though theyll have it at any hydrostore pretty much. I live in a colder climate so using reflectix insilation killed two birds with one stone. super reflextive and regulates temperature. any home depot has it

[lehua96734]

go to your Dollar store and buy a metelic window shade for you car windshield. way cheaper.

[the image reaper]

Mylar sucks, big-time ... trust me, it loses reflectivity very quickly, the coating 'dulls' ... use flat white paint

[Rusty Trichome]

I'm with IR on this one. Plus, plastic sheeting can trap moisture between it and the wall. (mold)

Why not a white sheet hung with some push-pins? Does cotton-fiber white reflect less than wood-fiber white, or any more than cotton-polyester white? Is the difference worth worrying about?

[reworgallirog]

does anyone think that a solar blanket would work better than mylar considering the dullness mylar can get and that the shiny layer can rub off? also would a solar blanket help insulate to keep it controlled. cuz i use the insulation foam stuff and its awesome

[Rusty Trichome]

The heavier the reflective material, the longer it will last before scratches, folds, bends and tears, render it useless.

If you measure the distance from the bulb to the wall (or the mylar if that's what you use) and add that to the distance from the wall (the mylar) to the plant...the total distance is beyond the range of fluoro tubes or mini CFL's.

In other words...if you are not using HID lighting, (MH or HPS, or Mega-CFL's) you are basically wasting your money on something reflective, that won't do any good. :jointsmile:

[stickyinsalem]

Its a shame i cant ask for all of your peoples info...cause i make plastic sheeting and i can get all the FLAT white plastic the whole state would need to use....shame its not legal yet

[SAtown]

hello, i couldn't find mylar anywhere and i can't paint the walls of my growcloset, so instead I bout this shiny metallic silver paper at an arts and crafts store. Was this a waste of money? should I even hang it up? and for some reason I feel like if i use this paper im gonna start a fire or something, has anybody else used metallic paper like this?

also is there anything else i could use for the walls besides mylar and white paint

Get yourself some of that shiny gift wrap, the inside is as reflective as mylar, and it is wayyyyy cheaper and easy to use.

[SAtown]

I'm with IR on this one. Plus, plastic sheeting can trap moisture between it and the wall. (mold)

Why not a white sheet hung with some push-pins? Does cotton-fiber white reflect less than wood-fiber white, or any more than cotton-polyester white? Is the difference worth worrying about?

if there is a possibility that water is getting on the wall, it's going to mold with or without plastic. Control the humidity and overspray or u definitely will end up with a mold issue.

And emergency blankets trap a lot unwanted of heat/humidity especially in small grow areas.

& as far as the smell, if you can, the best way is to use a blower and vent it out of the top of the wall, to the outside, or more preferably, an exhaust fan thru the roof. High enough so nobody walking by can pin-point where the smell originates. Remember, heat rises, and with it, the smell. So pull the hot, moist air from the top out and let fresh, cool, dry air in from the bottom.

[the image reaper]

I still suggest flat white paint, but, if ya want to be a little more fastidious, check out the white 'tileboard', at Home Depot ... it's cheap (about $8-$9, for a 4'x8' sheet), and should last a lifetime ... I took a light meter with me to HD, and compared it to other white, and reflective surfaces there ... the tile board reflected the best :thumbsup: ... totally waterproof, it's made for damp areas, like laundry rooms, shower walls, countertops, etc. ... it's 1/8" thick formica, with one side glazed with a white, porcelain-like coating ... it's also what they make those 'dry-erase' marker boards with, sometimes ...
check out the 'tileboard', I think you'll like it, too :thumbsup:

[VapedG13]

I love mylar....I use the 2 mil x 50ft for $30 (bought off ebay) I have 48ft to cover (4 - 12ft long walls)

I have been using the same mylar for about 4 years now...couple hints..use duct tape where you are going to mount the mylar to prevent tearing....dont let it get wet or have condensation on the mylar.... that dulls the reflectivity

[fluid69]

just a heads up, I started with an emergency blanket and after it tore a few times I took it out and painted everything flat white, my temps dropped 5 degrees. this could be helpful or harmful, just keep it in mind.

[the image reaper]

just a heads up, I started with an emergency blanket and after it tore a few times I took it out and painted everything flat white, my temps dropped 5 degrees. this could be helpful or harmful, just keep it in mind.

good post :thumbsup:

[GaGrown]

I was faced with the same problem, so I went to Dope Depo...er, Home Depot and got a few sheets of styrofoam insulation, 0.5" thick by 2' x 4'. Tape them in place and you're good to go. Mondo cheap too.

I used the styrofoam score board insulation... It's 2 inches thick and comes in a 4x8 sheet. Perfect for any room where nails and wood or sawing in a problem!! It's very stealthy construction. You can cut them to any size and use the foil tape and a squeege....


Ga Grown!

[ForgetClassC]

You can buy mylar as a window treatment at homedepot, but dont, its way to expensive, do the emergency blankets thing, I need to go get me some as well

[the image reaper]

the styrofoam board insulation is very good, and, I've seen it as little as an 1/8" thick, too ... can be pricey ... if at Home Depot, check out their 'tileboard' ...it's 1/8" thick, masonite-type material, made for damp areas, shower rooms, etc. ... one side is a flat white, porcelain-like hard finish ... I took a light meter to Home Depot, and checked its reflectance, it beat the other surfaces they had ... it was $8.47 for a 4'x8' sheet, in Kalifornia, just the other day ... it's what I use :thumbsup:

[WickedJack]

Got a bunch of Doritos..?? Save your bags after you finish munchin...open'em up tape them together line your walls..lol j/k :D

[cptcannabis]

The space blanket should work ok, but it does tear super easy, since it folds up to the size of a wallet. Just be careful when you mount it to the walls and tape it really well. You should be able to find one in the camping section or the automotive section at Wally World.

[nwodreciffo]

Reflective silver wrapping paper?

[JMORGAN]

if I were you I would get a bunch of cardboard, paint that flat white, and then line your grow room with that painted cardboard. can be taken down and everything, or just use posterboard...

[radtek]

I coated a piece of cardboard with strips of Shurtape DC 181 to make a shade-reflector for my CFL's. Appears to work so far.

Also have a huge roll of Reflectix... that is reflective bubble-wrap type insulation used for radiant barriers. Anyone use this stuff? Looks like mylar. I'll report back...

Shurtape at Lowe's: 2" x 120 yd. Flex Duct Tape (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=256674-56131-161407&lpage=none)

Reflectix at Lowe's: 4' x 25' Double Reflective Foil Insulation (http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=13358-56291-BP48025&lpage=none)