I might be splitting hairs but I have a great deal of both available and from the comparison in my head they are about equal though the chrome tape would probably be a little easier to work with and apply to the inside of my grow box.
Any opinions?
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I might be splitting hairs but I have a great deal of both available and from the comparison in my head they are about equal though the chrome tape would probably be a little easier to work with and apply to the inside of my grow box.
Any opinions?
Chrome tape has the same reflective properties of any metal in that it reflects infrared (ie heat) as well as light. This can create those infamous hot spots which can damage plants. Mylar scatters heat, so it's better in that respect.
One thing to note though: mylar is not quite as reflective as many people will tell you, it's really only about 90% reflective, not 98 or 99%. Still, it's the most reflective stuff out there.
Spray adhesive, which you can spray from a can, works great for attaching mylar to flat surfaces.
Not to jack but how much more effective is mylar than white paint?
In all my readings flat white is claimed to be about 65% . Mylar is claimed to be upwards of 90% - and mylar can also cause hotspots in small confined space situations .Quote:
Originally Posted by Chronisseur
I've been seeing ppl. at other sites lining cabinets w/ something called "Refletix" avalible at Homedepot ? Does anyone have any feedback on this product ? Is it as useless as your average roll of aluminum foil ?
Crispi :jointsmile:
Depends on the paint, but about 5-10 percentage points more effecient.Quote:
Originally Posted by Chronisseur
PC :smokin:
Thanks everyone for the help, I hadn't thought about the heat with the tape.
Gracias amigos!:stoned:
I use panda plastic, and it works great. Its black on one side and white on the other. Its pretty reflective, and is very durable and easy to use. Its some type of poly plastic, its the stuff Jorge Cervantes recommends.
what stores carry mylar? does home depot have it? what section? thanks.
Panda plastic is excellent tho I've found that it isn't 100% light-proof so I use a double thickness in critical areas. For flat surfaces you can't beat Diamond Reflective Sheeting- to quote-" Diamond Reflective Sheeting is 'diamond pressed' which increases light diffusion in the grow room meaning no more hotspots! It is also easier to handle and more resistant to creasing than other types of reflective sheeting on the market. It protect's against heat and moisture with EMP (Encapsulated Metal Protection) technology and gives an even light distribution due to the diamond pattern.
100% Lightproof
50% more reflective than standard black & white sheeting
Flame Retardant with Total Blackout". It's a lot stiffer than mylar & virtually crease-proof. The plastic covering makes it a doddle to clean- I use it for my growroom (wardrobe) floor. Three times the price of ordinary mylar so a bit costly for large areas tho.
I have never tried to work with Mylar however my experience with Panda Plastic has been nothing but great.
It is inexpensive at $1.50/ft - 1 ft yields 1 x 10 ft length.
It is easy to cut and wrinkles don't matter much.
It is washable and quite durable. (Try washing mylar with bleach after a grow and tell me how that works for you...hehe)
It is locally available and doesn't make people think, hmmmmm what does he need nine rolls of Mylar for?
Just my 2 cents based on a first time experience.
that 'Reflectix', and other brand names, is pretty much like Mylar, bonded to various materials (Google 'reflective insulation') ... it's in big rolls for spreading in your attic ... it seems to be the 'new wave' of heat insulation for housing ... pretty expensive, as several web sources, seem to only sell it in huge rolls (their 'target customer' is building contractors, etc...) ... the main claimed benefit is that it reflects heat, and doesn't pass moisture ... I have previously seen lists that place flat white paint up around 85% reflectivity, so I used to use it (no idea what the correct numbers are, but it was damned bright when I stuck my head in the cabinet :D)... now, I have Mylar, and am planning on a new cabinet ... it's a tossup, I may just go back to flat-white paint, or, those white Melamine-surfaced panels at HD ... the Mylar is just too fragile, even washing with Windex and a soft cloth dulls the surface ... :smokin:Quote:
Originally Posted by xcrispi