DIY: Single CFL Bulb Reflector - So Cheap it's practically free

[Mystic]

Ok, so here's the deal...I've been growing with CFLs for a while now and kept getting frustrated with the amount of lost light and reflector options...so being the pot smoker that I am, came up with this idea...may be new, may be old...but regardless here it is.

What I bought:

Dixie Paper Bowls
Foil

What I needed:

Scissors

All I did was experiment with the size of the hole and basically just cut a hole in the center of the bottom of the bowl about the same size as the ballast part of the bulb...I then wrapped the inside of the bowl with foil with the satin side facing out. I then took off the bulb, gently slid the bowl over the ballast...and wha-la...you get what's in the picture...seems to be working beautifully...no more lost light and now my box is ugly as poo...so that's always kind of funny!


Anyhow, hope everyone appreciates my stoner idea!
-bonghit-


Oh and those of you worried about fire, I can hold the bulb in my hand, so we should be ok!

















The other pictures weren't meant to be uploaded in this thread...sorry.

[Hanky danky]

haha, very very nice bro.. The stoners creativity will never cease to amaze me.. I think i am going to do that w/ my cfls.. Mad props.

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by Hanky danky

haha, very very nice bro.. The stoners creativity will never cease to amaze me.. I think i am going to do that w/ my cfls.. Mad props.

I'm glad that you like it...I'm sure most CFL users could use this...so i figured what the hell...give it a shot.

Post some pics up once you get yours done.

[ShuttleX]

I realize I am likely just paranoid, but I would be a bit hesitant to wrap any lamp with paper... even if it was covered in foil. All it would take is for that paper to get hot enough in someones small grow cabinet made out of wood...

[hashaman]

If you can hold a bulb in your hand, there's no way that the bulb is anywhere near the requred 451dF to burn paper...

Any estimates on increased efficiency?

[reddertheeye]

Greetings from Ireland man .i have been trying to deal with the same issue myself and in the end i cannabalised some desk lamps but i think your cheap idea gives a better spread of light .Be lucky !

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by hashaman

If you can hold a bulb in your hand, there's no way that the bulb is anywhere near the requred 451dF to burn paper...

Any estimates on increased efficiency?

I have no clue man...but you can see a clear difference in the brightness on the leaves...so we'll see.

[RevErenCE]

very innovative idea bru, but It really is not worth the effort as foil does not reflect all the colors in the spectrum, and unfortunately those it does not reflect are the ones plants use to synthesise the Co2 into those buds you all have come to love. Rather spray those plates flat white, as white reflects more of what the plants need.

Still, very innovative man.

[amsterdamage]

those are nice looking plants
I can't believe you can grow such good plants with such small bulbs, even if you are using eight of them! ..incredible!! I'm going to have to try this


I used an old street light for my first grow, yep those things that you walk under on the street!!
Some guy was getting them free from somewhere and putting plugs on them, all I had to do was plug it in and I was up and growing. It weighed a LOT and got real hot but it worked.

These little lights of yours look amazing - light-weight, cool and probably not energy hungry either


Where do you buy them from, hardware stores??


Thanks man

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by amsterdamage

those are nice looking plants
I can't believe you can grow such good plants with such small bulbs, even if you are using eight of them! ..incredible!! I'm going to have to try this


I used an old street light for my first grow, yep those things that you walk under on the street!!
Some guy was getting them free from somewhere and putting plugs on them, all I had to do was plug it in and I was up and growing. It weighed a LOT and got real hot but it worked.

These little lights of yours look amazing - light-weight, cool and probably not energy hungry either


Where do you buy them from, hardware stores??


Thanks man

I got these from Home Depot or Lowe's or Walmart or Target or somewhere like that. Sylvania 2700K bulbs for most and then I think there is 2 Helvetica 2700K too. All are 26W which converts to 100W Incadescent.


RevErenCE - Any idea where you can find the spectrums of light that foil reflects or are you just repeating something you've heard? Because if there is one, it should be a sticky for all those people who use foil to read. I know it reflects the heat alot more than mylar, but never heard this noise about spectrums of light...Do say more...??

Articles to consider????

[chiefMOJOrisin]

Those are very time/money efficient. One thing I might suggest is using mylar instead of foil. Foil doens't reclect as well as mylar... not even close actually. Aslo, the ripples and folds in the foil can cause the light to become focused in a beam that burns your plants.

Using mylar instead of foil kinda kills the money effieciency....but it would make those reflectors awesome.

[fdebozo]

Originally Posted by ShuttleX

I realize I am likely just paranoid, but I would be a bit hesitant to wrap any lamp with paper... even if it was covered in foil. All it would take is for that paper to get hot enough in someones small grow cabinet made out of wood...

even if it's covered in foil? the foil would flame up just the same.

[StandUp&GetHigh]

i typed in "reflector" in the search b/c im looking for a REALLY cheap way to reflect light from my cfl's and this was the first thing that came up...perfect! thanks for sharing the idea man.

p.s. ive seen many, many, many people using foil to reflect light, it cant be THAT bad can it? anyways, the price of fuckin aluminum foil makes up for any inefficiencies it might have

[demiurge714]

i made these and they seem to work pretty good..+rep man thanks

[Mystic]

Originally Posted by demiurge714

i made these and they seem to work pretty good..+rep man thanks

I'm glad that they are working for you. I've seen a pretty tight nugget formed under these reflectors so far...I have one that I cut the hole too big and I need to get it redone, but other than that I'm pretty stoked. Glad you are too!

Thanks for the +rep