Reflective painting

[gramsci.antonio]

Hi guys,


has anyone tried using any kind of reflective paint on wood, rather than mylar? Could someone give me an advice?

 

[Whatever]

I always used flat white paint and on some areas white side out panda film where more appropriate. Mylar is better than flat white paint but much more expensive and gets messed up pretty easily and needs to be replaced fairly regularly. Ceiling white works fine...some say have the store add extra titanium dioxide, basically the 'white', but not necessary IMO.

If on wood like wood paneling or something just tack up some panda film and call it good.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

Nothing is going to match the reflectivity of white paint that has titanium dioxide in the base (~98%). Nothing that can be painted anyway. I don't think the chrome paints come close.
If titanium white paint is hard to find, a basic, cheap, flat white enamel is very close and will do a fine job.

I wonder if anyone has ever taken and published the light readings from just the reflected light? And if that light alone is enough to grow a plant. I seriously doubt it. Although I stick with what conventional wisdom does as well, I am one of those who feels that the reflectivity of the walls is far from as important as how efficiently the light is being presented to the plant in the first place.

 

[Oscuridad]

another vote for any plain old flat white.

so much tidier (and cheaper!) than mylar.

 

[Quazi]

Nothing is going to match the reflectivity of white paint that has titanium dioxide in the base (~98%). Nothing that can be painted anyway. I don't think the chrome paints come close.
If titanium white paint is hard to find, a basic, cheap, flat white enamel is very close and will do a fine job.

I've heard of people mixing a tube of titanium white into flat white to give increased reflective results. I haven't tried it myself, but I am probably going to.

You can find titanium white in the craft stores. It may not be economical for painting the entire inside of your cabinet though. Here's what $4.00 got me:


A lot of people recommend using titanium white for the inside of your reflectors if you plan on making them; just another thing to consider.

-Q

 

[hoosierdaddy]

That one tube would fortify plenty enough white paint to do several cabs worth.

If you consider painting a reflector, you need to consider using a high heat application paint. The best to use is engine paint or BBQ paint, although finding a white in BBQ paint will be hard to do.
Any white automotive engine spray will do, but DupliColor has top shelf heat paint out that is fortified with ceramic. Probably won't find a more durable white spray paint.
Using regular paint on a reflector is a mistake.

 

[Quazi]

I would not recommend using paint directly on the reflector if you do not have adequate cooling either.

Thanks for the recommendation on stretching the small tube. Maybe I will supplement my flat white after all.



As always, thanks for the great info hoosierdaddy!

-Q

 

[crizzo]

i got reflective road stripping paint and painted one of my rooms, got it at home depot, used it on concrete floors and drywall walls and ceiling.
works good
about $20 a gal.
easy to clean and made to be abused