Lighting CFL Reflector

[Blissmesome]

Hey everybody, first post, first grow

I had a budget of around 300$ which was fine but I couldnt get lamp reflectors for some reason.
I should have had more $ but cigarettes is sucking money! (quitting any day now)

Anyway, to my point.
Had no reflector, so I had to come up with something.
First of all, Is it really necessary? To me it looked as if it were helping. But I heard doing without is not much different.

After giving it much thought, I came up with an idea to use a4 paper, 3 layers and roll it up in a cone shape over the lamp and clip it together.
It work quiete well but worried it could catch up fire.
Also the lamp burnt some chemicals from it and it stenkt my cab' for some days

Anyway, - Should I use a reflector, have any home-made ideas?

-I would post pics one day, I just have yellow leaves prob that im trying to fix and Im proud, but not enough to upload em yet.
Trying to fix 'em so far not (N) problem, heat issue is being observed and will lastly check pH balance as I couldn't get pH test.

P.S no mylar, because I can't find it except for far big cities.

Much love, fell in love with growing

:Will have another 50$ for equip from not-so-far hydro shop, will get all I need from there!
:Using 23w cfl x6.

 

[Micro]

Mate i am a noob, so i began with cardboard box, cfl's and foil...i made the reflector of White Painted cardboard...still working

 

[Balarama]

It depends on your light position and structure.
I measured the light intensity with some spiral cfls and they gave more light when put in vertical position, the other design(like tubes) are better positioned horizontally. They sure require some reflection, because otherwise light gets lost upwards.

I suggest two options:

1. use a white cardboard, bend it and fix with duct tape or wire. Leave a small space on top to let the heat up.
2. get some car windscreen reflector(the one to use in hot summers) and shape it in a desirable shape, then fix with duct tape. Again, remember to leave some space for heat.

I have a veg-box with 6*25W cfls and had only option 2. reflective material. It worked pretty good, but still not optimal. I found out the windscreen reflectors still let some blue light thru, so not near 100% reflectivity.
So maybe try the first option, it's a very cheap solution, but should be effective.

Good luck!

 

[ArseNick]

I don't know if your in US, but walmart sells work light fixtures in the automotive section
which work really well, even has a clip on it, so you can attach it almost anything and
get the light directed to where you need it. Here is a picture of what I'm talking about.

 

[spellbound]

Those spot lights work good for cfl's. Also there are some videos on you-tube for making a cheap cfl light reflector. Lots of options really but using a paper product is not a wise choice.

 

[Blissmesome]

Thats exactly what Im looking for, hoping to find it in the hydro shop.
I went to electronic store and they didn't had it, was really confused after that.

Btw, I use 23w cfl, 6 of em -4 blue and 2 yellow (6500,2700)
Works good now, but I have 3 plants, should have gone for 2.
One of them is a monster btw!, came from a bomb seed!