hi folks, was just wondering about making i simple reflector out of wood. thin mdf or ply maybe 6mm. it would obliously be mylar covered and only housing a 125w enviro so heat shouldnt be a prob well im going to make one tomorrow and post the pics, if anything it will give you all a good laugh

I have enough trouble moving my tin one about, an MDF one would weigh a lot.

hi pall, i mount all mine on those roller hangin tings, 6mm mdf is reasonably light, butt will post a pic when ive done it, only a prototype obviously, what gets me is the price of normal one with just a few bends in it, major rip off its only for raising seedlings basically so will aim to have an intense as possible downward projection

I seem to recall someone doing a DIY one with a piece of shiny metal (aluminium, perhaps) a while ago, and it being pretty cheap to do. Sorry, would do a search for it, but I can't be arsed ( sorry, my ma always told me that honesty is the best policy).

D'oh browserfart

yeah read that too it was a aluminium closure plate and quie flimsy, th weight of the holder and enviro would bend it to fuck (and i havnt got a rivet gun) cheers though

Courtesy of Vlad, "Not if you run a cable tie round the ballast part of the enviro attaching this to the reflector" Sorted mine.

you are on the ball , superb, off to plumbers merchant first thing, many thanks wicked idea

Meant to say, tie the cable tie round the ballast just back from where the glass tubes enter it, drill a hole through the top of the reflector and pass the free end of the tie up through this, tie off with a knot.

Wasn't my idea, it was Vlads.

Not a problem at all. I've made a few out of wood in the past and the only worry is hot spots. But with a 125w enviro, that won't be a problem at all. An alternative to mylar coating (which you would have to stretch and secure tight with NO wrinkles) is merely painting it white. Very cheap.

That said, I wouldn't bother making them out of wood nowadays. I go to my local iron mongers/ metal workers and buy a 8 foot x 4 foot sheet of mottled aluminium, 1mm thick, for £20 and cut out a load of shades. They also make me up the steel L shaped brackets for the lamp holders for £1.50 each. Jobs a goodun.

i made mine out of ply and crisp packets m8, same thing i make all of my enviro reflectors out of.

hid i would only use metal for them.

Fucking typical theres me a wondering how am i gonna make a reflector for my enviro's, shall i use wood covered mylar i say to myself NAH best not i says best use metal i says so off i go to pgt's pick up a nice bit of thin metal sheeting ( nice one once again mate ).
But would a mylar and wood reflector handle 4 x enviros?

sp if yuo want to use wood go for hardboard cot to size and leave to soak in a bath of cold water until flexible bend and hold in place with cable ties or bend it until you can get a bucket on either end and leave to dry itll stay in that shape it worked for me mate

A long as you have a block and tackle.

If i set 2 fans in it extracting as well ?
Not bent any metal yet still time to go for wood
Dunno whether to put 4 in a row or two and two intermittent from either end

some good ideas there. ive got a similar problem looming. i want to buy a 200w enviro jobby to go with my red 125w, but i'll need to build another reflector cos this diy one wont fit 2. but it needs to be the same size reflector!
this 1 is made of wood painted white. its aprox 50cm X 30cm x 15cm with a space of about 3-4cm between it and the wall.
What's the best design i can use to maximise the small amount of space i have.
the official enviro reflector would never fit!!!

duno if it'd be easier using wood again and tryin to reuse this reflector or go for a metal job. this 1 has worked great tho!

(dont mean to hijack just didnt see point in startin such a similar thread)
rocky