Tin Foil as a Mylar replacement?

I am a newer member here, and have been learning quite a LOT from reading around. My question is, I can't find mylar locally, forcing me to buy off ebay as a last resort, before buying the mylar off Ebay, would tin foil work as a replacement or no? Seems kinda similar, but not going to waste my time putting it up if its useless.

Hope to get some help.

Thanks!

BustedHumor said:

I am a newer member here, and have been learning quite a LOT from reading around. My question is, I can't find mylar locally, forcing me to buy off ebay as a last resort, before buying the mylar off Ebay, would tin foil work as a replacement or no? Seems kinda similar, but not going to waste my time putting it up if its useless.

Hope to get some help.

Thanks!

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You can use it if you need to, but use the dull side.

Thanks for your speedy help! Is it suitable for a small first time grow / work mostly the same? I have put a lot of thought into this project, at the same time, I have a hard time separating what is needed for a small 4 plant max setup instead of a huge set up.

dont use tin foil, flat white paint works the 2nd best after mylar. for a 4 plant setup id do a 400w hps with flat white walls. tin foil doesnt reflect the best, is expensive, and is not durable if scraped, and genreally a pain to work with.

Yea, I might go with the flat paint, have read that also, I am working in a (about) 4x7 closet.

Go to walmart camping section and buy emergency blankets.

i paint the walls flat white, it's cheap and easy to clean.

Tin Foil supposedly collects heat spots and can sometimes burn your leaves. Space blankets work the best if you don't have mylar. Space blankets are made to reflect heat unlike tin foil, which absorbs it.

LilStAnKy42023 said:

Tin Foil supposedly collects heat spots and can sometimes burn your leaves. Space blankets work the best if you don't have mylar. Space blankets are made to reflect heat unlike tin foil, which absorbs it.

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space blankets aka emergency blankets are mylar

1. Mylar. 2. Paint. Tinfoil never.

Small first time grow?? WHITE Paint!!! KISS IT (Keep It Simple Sir) Do not use aluminum foil because it WILL create hotspots, unless you use the non reflective side. They may not affect your plant but there is the risk. Mylar is great if white paint isn't sufficient enough for you. But since this is your first grow, and your using 400W if i remember correctly. White walls are fine. For me I have access to mylar and I only place it on the floor. All my walls are always white, it helps things look clean and look uniform and as Kevin stated it's easier to keep clean, and you always want a clean grow space...


Pure...

We just did a short writeup in our journal on how to use tin foil as grow room reflective material. You can find the info here: https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journals/380606-sensi-seeds-mothers-finest-indoor-2.html

Tinfoil won't create hotspots, that's a myth. You can use it, but keep in mind that it's only like 70% reflective, whereas Mylar if around 95%. Flat white paint is even a tad better than Mylar, and might be a better option for ya.

jawbrodt said:

Tinfoil won't create hotspots, that's a myth. You can use it, but keep in mind that it's only like 70% reflective, whereas Mylar if around 95%. Flat white paint is even a tad better than Mylar, and might be a better option for ya.

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@ jawbrodt

Maybe it should be clarified that foil MAY cause hotspots IF no tproperly layed. Meaning there should be as few as possible creases and wrinkles.

I think this is a fair statement...


Pure...

Couldn't find emergency blankets for some reason, so I got a few packs of silver (mylar like) gift wrapping film from a dollar store. There were three or four sheets in a package, and I just papered my walls with it using double stick tape. It seems to be working fine, and you can't get much cheaper than a buck!

I use the mylar emergency blankets. They work great and cost almost nothing. From what I've been told tinfoil when crinkled can act as a sort of prism and create hot-spots and possibly generate fires. That's the scuttlebutt. I have never known anyone that's happened to or actually heard of it happening. It's best to be careful though. Go with the blankets.

That silvery wrapping paper could be mylar! Is it pretty thin and light shines through it? Sometimes you can find mylar at hobby stores or ace hardwares. Most garden centers or photography supply shops carry it too. I can't comment on tin foil as I have never trie it - but people have used it for years, so... Personally ahlf my space is covered in mylar and the other half is a dim yellowish paint (came with the house) and my plants are doing fine. When I build my cabinet I plan on painting the interior white and calling it good. I know the gang here says to use FLAT white paint but can I get away with semi-gloss? Its so much easier to clean!

Yeah, it appears to be thin mylar. You can see thru a single sheet from up close, but with the cardboard backing it works as a fine "wall". I have a closet grow that has two white walls but I needed to have a movable piece for the other two walls to be able to adjust size for the growing plants. Lining a huge cardboard box with the mylar wrapping and splitting it into two halves, I'm able to expand the space as needed. It cost me about $3 and looks like it will last me for several grows easily (I got the new box for free). My plants are now 34" tall and just at the top edge of the box, but I have several more feet of closet height if I need it. There are dollar stores almost everywhere, so if you can't find the emergency blankets, I'd suggest the gift wrap film idea as an alternative.

Pure said:

@ jawbrodt

Maybe it should be clarified that foil MAY cause hotspots IF no tproperly layed. Meaning there should be as few as possible creases and wrinkles.

I think this is a fair statement...


Pure...

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I used to think that same way, myself, until I thought about it a little futher. Let's just say that it was POSSIBLE,...... Being that some guys run 1000 watt HID's very close, with air-cooled reflectors, they are getting intensities well over the 10,000 range, , and that's direct light. For that light to be bounced off the side, then reflected back to the plants, inevitable, the distance from the plants, is going to be increased, which drastically reduces intensity. That, combined with foil's 70% reflectivity(laying flat), is going to knock down intensity to at least 50%, which is a high estimate, compared to what the main colas are receiving, directly. So, in order for you plants to be burned, if it is indeed even possible, the foil would have to be placed very close to the light, then positioned in a way that creates a strong 'lens effect', focusing light, and at least tripling it's intensity. I find it really hard to believe that could be done, even purposely, with a material with such poor reflectivity. IF it could be done, I believe that it could only be done with the most extreme of setups,(1000 watt HPS/MH running at 10" from the colas) and even then, I have my doubts. The light itself, would be more intense than an configuration of foil, could ever produce. No, I've never seen this proved, but, I've never seen a case of 'foil burn' either. But, I'm going to stick with my logic, til I see some real proof, that this is even possible. Knowing how the inverse square law works, combined with the losses from foils reflectivity, the numbers just don't add up, unless some geeks at MIT are experimenting with focusing designs, using foil, and have come up with some unusual configuration that gives it the boost required.

Pure said:

Maybe it should be clarified that foil MAY cause hotspots IF no tproperly layed. Meaning there should be as few as possible creases and wrinkles.

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Yeah, definitely correct. Have personal experience with foil layed with lots of creases. Tons of hot spots in my cabinet, and I laid it down with adhesive (aka HARD AS HELL TO REMOVE). NEVER AGAIN. Just go with flat white paint, trust me.