Metallic Spraypaint in Canopy?

jon770

jon770

Member
Has anyone tried putting chrome metallic spray paint inside a canopy? See these 2 links:
http://www.rustoleum.com/product.asp...ct_id=23&SBL=1
http://www.rustoleum.com/product.asp...ct_id=42&SBL=1
I was going to paint it white, but while at HD I noticed reflective chrome spraypaint, and thought that might work even better than white paint (seeing that it will basically make the inside of the canopy one huge reflector). Has anyone tried using this? I would probably put a couple coats of poly on top of it to seal the paint in there....
If this is not a good idea, should I just use regular exterior white hi-gloss paint with several layers of poly on top?
 
my way

my way

Active Member
You want to use a FLAT white as it reflects the same amount as a gloss, but won't create hot spots. It will reflect the light in a more even amount.
 
jon770

jon770

Member
Do I need to seal it with polyurethane (or something similar) after applying the flat white?
If not: Won't that create a problem with moisture and salt creep?
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
i dont think it would work too good.. most paint dont reflect much light when sprayed onto wood.. they only reflect good when sprayed onto things like plastic or other metals.. why dont you just buy some mylar and then tape it inside your hood?? mylar is super duper reflective and not that all expensive.
 
jon770

jon770

Member
Originally Posted by ThaNgBom
why dont you just buy some mylar and then tape it inside your hood?? mylar is super duper reflective and not that all expensive.
If I was going to use Mylar, why not just line the inside w/ tin foil? (that's a serious question, I'm not being sarcastic)
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
tin foil would work but it's nowhere close to being reflective as mylar.. think mylar is like 95% reflective or more... my bro have some in his hood.. anyhow.. it's as or even more reflective then a mirrow.. i mean.. i can see myself GOOD...
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
mylar come in a roll, kinda like aliminum.. it's acryally a film like... some home d. sell mylar.. if not you can buy it online just like everything els.. ( think my bro ordered some .. it was like 4' x 25' ) for like $25 shiped...
 
my way

my way

Active Member
Originally Posted by ThaNgBom
i dont think it would work too good.. most paint dont reflect much light when sprayed onto wood.. they only reflect good when sprayed onto things like plastic or other metals.. why dont you just buy some mylar and then tape it inside your hood?? mylar is super duper reflective and not that all expensive.
That statement makes no sense at all. Why would the sustrate you are painting have anything to do with how it reflects light?
 
Y

yqzxwrt

Guest
I would suggest mylar. It is 98% reflective. glass mirrors are only about 50-60% reflective. I do not remember how reflective aluminum is, but it will create hot spots unless it is completely wrinkle free(nearly impossible). Flat white paint is the easiest, hot spots are negated but it is not as reflective as mylar. If you are going to use mylar, find the thickest you can as the thin stuff tears very easily. I researched this alot (and I mean alot) when I was building a hydroponic system for tomato plants :thinking:
 
chipmaker

chipmaker

Active Member
I can see the point about not working as gfood if sprayed on wood, as wood has grain etc to it, so it creates various irregularities, unlike a perfectly flat smooth surface would provide.
Mirrow stuff doe snot work as well even though one would think it would due to its thickness the light is absorbed and bent passing through the glass or acrylic until it reaches the reflective surface on the back side then gets bent and absorbed again on the way to the tank, so you do loose a fair portion of lights, although it may make it look brighter, a lux meter reveals a different story....
If you go with a reflector polished metal is best. Mylar can be had in self stick chrome and solid colors that works pretty darn good. Look in hobby shops for stuff called Monokote. Its available in heatshrink type, which can be heat shrunk in place (actually heat shinks it to remmove bubbles and wrinkles and activates the adhesive, so its not really like shrink wrap mylars) or peel off backing self stick adhesive type. The self stick sheets are about 48" x 6 or 8" wide, and costs about $5 a sheet. Works as good as your go9nna get without a metal reflector. My next choice would be white paint.
 
adamc1303

adamc1303

Active Member
Does anyone have apic of the inside of their lined canopy using paint, mylar or tin foil? a picture is worth a million words.
 
jon770

jon770

Member
Originally Posted by Adamc1303
Does anyone have apic of the inside of their lined canopy using paint, mylar or tin foil? a picture is worth a million words.
Yes, please. Besides having a function to it, I am also concerned with how it looks when I finally choose the inside for the canopy.
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
Originally Posted by My Way
That statement makes no sense at all. Why would the sustrate you are painting have anything to do with how it reflects light?

..... well... if you havnt notice.. paint have differnt turnouts accoring to what it is that is being painted on... try painting water color on metal... see if it stick good.. or try coloring sand with a stick of chalk... as for paint on wood... wood absorb it like.. and gives a 'dullness' to paint..
 
chipmaker

chipmaker

Active Member
ThaNgBom
I agree that paint on a wooden surface that doe snot have a lot od attention to sealing etc with grain structure etc can and will divert light around to where its not needed, unlike a smooth surface such as plastic or metal, but yu have totally lost me on the last post with coloring sand with chalk or using water colors on metal etc etc. Latex is often used on metal, and wood if sealed will have a finish that is either satin, flat, semi or hi gloss according to sealer / primer / paint used.......But just becasue its sealed does not mean its necessarily planar. as there is still hi or low spots according to grain structure and type of wood, although it may appear to the

[hr]
eye its smooth and flat and slick and shiney as a new born babys butt, but its not.But it certainly does not have any thing to do with adding dullness to paint.
 
thangbom

thangbom

Active Member
i was just stating how certain things dont go well together in the case of reflectivity ( did i make up my own word?) such as how it is hard to paint metal w/ watercolor or to use chalk in the sand.. it may work but not very well..
 
phixer

phixer

Active Member
A half moon shaped reflector made from thin sheet metal shouldnt cost too much, chrome plating it would be optimal. As you mentioned you could use Chrome spray paint but it will not be as reflective as plating. Isolate the reflector from the outer hood enclosing it using heat sinks to space it and dissapate the heat generated by the lamps and use a fan on each end. Use a sheet of glass to isolate it from the saltwater. Mylar is good stuff, we use it when preserving aircraft and call it barrier paper. I dont know how well it would withstand heat from something like a MH lamp though?
 
my way

my way

Active Member
Originally Posted by ThaNgBom
..... well... if you havnt notice.. paint have differnt turnouts accoring to what it is that is being painted on... try painting water color on metal... see if it stick good.. or try coloring sand with a stick of chalk... as for paint on wood... wood absorb it like.. and gives a 'dullness' to paint..
Then you have'nt prepped it properly. You have to do your homework. Watercolors are not made for metal. Color sanding is done with sandpaper not chalk ( Sorry but that is the stupidest thing I've heard this week) As for painting on wood you need to prime it first. If you don't know what your talking about, you should'nt be giving suggestions.
 
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