The Orchid Garden

Slivered Mylar Source?

Question:

I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks.

Response:

: I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. : Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware : shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks. Look in your yellow pages under plastics. There’s a company in California (and possibly elsewhere) called Tap Plastics (which in my opinion is outrageously priced) which carries different types of plastics for projects (including rolls of reflective mylar). There may be such a dealer near you, or (if you’re lucky) a wholesale plastics dealer which will sell retail as well (that’s how I acquired acrylic sheeting at a fourth of the cost that most people sell it for). Something to note about attaching the mylar – I used contact adhesive (a spray can) to attach it to acrylic sheet (6′ x 2′ sheets). It didn’t exactly come out smooth like a mirror. I wouldn’t know how to get it smooth without more experimenting. I’m just warning you if you’re expecting a perfect mirror-look. -j

Response:

I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks.

        I would think a craft store would be best, but I’ll tell you what I did.  I killed two birds with one stone by buying a silver faced (both sides) "bubble wrap" type of insulation.  Comes in a roll of 20 x 3 feet, or longer.  Found this at the local Home Depot type place.  That way my plant room is reflective and insulated!  Might be overkill for a light box. Another place to buy mylar sheets would be Alternative Garden Supply, or your local equivalent hydroponics outlet.  I’d give you the number but once again it and my computer are in different locales.  E-mail me if you need the number.         A coat of glossy white paint works pretty darn well too, and is easier to find.  Cheaper than mylar, too. Rob  Rob’s rules to live by:                        | Send me seeds!   (1) There is always room for one more orchid. |   (2) There is no rule 2.                       | Future starving PhD.    (2a) When one has insufficient credit to buy |    Rob has a homepage (ooh, high tech!):  http://pubweb.acns.nwu.edu/~rhalgren

Response:

I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks.

Two thoughts – Theatrical supply and a college bookstore.  Mylar products are used in theatre for many many things and you might talk to one, especially lighting suppliers, and make a find or get a suggestion. Also, when I was taking Landscape Architecture classes in college I had to get some pretty outrageous art supplies from the bookstore.  If there is a college near you call their art department or check out their largest bookstore. Sam

Response:

Gosh, for that matter, if its only for a box, why not get a few of those silvered baloons and line the box with them? I got some silvered mylar at a company called TAP Plastics, here in California, at a cost of   $2.10 or $2.90 per sq ft. and the 10 lin ft I bought cost ~ $60. So there has GOT to be a cheaper way. K Barrett – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks.

Response:

I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks.

Hydrofarm (advertises in Orchids) has some in their catalog. — ***                 …Kirby    (Kirby A. Smith)                 *** ***  Opinions expressed herein are entirely those of the author. ***

Response:

Thanks for all the leads to this stuff.  Actually, the "box" is 8′x6′x2′ so the balloon idea doesn’t work, but I did find something called Alumacool from an outfit in BC thanks to one of you folks.  this stuff has 97% reflectivity and only costs $1.80 per 6′x1′ chunk.  It is also cloth backed so it doesn’t tear or wrinkle like mylar and is easy to get a nice smooth surface.  Thanks again.

Response:

I am looking for a source of slivered mylar to line my orchid light box. Does anyone know where to look — petshops, craftshops and hardware shops in Northern Virginia are no help so far.  Thanks.

How about using the emergency blankets that you can get at sporting goods shops. They are very reflective and I believe are made from a thin mylar.

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