DIY Reflectors from a Baking Pan

[Dan F]

I picked up some 65W Compact Fluorescent ballasts and bulbs on clearance for a really good deal - $19.99 for a Sunpaq dual ballast and $14.99 each for the two UVL 12,000K/Actinic bulbs. The total cost was under $50 for 130 watts of CF lighting!

I was wondering what to use for a reflector when I thought of a pile of aluminum baking pans I had.

I cut a 24"x18" pan in half and then cut off the sides of the pans at either end jut above the transition between side and bottom. A little grinding to smooth things off and a few holes for mounting and it was ready to go.

I plan to polish it, but I need to get an aluminum polishing disc for my angle grinder.

 

[john73738]

Great use of what you got around the house.
You are a true diy'er

Gonna have to use this

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

 

[KaiserSousay]

Pretty clever.
But how you gonna make enchiladas now?

 

[Dan F]

Great use of what you got around the house.
You are a true diy'er

Gonna have to use this

Posted on mobile.monsterfishkeepers.com

The best part is they were free! I picked up a pile of pans as salvage and then figured out that most of them are too big for my oven...

 

[gseith]

If you get ambitious and want a little more reflection you could wrap your pans in mylar. It's cheap and is easy to work with.

 

[Dan F]

If you get ambitious and want a little more reflection you could wrap your pans in mylar. It's cheap and is easy to work with.

Not a bad idea!

I think if I polish them they should be a lot more reflective, but mylar would be even more reflective. The bulbs I have now have the internal reflector as well.