Home Depot Reflectors

HowdyDoo

HowdyDoo

Well-known member
At some point, someone posted a thread about a type of large, solid reflector from Home Depot. It was a solid panel he was using to bounce sunlight with. I can't seem to find the thread and was wondering if anyone knows what that material might be.
 
I know that some people have purchased the foam core panels (4'x8')... they have a silver lining on one side... then cut them to size...
 
another option in this DIY fashion is to buy the windshield sun screens which come in silver, white or gold... some are two sided as well.

You can get these at Target in the automotive section b/w $8-$12.

I believe, if you read some of the stickies in the Lighting section here, there area lot of links to DIY light kits.
 
It's styrofoam insulation, and comes in 4' x8' sheets. Some are just the white styrofoam, but some have a silver side built in! They come in various thicknesses, from 1" to 1.5" Lowes carries one that is 2", and that is my preference. Rigid, light and strong. Won't bend or flop in the strongest of winds (I've used them in 40mph gusts) Not all home depos or lowes carries them, and it varies by season. They are usually found in the insulation section.

-j
 
Yes, 1.5" or 2" thick white styrofoam sheets cut to various sizes work great as bounce boards. Wrap the edges with gaffers or duct tape to keep them from disintegrating.
 
j said:
It's styrofoam insulation, and comes in 4' x8' sheets. Some are just the white styrofoam, but some have a silver side built in! They come in various thicknesses, from 1" to 1.5" Lowes carries one that is 2", and that is my preference. Rigid, light and strong. Won't bend or flop in the strongest of winds (I've used them in 40mph gusts) Not all home depos or lowes carries them, and it varies by season. They are usually found in the insulation section.

-j
Click to expand...

Are they that strong? I thought those things were pretty brittle. Rigid, but brittle. (If holding in the center during decent wind, it would snap in half.)

I've always gone 4x8 foamcore because of this belief of mine.

-GageFX
 
what do you use as stands,
I always seem to break the foam or leave it a bit loose without the aid of tape..
Just a clamp and a pole?
The silver sided stuff sounds great.
Selection varies from store to store, you can always glue reflective or even textured surfaces on the back of the boards. A little wall spackle and some hot glue can do wonders..
 
I use a light stand and a big ole grip clip. I dont need to adjust angles just height. For the angle I adjust the light source.
 
The 4x8 Styrofoam being referred to is known as Bead Board. It is a standard expendable on any grip truck. It has a softer reflectance than foam core. Yet the silver side is harsh.

J

Try one of these, they are very versatile and small. It is very similar to the first bead board torcher device you mentioned , and it can be used for more than just holding bead board. This is on most grip trucks as well.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=139521&is=REG&addedTroughType=search
 
Bear in mind that the silver insulation board you buy in Home Depot is a HARD flective source. There is no SOFT option as with the industry standard boards. However, you can buy soft source materials and coat the board one side with it.

Another trick is to use the hard souce and bounce it into a white foam board closer to talent for a softer effect, or you can place a 4x4 or 6x6 silk, 1/4 silk, grid cloth or some other similar diffusion near talent and hit the hard source through that.

Sometimes you you alos pop it through a 4x4 fram gelled with 1/4 or 1/2 CTO or straw for a warmer tone.
 
With regards to the Home Depot Foam Core insulation, they are printing a huge blue R in the middle of it throughout the board. How are we dealing with that? Painting it or just letting it go, and if letting it go how does it affect your colors?
 
The big blue R isn't an issue, because if you look closely you'll see that isn't printed on the foam, but rather on a plastic coating which can easily be peeled off the foam.

you can also buy the industry standard reflective matrials (hard and soft) from Norms in north hollywood CA. (818-766-6676) and apply it to whatever sureface you want.
 
Hey Ica, have they moved? I'm not finding a Norm's in North Hollywood, but I am getting one in L.A. (90034). The N.H. Norm's might just not be listed.

I get all my foam from Foam Mart in Burbank.

http://www.foammart.com/foammarthome.html

4'x8' white and black foamcore is under "Specialty Items". (This is "normal" foamcore - coated paper covered foam - not the solid styro like at home depot.)

-GageFX
 
GageFX said:
Are they that strong? I thought those things were pretty brittle. Rigid, but brittle. (If holding in the center during decent wind, it would snap in half.)

I've always gone 4x8 foamcore because of this belief of mine.

-GageFX
Click to expand...

nah man they are strong.... i use them allll the time.
 
I shot a scene today on a train platform, and Man this worked great! Thanks for the DIY suggestion! Made a mess out of the back seat getting them to "fit" in my car.
 
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