Panda film vs orca

does anyone know the difference between orca and panda film? I read orca is 11mil but is it more or less white in some way? I've always used the IR film but I'm cheaping out this time

one is white on the front and black on back.

the other is black on front and white on back.

abe supercro said:

one is white on the front and black on back.

the other is black on front and white on back.

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Are you fuckin with me? I'm way too baked haha. They are the same? Orca is twice the price

Old thread, however I've used both now and to the human eye at least, the orca is noticeably better at the reflections. Several people pointed it out with out being told prior.

dr.tomb said:

Old thread, however I've used both now and to the human eye at least, the orca is noticeably better at the reflections. Several people pointed it out with out being told prior.

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The light meter tests I've seen make it seem like orca is much better as well.

I got panda film and it’s not light proof unless it’s doubled or even tripled if it’s sunlight.
A mil is a 1/1000 of an inch or 0.001 inch so 5.5mil is not as thick as it sounds.

I haven’t tried orca but I might.
Its twice as thick as panda and is supposed to light proof but 11ml is 1.1/100th of an inch thick.

Just bought Panda film, Orca was crazy expensive, so i cheaped out. My room is already light proof, so the thickness isnt so concerning to me, i am wondering tho if i made a mistake in not going with the Orca if its as good as i keep hearing.

Panda will do the job. The orca, for most purposes, is overkill.

zblade said:

I got panda film and it’s not light proof unless it’s doubled or even tripled if it’s sunlight.
A mil is a 1/1000 of an inch or 0.001 inch so 5.5mil is not as thick as it sounds.

I haven’t tried orca but I might.
Its twice as thick as panda and is supposed to light proof but 11ml is 1.1/100th of an inch thick.

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if it's twice as thick, and twice the price; what's the point

Everyone just fastening it with staples?should seams be taped too?

athomegrowing said:

if it's twice as thick, and twice the price; what's the point

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Orca is way more reflective too .

diggs99 said:

Everyone just fastening it with staples?should seams be taped too?

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One should grow out of perfectionism quite quickly in this hobby. Do whatever works, but not much more.

I’ve tested orca, it does what it’s claimed, and will make the room brighter. It’s high quality compared to panda.

But after lots of grows , I use panda on the ceiling , and white paint on the walls .

It’s a lot easier to keep a painted wall clean, then trying to clean behind the film.

Film on the walls, gives another spot for condensation, bugs, mold etc .

diggs99 said:

Everyone just fastening it with staples?should seams be taped too?

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I like tape , it makes it a cleaner n nicer job.
And makes it easier to clean.

I use White duct tape, (duct tape brand with the duck) others will stop sticking over time.
Home Depot carry’s it .

Originally....Thought I was using high quality silver duct tape. Fail.

Gorilla 2x adhesive Duct tape is great so far. Black racing stripes.

Veg

Gorilla is an amazing brand, i have used many of their products, never been disappointed.

TE, that plant is beautiful, she looks very happy and very healthy bud.

diggs99 said:

Gorilla is an amazing brand, i have used many of their products, never been disappointed.

TE, that plant is beautiful, she looks very happy and very healthy bud.

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Thanks, diggs. It's my first attempt at keeping a mother.
Excellent genetics. Considered soil....but I've never grown in soil. Lol

diggs99 said:

Just bought Panda film, Orca was crazy expensive, so i cheaped out. My room is already light proof, so the thickness isnt so concerning to me, i am wondering tho if i made a mistake in not going with the Orca if its as good as i keep hearing.

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I used it in a room already light proof but it took two layers over windows.
You’ll be fine if the room was already light proof.

Gorilla tape works good or if you can find commercial grade duct tape.
Covering walls can trap moisture then mold so I would use white paint if possible versus covering walls.
I removed film from windows and sure enough mold had started.

I thought about that , right now i have just studs showing, no drywall has been installed at all in the room. My thinking was the drywall would absorb moisture, creating mold , so i figured putting up plastic, directly over studs may work better. I wasnt considering the plastic also trapping moisture. .

zblade said:

I got panda film and it’s not light proof unless it’s doubled or even tripled if it’s sunlight.
A mil is a 1/1000 of an inch or 0.001 inch so 5.5mil is not as thick as it sounds.

I haven’t tried orca but I might.
Its twice as thick as panda and is supposed to light proof but 11ml is 1.1/100th of an inch thick.

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Think you might be confused there with metric and imperial. 1mm is 1/1000 of a METRE. Clue is in the name....milli (thousand) metre (erm ....metre).
There are roughly 25mm to an inch (25.4 to be exact). 5mm is roughly 1/5 of an inch and 11mm is just over 2/5”