Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
4/23/11 1:39 p.m.

Does anyone know where I can purchase some diamond grade reflective tape in 8.5 x 11 sheets (larger is fine)?

I would like to find it in black, but white is the second choice.

I've read that the 3M SOLAS is the highest candlepower return, but comes in 150' rolls for $300. All I'm trying to do is add some HI-VIS the bike and it's saddlebags.

triumph5
triumph5 Dork
4/23/11 1:50 p.m.

Call you local Hwy dept? They post the stuff in sheets all the time. Q:Black?

From what I understand, SOLAS grade is only available in white.

That said, if you're doing a large area, paint is probably the most cost effective way to do this, with reflective particles mixed in with the paint (silver metal flake, or aluminum shavings?).

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
4/23/11 1:58 p.m.

I've seen black DOT grade stuff, it will blend into the bike better, but reflects bright white. I'm not sure on actual SOLAS.

Does the paint with particles reflect well?

triumph5
triumph5 Dork
4/23/11 2:06 p.m.

This is for a bike? Why multiple sheets needed. Don't need sheets? Any West Marine has it in 3-4"wide rolls available in any length.

Gretchguy: You've never driven in CA at night. The newer interstate lines look like lazers at night.

EastCoastMojo
EastCoastMojo SuperDork
4/23/11 2:16 p.m.

Chuck picked up some black/charcoal grey reflective sheet from a local sign shop. They even cut it to the size he needed instead of making us buy a "whole" sheet. He used it to cover up some barbed with graphics under the clear coat on his new motorcycle. Looks really good and it's damn reflective when the light hits is just so but just looks black in the sunlight.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
4/23/11 2:17 p.m.

I have some fairly large panniers I would like to highlight. Ideas of cutting a couple logo's out the material is appealing to me.

I commute on the bike in a lot of dusk or dark hours. Ideally, some more reflection on the forks, frame, and panniers.

I'll probably end up with stripes though.

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
4/23/11 2:46 p.m.

Here is a trick that I used to do on bicycles.
If you apply some reflective tape to the sides of the rim, when moving the entire rim will appear reflect as the rim travels around.
Sample:

While looking for a similar picture I found this link to similar for motorcycle.
http://www.streetglo.net/rim.shot.reflective.wheel.tape.html

minimac
minimac SuperDork
4/23/11 6:28 p.m.

Tractor Supply has some red/white stuff that's big enough to cut what you want out of the white part. It's fairly inexpensive and is the same that's used on tractor trailers. Let the kids cut designs out of the red part for their bikes.

RealMiniDriver
RealMiniDriver Dork
4/23/11 11:31 p.m.

The streetglo site that jrw posted has 24x10" black.

Karl La Follette
Karl La Follette Dork
4/24/11 7:28 a.m.

Local Sign shop or local dept transpo sign garage/shop

JThw8
JThw8 SuperDork
4/24/11 9:35 a.m.

I might have some black reflective here. I know I just had some red and blue for a job I did but I thought I came across a roll of black too.

Shoot me an email at jim at misfittoysracing dot com so I dont forget and I'll try to hunt it down this week and cut you off what you need (heck if you want designs I could even run it through the cutter for you)

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
4/24/11 9:10 p.m.

Well, I went and bought some cheap wally-world DOT tape for now. pretty impressive.

JThw8, I will be ordering from you assuming you have the black stuff.

jrw1621
jrw1621 SuperDork
4/25/11 9:59 a.m.

Wow, that is bright. Looks more like it is coming at you rather than going away from you. Some red might be good to add. This much white sort of takes away from the brake light - which could be important.

Grtechguy
Grtechguy SuperDork
4/25/11 10:26 a.m.

yeah, I think I'm going to put some red chevrons in the white

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