Reflective tape

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 8:38 am

I can not find reflective 1/2 inch tape for under $200 a yard. So went to St. Vinnies and picked up an old movie screen. Will this work and will goop hold it on a bike frame? Could add tape around it at top and bottom o each strand.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 9:13 am

Oh, GOOP'll hold ANYTHING. At the ends of the sections of screen (that's a very clever idea, BTW) run a little bead of GOOP and squish it around with a wet fingertip to keep the edge from coming up. The residue'll peel off your finger like rubber cement.

Does it have to be just plain reflective? There's striped reflective hazard tape available for significantly less than 200 a yard....I really like the strips that are about 2' by4", alternating red and white sections, made for the backs of trucks. They really "pop" when a light hits them.

Dress the rest of the bike with Krylon metallic silver paint- (prime first) It's got a good reflective and somewhat sparkly finish that's very durable. DO NOT USE CHROME PAINT. I've tried LOTS of chrome paints, and they're ALL crap.

I've broken so many mirrors in my life that 7 years doesn't scare me....How about some GOOPed-on mirror bits too? You can even grout around the sharp edges with more GOOP. Even use the BLACK GOOP for contrast!

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:34 am

The DOT reflective tape on the trucks runs about $150 a yard or more. larry used to manage a shuttle and they had DOT stripes on those vehicles; you could see if he was home from three blocks away, very bright stuff. I think it is rated to reflect at least a mile. The company had it applied to the vans by automotive shops, larry never could get his hands on it in a roll.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 11:54 am

Strips of VERY GOOD if not DOT grade shinytape should be available at the hardware store in a pack of three or four for ten bucks....There's a good Chinese-tool-and-toy place near me where I pick mine up for half of that.
I REALLY like the reflective honeycomb-pattern yellow sign aluminum. Once in a blue moon the road commission guys take their scrap to the yard for beer money, and I get a few bits.

Post by **AntiM** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:15 pm

Yeah, I think the DOT stuff is the priciest. I do have some good quality reflective tape I got in Japan, but I doubt I could still find a source for it. My friends who were willing to hunt stuff up for me in Yokosuka have all moved on.

Sandwichman · Post by **Sandwichman** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 12:33 pm

So are you looking for tape like this

Chai Guy · Post by **Chai Guy** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:31 pm

Not tape, and not cheap, but WOW this stuff is bright http://www.thatscoolwire.com/store/cate ... goryID=165

or how about some glow in the dark paint?
http://www.readysetglo.com/Heat_n_dip_glowpaint.asp

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Fri Jul 01, 2005 2:56 pm

Chai Guy wrote:Not tape, and not cheap, but WOW this stuff is bright http://www.thatscoolwire.com/store/cate ... goryID=165

or how about some glow in the dark paint?
http://www.readysetglo.com/Heat_n_dip_glowpaint.asp

~
Yuh, make me whimper.$$$$

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:37 pm

Taping reflective movie screen on the bike frame should work (in the daylight), but I'm not a fan of using reflectors at night, because of all the persons/vehicles on the playa that don't use headlamps. I'd suggest wrapping el wire around the frame. Louise and I use a couple of CCTs on our bikes, and the show up like crazy in the dark.

YMWV, as they say.

robotland · Post by **robotland** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 6:14 am

Of course if you've GOT reflectors, bring 'em....It WILL help, and it adds more pretty. But they CERTAINLY do NOT replace lights.

I decided to embrace the Safety Fairy and actually get black-and-yellow stripey tape for the low overheads in the Snowman- The previous warnings consisted of the broken-off head of an old decoy. ("Duck Head"- Get it?)