I have a client that wants to have the numbers on an HDU sign to be Reflective.
The letters are prismatic carved, thus they do not lend themselves to using reflective vinyl...besides, I want to try paint on this one.
The sign will be an External Directional sign with house numbers pointing in different directions. The numbers need to reflect when "hit" by the lights of traffic.
In your experience, which brand/type of Paint did you use and how well did it reflect? Naturally the angle at which the light hits the paint will be a factor, but under near-perfect conditions, which would be the best??
Thanks Bj
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
Reflective paints are not very effective. Most don't last or reflect little light. Your best option would be to buy the glass beads and sprinkle them into the wet paint. Definitely test first to make sure the daytime color is acceptable. White letters would probably be the best color choice. Many reviews on the glass beads said reflectivity was like freshly painted lines on the highway, in fact one of the glass bead brands on Amazon said they were the same beads the highway departments use.
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
i agree with sherbert...)))))))))))
Posted by old paint (Member # 549) on :
Now I've worked with Reflective ControlTac vinyl. I don't know, but it would seem an easier option. I would get the surface painted same color as the reflective vinyl, white in your case. And have the paint slick as glass then get that reflective vinyl on it while the paint is very fresh. Plus, how much are you going to have to spend on the reflective paint compared with the area to be painted. People don't care how you do the job and long as it does or looks they want it to do.
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
The beads work well but can be a little tricky to use. You have to get the paint laid on heavy enough for the beads to adhere well but not to heavy as sags and brush strokes will be noticeable at night.
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Here's a couple of possible solutions.
1. Use the reflective vinyl, but have the prism portion Edge printed with a 30% screen of black. Then cut, mask, and adhere.
2. Again, using reflective vinyl, cut the entire line of text, and apply to the substrate. Next, cut the prism portion fron the transparent "true shadow" vinyl, and adhere that over the previously applied text.
You'd get the desired prismatic effect with a much brighter reflective quality than using the glass beads.
Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
. . . you can get glass beads at Sherwin Williams too - but 50lb bags only. . .
Anyone remember when you could get a little pint-can of 'em from SignPlex . . .?
YOUNGER PERSON: huh? What's 'SignPlex'?
lol - . . . glass beads in pint and quart cans went the way of Saphire Brush Oil and One Shot Bulletine colours . . .
YOUNGER PERSON: Huh? What is Saphire brush oil and bulletine colours . . .??
REALLY showin' off our age now aint we . . . Posted by Sheila Ferrell (Member # 3741) on :
btw . . . The best reflective paint is sold by the same company who has that striped paint . . .
Also sells the wire-stretcher and several other handy tools . . .
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