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i just covered my bike frame with some black reflective vinyl (Arlon's "Reflecta-Cal"). the bike frame is black, and the black vinyl blends nicely -- until the headlights hit it!
i think tomorrow i'll cut some flourescent green vinyl into 1/6" strips and stripe on some green flames.
i wonder if i can sell this idea to the sort of people who spend $2000 on a bike frame?
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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Post a pic when it's done. I hope you never need to remove that Reflective vinyl though. I use Arlon reflective & it was quite a pain cleaning off my truck 2 weeks ago.
Sounds really neat, I'd also like to see how it turns out. Now about those characters that pay 2K for a bike - typically they spend that kind of cash because it is really light weight and the reflective (although a minute amount) will add the grams, etc. to the overall weight. I don't mind myself, if I want a lighter bike I need to loose the weight myself not the bike
Go for those guys and see if they bite. If they do - way to go!
-------------------- Brian Diver PDQ Signs Everett, Wa
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turns out that the bike shop wants to buy the material themselves to sell to the customers. (they get some kind of 3M reflective now, and it costs them $4 for a small strip.. and only comes in the silver/grey). i'll just sell it for my cost plus a nice 40 percent mark-up (which brings the price down to about $1.36 per inch, for the 24" wide material).
does anybody have any thoughts on a better or different brand to use? the Calon went on very easily, and conformed so well that i can still read the "Bianchi" decal underneath. would a different brand be more removal-friendly?
and yes, when it's all done i'll send a picture.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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Scooter, I lettered a white van for a lock and key company a few years ago with the black reflective. He called the next day all ecstatic and excited about the awesome reflective properties. When you take your photos, be sure it is in a darkened shop or at night with the flash. The flash really lights up the reflective vinyl. A daytime photo without the flash just does not do it justice.
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 816 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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thanks John, yes, i'm going to take a "night" photo AND a "day" photo.
i'm been checking into all the various reflective films available -- there are (at least) 3 different "engineering grade" films made by 3M, plus Oracal, Arlon, Avery, and a few others.
does anybody have any suggestions on a better film to use (or ones to avoid at all costs)? i'm happy with the Arlon, but i can get a few of the others more cheaply.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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