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Glow In The Dark Vinyl making my brain hurt

Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
Short version of the story...guy orders $1500 worth of signs for his parking lot and wants "those signs that shine when the lights on them." Make him $1500 worth of signs using crystal grade reflective that will blind people driving in the parking lot. He picks them up and installs them.

Calls me and says their plant engineer was walking in the parking lot last night and couldn't see the signs.

Turns out the plant engineer is insisting on glow in the dark signs.

Is there an exterior glow-in-the-dark vinyl out there with a reasonably long glow time on it? All I'm finding is interior with a 30 minute glow time. I know I can paint them, I'm just really hoping to avoid that because I've never been happy with my results painting backgrounds with the stuff (looks splotchy in the day and swirly at night, even sprayed).
 
Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
Pat White said:
Man....people are dumb.
Click to expand...

I'm beginning to believe that intelligence is a big circle. You've got dumb at the bottom, the more you learn the further around the circle you go until you peak at the top, if you keep learning you gradually work back around the other side to stupid again.

Explains why every time I get a project sign requiring 2" thick plywood, or magnetic door signs for wooden doors, or 10' wooden posts requiring 1000 pound concrete footings there's an architect or engineer involved.
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
Look up 'Glow, Inc.' It's solvent phosphorescent paint and will remain lit for about 12 hours for indoors or outdoors. However, I would never consider this for parking signs or anything else outside.

I think these guys played with one too many black lights as a kid and thinks there's a magic vinyl out there. Anyone wanting a sign to light up is seriously confused with a backlit cabinet or a real light shining down on a sign. Otherwise... you did it right with reflective.

Think about it.... what do you need signs to be lit for if you're not driving around with your headlights on ?? Who walks through a parking lot reading signs ?? If that's needed, then they need to keep it lit with a real light fixture of some sort.
 
C

CanuckSigns

Active Member
We have a supplier here in Canada that sells stuff that glows very brightly for 30-40 minutes, than softer for 8 hours, but it's about $75 a yard for 24" wide, we used it on some fire exit signs once and the customer was thrilled at how well it worked. I have no idea what brand it is though, nothing on the backer paper.

I think Gerber sells some as well called Luminous Film, it's priced about the same.

That being said, i'm not sure you would be able to see these signs outside at night, the light from the sky may overpower glow in the dark material?
 
ChicagoGraphics

ChicagoGraphics

New Member
There is a vinyl out that lights up almost like a neon sign, from the 2 different window jobs I have seen there is no wires connected to the vinyl, I have no idea what it's called or where you even buy it at.
 
J Hill Designs

J Hill Designs

New Member
mopar691 said:
I have had quite a bit of fun with 3M Luminous Film 6900. Glows bright and lasts.
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Limitations of End Uses
3M Photoluminescent Film 6900 HPPL is not
intended or warranted for the following:
• Application surfaces subjected to gasoline spills
or vapors.
• Application to complex curved surfaces, corrugated surfaces or riveted surfaces.
• Outdoor applications.
 
jfiscus

jfiscus

Rap Master
This guy has about the best glowing paint out there; stuff glows for EVER. it's not cheap though. The more coats you get on; the longer it glows. http://www.mn8products.com/

I would assume the stuff in the rattle can is not very good based upon the cheap price of the can. (You get what you pay for)
 
Gino

Gino

Premium Subscriber
No offense, but when the customer starts researching and telling me where to buy my supplies... I kinda cringe.

In your opening post, you mentioned he asked for the signs which shine when you point a light on them. His request is not a glow in the dark type of deal.

I'd start treading lightly with this guy as I think something more is going on here than meets the eye.

If he thinks you can do these signs with a non-commercial grade of paint and do an effective job.... you might want to cut your loses now.
 
ucmj22

ucmj22

New Member
Gino said:
No offense, but when the customer starts researching and telling me where to buy my supplies... I kinda cringe.

In your opening post, you mentioned he asked for the signs which shine when you point a light on them. His request is not a glow in the dark type of deal.

I'd start treading lightly with this guy as I think something more is going on here than meets the eye.

If he thinks you can do these signs with a non-commercial grade of paint and do an effective job.... you might want to cut your loses now.
Click to expand...

+1
 
Pat Whatley

Pat Whatley

New Member
Kick *** exterior glow paint isn't hard to find, it's just expensive and I don't like the look. There's no way I'm going to try and paint 3x4 signs with the Krylon stuff.
 
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