What is the best reflective ink??

[acescreen]

I know it's been asked 1,000 times on here already, but I figured I'd bring it back up as I have 300pcs that needs to have a reflective ink, customer had this done before at another shop but they were not happy with how the ink reflected light. I tested some Union stuff and it seemed ok but not great like other prints I've seen, I have a qt of the Optilux but I don't like that it needs to be mixed and then the left over ink has to be trashed as expensive as this stuff is!!! I heard one stroke has a good one, but I have not tried it. Also my pressman said he used one at a shop he worked at about 8 years ago that did a lot of Air Force printing and that they used right out of the bucket no mixing and that it worked great but he can not remember the name of it.......any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[cbjamel]

What color ink? Silver go optilux have the middle of the road with shimmer and like it.
My opinion.
Shane

[KevWilso]

We carry the retroflec from Excalibur for this, and it has done well over the years.  Make sure you slow your dryer because it does take a bit longer to cure, and use a low mesh because it contains small beads that do the reflecting that need to clear.  No mixing required, but it does need to be stirred well before printing. 

http://www.rivercitygraphicsupply.com/products/details/excalibur-retroflec-2-Reflective-Plastisol-Ink

There is also the reflective heat transfer vinyl option if it just just bold letters like "FIRE DEPT", or whatever.

[Colin]

International Coatings gets my vote.  Yes you have to catalyze it, but for the price.... no worries.  Plus the catalyzation helps with cure.

Got mine through Ryonet at about $220 a gallon...... yea, really cheap!  Rutland wants around $500 for theirs.

http://www.screenprinting.com/ic-enhanced-reflective-ink-w-8oz-optilux-coupler-one-gallon

[cbjamel]

Denco us about 220 also they have to order , but there is 3 versions.
Shane

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[blue moon]

just as an FYI, reflective ink prints without and underbase so itdoes not look very good on anything but the darkest of shirts. If youare looking to print on safety green or orange, look into transfers from Stahls.

pierre

[ericheartsu]

the allure glow reflective is very easy to use.

[AAMike]

The 3M 2 part system is the only one the military allows us to print. I buy it from Source One. 3M8010 GRAY

[tonypep]

That is the correct response

[jvanick]

the other question is does this need to be ANSI/OSHA certified reflective or not, as I thought I read somewhere/heard somewhere that if you're printing it for those needs, you have to send a sample to get it certified?

(could totally be wrong)

[pcshone]

I know it's been asked 1,000 times on here already, but I figured I'd bring it back up as I have 300pcs that needs to have a reflective ink, customer had this done before at another shop but they were not happy with how the ink reflected light. I tested some Union stuff and it seemed ok but not great like other prints I've seen, I have a qt of the Optilux but I don't like that it needs to be mixed and then the left over ink has to be trashed as expensive as this stuff is!!! I heard one stroke has a good one, but I have not tried it. Also my pressman said he used one at a shop he worked at about 8 years ago that did a lot of Air Force printing and that they used right out of the bucket no mixing and that it worked great but he can not remember the name of it.......any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry its late, for this run - but check out Imagebrite Base from Wilflex - this is on black , however it is possible to make tinted colours, so they show up on white shirts - sorry no picture of the inks on white - if you have not got pigments try small additions of process inks into the base - this works too :-)

[RICK STEFANICK]

The 3M 2 part system is the only one the military allows us to print. I buy it from Source One. 3M8010 GRAY

This is by far the best product on the market. 3M 8010 waterbase reflective ink.

[cbjamel]

Just realize that gray in 3m terms is Charcoal grey almost black. For some reason they quit making the light color in reflective.
 So if print on dark shirt and want to read it not going to happen.

Shane

[RICK STEFANICK]

I guess its been a month since we got some in.good to know

[RICK STEFANICK]

The 3M 2 part system is the only one the military allows us to print. I buy it from Source One. 3M8010 GRAY

How much are ya'all paying for that thru texsource?