Advocacy & Safety - Attaching reflective tape

Dunno if this would be more appropriate in the general forum, or perhaps in one of the many messenger-bag threads in the fixie forum, but reflective tape seemed like a safety-related issue so here goes.

I have some green reflexite safety tape (from a group-buy on this forum), that I want to attach strips of to my messenger bag, but haven't figured out the best way to go about it.

I don't want to sew it 'cause I don't want to sew through the waterproof lining of the bag, and I've done the curved-needle thing once already, and that was a major PITA with just a 3x5 patch. I have no wish to repeat the experience with a foot-long piece of reflecto-tape.

I thought about a glue-gun, but I'm not sure the adhesive would hold well enough, and I'm also worried about it melting the cordura and/or reflecto-tape.

Any ideas? Would a glue-gun on the low heat setting (The glue-gun I have has two heat settings 360f/182c, 280f/138c.) with a fabric specific glue work?

-Trevor

If I were you get this http://www.identi-tape.com/safetymisc.htm#iron-on
make life easy.

You could buy some heavy duty outdoor self-stick velcro (at home depot or sewing store). I have some attached to the shower curtain and it hasn't come off yet.

Putting it on the ends and every 3 inches or so should hold it. It's nice because it's removable in the daytime.

Another option is to create a vertical "sash" (belt) with the reflexite that will wrap around the entire bag. Overlap the ends and stick together with the velco.

i used staples.

there's also contact cement. not rubber cement.

3M makes some super strong double stick tapes. They are used for everything from mounting towel racks to taping automotive panels together. Several of them would probably work for you but they are expensive.

Believe it or not, we sometimes use double sided industrial tape to stick fixtures 2-300lbs to the ceiling.

Barge cement. In the yellow tube. Get it at the shoe repair shop, It is the shiz for this type of work. Just glue to both items, let them get tacky, then stick.