Roly Poly Reflective Glass Beads for Road Marking — 454 g Bag, DOT AASHTO Type 1, High Retroreflectivity

Roly Poly Reflective Glass Beads (1 lb) are DOT AASHTO Type 1 glass spheres designed to add high-visibility retroreflection to traffic paint, pavement markings, signs, and craft projects.

These airport-quality glass microbeads are spherical, uniformly sized, and engineered to return vehicle headlights and other light back to the source, improving nighttime visibility and helping markings stand out in wet conditions. Supplied in a 1-pound bag, the beads are compatible with water-based, oil-based, alkyd, epoxy, thermoplastic, and methyl methacrylate coatings. They can be broadcast manually onto wet coatings or applied with line-striping equipment following your paint manufacturer or striping device instructions.

How do I apply Roly Poly reflective beads to pavement paint?

Application is straightforward: broadcast the beads evenly onto freshly applied wet paint or embed them with a line-striping dispenser for consistent coverage. Allow the paint or coating to cure completely before opening the surface to traffic.

• Sprinkle by hand for small jobs and stencils.
• Use a bead dispenser for lane striping and larger areas.
• Embed beads into thermoplastic while molten per equipment guidance.
• Typical coverage: ~5 lb of beads per gallon of paint for standard embedment.

Which paints and surfaces are compatible with these beads?

Roly Poly beads bond well to a wide range of marking materials, including water-based and solvent paints, alkyds, epoxies, and thermoplastic systems. They are suitable for horizontal surfaces such as roads, parking lots, driveways, curbs, and runways when applied as directed.

• Works with water- and oil-based traffic paints.
• Compatible with epoxy, alkyd coatings, and methyl methacrylate.
• Can be used on concrete, asphalt, and pavement marking tape.
• Not recommended for wide foot-traffic walkways due to potential slipperiness.

What performance benefits do these DOT Type 1 beads provide?

These beads are larger and clearer than standard microbeads, producing stronger retroreflection in both dry and wet conditions. Their high roundness and refractive index help markings remain visible from greater distances, improving recognition of lane lines, crosswalks, and kerb borders at night.

• High roundness (95%+ spherical) for consistent reflectivity.
• Refractive index of 1.5+ for pronounced light return.
• Improves nighttime visibility and wet-condition performance.
• Extends perceived life of painted markings by enhancing contrast.

Can these beads be used for art, sandblasting, or other non-traffic jobs?

Yes — while formulated for highway safety, the beads are versatile for creative and industrial uses. They add reflective accents in mixed-media art, provide weight in weighted blankets, and serve as abrasive media for controlled sandblasting.

• Create reflective highlights in craft and signage projects.
• Use as filler or weighting material in textiles and crafts.
• Applicable as glass media in light-duty sandblasting operations.
• Not intended where heavy foot traffic will contact bead-rich surfaces.

Who is this for: Roly Poly Reflective Glass Beads are intended for contractors, municipalities, parking lot operators, airport maintenance teams, sign makers, and DIYers who need dependable retroreflective performance from a DOT Type 1 product. If you stripe roads, mark parking areas, restore crosswalks, add reflective detail to signage, or want reflective effects in crafts, these beads provide a reliable, easy-to-apply solution. Follow paint and equipment manufacturer instructions for best adhesion and safety, and avoid heavy bead use on surfaces where people will walk to reduce slipperiness.