VanDy Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 I'm too cheap to buy a new helmet when mine is only a year old and never down. However, it's mostly white and my 1 piece is black.. Anybody ever painted their helmet?Will be a flat black, simple and classy I plan on taping off the snell\DOT sticker, so it's still visible.I know to use fine grit sandpaper to scuff the surface to help the new paint adhere, will prime too. Any other tips? Thanks guys and gals!-VanDy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4DAIVI PAI2K5 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 go matte white then take a sharpie to it, and draw something sweet. Then clear coat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanDy Posted June 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 go matte white then take a sharpie to it, and draw something sweet. Then clear coat.Here's a pic of the helmet.I like the design, wanted the black model, but settled for this one, might go matte black and find someone that can pin stripe -VanDy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjaNick Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Helmets are over rated. Just get a do-rag in your favorite color dawg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2Wheeler Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 You shouldn't need to prime if you scuff the clear and the surface is even. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapesmuggler27 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 go matte white then take a sharpie to it, and draw something sweet. Then clear coat.Like a cerwinski lambo All this is done in sharpie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4DAIVI PAI2K5 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Like a cerwinski lambo All this is done in sharpieshit is nuts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VanDy Posted June 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 shit is nuts!Yea it is!! I have no wear near that amount of creativity lolNinjanick, at least I wouldn't get helmet hair!!-VanDy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFM Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 I want to make myself a Hello Kitty Helmet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBrown57 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Painted my first helmet flat black and took some silver and have it a speckled look. Didn't sand anything but it was already a flat color with no clear coat. Didn't look great but it was ok, don't have any pics and I gave it to the guy who bought my last bike since he didn't have one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjaNick Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Wow @ that lamborghini! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helmutt Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Vandy, hit up Rembrandt on here. His paintshop is in Fletcher and check his album pics on his profile, mans got skillz! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grapesmuggler27 Posted June 10, 2012 Report Share Posted June 10, 2012 Wow @ that lamborghini! Google cerwinski and check it out, bell helmet also used his design for one of their helmets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bandit12 Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I've painted a few of helmets and they turned out great, just take your time and prep it well. I don't know much about todays paints but I'll show a little age here, I used Dupont Lucite on one and Centari on a couple more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSparky Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I've heard that many paints degrade the safety of the helmet. is that true? Use water color? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 You do realize the official stance of the helmet manufacturer is NEVER paint their helmet... it may void any warranty they have...@Sparky:The helmet manufacturers are just covering their legal behinds... most paints won't do a thing to hurt your helmet.still, paint at your own risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZRMatt Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 I'm too cheap to buy a new helmet when mine is only a year old and never down. However, it's mostly white and my 1 piece is black.. Anybody ever painted their helmet?Will be a flat black, simple and classy I plan on taping off the snell\DOT sticker, so it's still visible.I know to use fine grit sandpaper to scuff the surface to help the new paint adhere, will prime too. Any other tips? Thanks guys and gals!-VanDyBE VERY CAREFUL DOING THIS! I use to be a tech rep for the largest coatings company in the world. One of my customers painted all of the college and professional football helmets, and I know for a fact a large number of paint brands deteriorate the shells of helmets. It may look fine, but the structure can be extremely compromised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZRMatt Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 @Sparky:The helmet manufacturers are just covering their legal behinds... most paints won't do a thing to hurt your helmet.still, paint at your own risk.You couldn't be more incorrect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reimbrandt Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 Scuff it with redscotch bright real good...... Go to a TSC ( tractor supply) or some such place n get the flat black. Youll need a spray gun...... Doesnt have to be anythng special. Put on 3 nice coats..... Go easy so you dont run it. Will have a really decent finish that fairly durable. I did this to a eclipse i had and power washed it twice a week. Truthfully.... If painting a lid compromises the shell.... They need to build better helmets. The product isnt wet but for a very short period of time. If this was true then when i did simple dash parts in a car they would turn into noodles........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted June 20, 2012 Report Share Posted June 20, 2012 (edited) I used to be a lab tech working for the 2nd largest paint and coatings company in the world, and I've never seen any of the consumer grade solvents have any appreciable effect on crosslinked polymers used in motorcycle helmets once they are cured...This includes urethanes, and polyesters...Now if you soak the shell in acetone or pm acetate for hours, you might soften it up... this is not the case when painting... Edited June 20, 2012 by magley64 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZRMatt Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 I'm not saying that it can't be done, I'm just saying be careful. I have watched the testing process on helmets and saw the failures first hand. I have painted helmets for people before, but my head is worth more than a cheap paint job (to me anyway). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imprez55 Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 BE VERY CAREFUL DOING THIS! I use to be a tech rep for the largest coatings company in the world. One of my customers painted all of the college and professional football helmets, and I know for a fact a large number of paint brands deteriorate the shells of helmets. It may look fine, but the structure can be extremely compromised.I'm not saying that it can't be done, I'm just saying be careful. I have watched the testing process on helmets and saw the failures first hand. I have painted helmets for people before, but my head is worth more than a cheap paint job (to me anyway).I am curious about this. I know some teams (like Notre Dame) who paint their helmets weekly and therefore would be very careful about something like this. Can you please expound on what chemicals, brands, and testing procedures that you witnessed and which ones caused failures? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FZRMatt Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 (edited) I am curious about this. I know some teams (like Notre Dame) who paint their helmets weekly and therefore would be very careful about something like this. Can you please expound on what chemicals, brands, and testing procedures that you witnessed and which ones caused failures?I worked for Akzo Nobel (Sikkens). When I left there, there were only 2been paint manufacturers that were able to pass Riddell's testing. They were Sikkens and some industrial coating from ICI. Our system was the original Autobase system that became the Lessonal line when Autobase II came out. Riddell used a drop test (which was the standard for the industry). The drop test consisted of a series of controlled drops which had a weighted "head" raised to 3 feet then dropped. The helmet was then raised and dropped until the helmet failed. Once a failure occurred, the crack was measured and a severity of failure was determined.Like I said, it has been a few years since I left, so things may have changed. I am sure there is someone from All American on here that can give more information.Edit: Sorry, I forgot to add that I have never heard of any team repainting their helmets weekly. It is a very time consuming process. Also, if I am not mistaken, they take the helmets out of service after 3 referbs. Edited June 21, 2012 by FZRMatt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magley64 Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 Wait, you're talking about football helmets?I did some Dev work for PPG over the past 2 years, and like i said, even the most aggressive solvents took some soaking to do any appreciable softening to crosslinked polymers. (urethanes and polyesters), and most of those hardened right back up once the solvent vaporized. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmh_sprint Posted June 21, 2012 Report Share Posted June 21, 2012 (edited) BE VERY CAREFUL DOING THIS! I use to be a tech rep for the largest coatings company in the world. One of my customers painted all of the college and professional football helmets, and I know for a fact a large number of paint brands deteriorate the shells of helmets. It may look fine, but the structure can be extremely compromised.I used to be a lab tech working for the 2nd largest paint and coatings company in the world, and I've never seen any of the consumer grade solvents have any appreciable effect on crosslinked polymers used in motorcycle helmets once they are cured...This includes urethanes, and polyesters...Now if you soak the shell in acetone or pm acetate for hours, you might soften it up... this is not the case when painting...Well I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so I say fuck it do what you want. Edited June 21, 2012 by cmh_sprint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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