Helmet Paint

[salty_monk]

Has anyone here tried custom spraying a helmet? I know the MFG say don't do it but I've also heard of people having success (look at the racer's lids...)

Any recommendations as to what I should use? I guess I need some kind of plastic paint to allow for a bit of flex in the surface.

I plan to just scuff the clearcoat on the helmet & go right over the top with a gloss....

Dan

[Griffin]

Is your helmet injection molded plastic or fiberglass? That would make a difference as to what type of paint one would use.

[PAULYBOY]

I've used auto enamel , laquer , model airplane colors , t shirt type paint (createx with binder and hardener) , as well as lettering enamel. All worked, although, be choosy on the clearcoat. I once used some rattlecan clear and ayear later the whole helmet was suffering from crazing and cracking. a pity too because the helmet was a wrap around ocean scene with dolphins jumping in the back, fishes, seahorses, starfish, etc. And on top was a sun and full moon ringed by clouds, with sunbeams striking the surface of the water at different places.

[Ironriot]

On the DoTheTon forums there's an admin that's into painting helmets. Maybe he can give you the finer points of it. His name is loco leon i think. His stuff looks pretty good BUT he does mostly vintage paint jobs

[Zooks]

We've covered this in great detail here before. If you like your head DON'T paint your helmet. The paint will weaken the structure of it. In most 'western' countries painting of motorcycle helmets is actually illegal.

[Nessism]

We've covered this in great detail here before. If you like your head DON'T paint your helmet. The paint will weaken the structure of it. In most 'western' countries painting of motorcycle helmets is actually illegal.

I think it depends on the type of paint used. Paints with lots of solvent that bites down into the old paint layers, and into the substrate in the case of a helmet, are to be avoided. This is particularly important in the case of a plastic helmet. A less aggressive paint, on a fiberglass helmet, should be fine. Helmets come from the factory with paint as evidence of this. Problem is knowing what kind of paint to use. I'd try to find someone that paints this kind of thing for a living to find out what they use - follow Ironriot's suggestion for a start.

Good luck.

[spchips]

The issue is not it damaging the hard outer layer of the helmet. This is only what holds the helmet together. The styrofoam underneath is what saves your brain. Styrofoam is many little sealed bubbles of gas. When you expose it to solvent, the walls are weakened and destroyed. Anyone who has ever dropped styrofoam into gasoline to make crude napalm knows this. (I once saw someone try to transport gasoline in a styrofoam cup - now that was funny).

The same thing happens when you smash your head into the pavement, the bubbles rupture, releasing energy, that would otherwise go straight to your skull.

In either case, the helmet should not be "used" to protect your brain, because it is not very useful.

The helmet will still work in the sense that it will distribute the force over a broader area of your head, but it will not help to slow your head down within the 1" between you and the pavement.

[mriddle]

I emailed SHOEI about painting my ugly helmet

THIS IS THE RESPONSE FROM SHOEI
(formatting is off because it is stored in my PDA)

We at Shoei North America recommend professional painters and it is always important to get the advice of a professional painter before painting your helmet, but this is what is recommended. You do not want to remove any lower vents or rubber beading on the helmet though they should be taped off to avoid getting unwanted paint on them. The helmet should also be lightly sanded just to remove the clear coat on the outer layer of the helmet. The only paint recommended on a Shoei
helmet is acrylic enamel based paint. When drying the helmet do not use a high heat drying method as it may damage the protective quality of the Polystyrene liner on the inside of your helmet.


Shoei Helmet Corp.

[Ironriot]

The one thing I'd worry about is the paint prep fumes destroying the stryofoam. Those fumes are killer. I have a high tolerance for strong smells but even I can't stand them. To the best of my knowledge those fumes are made up from the chemicals which are known to eat through foam. Maybe after you sand the clear coat off just wash it with warm water and soap. Don't use paint prep liquids.

[beergood]

This has been brought up before. I did some research, and I think that with a little care and prep you will be fine. Paint in a ventilated area and mask off your helmet's interior to start with.

This was my more lengthy reply:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=109146&page=2&highlight=helmet+paint

[salty_monk]

Thanks guys, this is on a Nolan, really nice helmet at a great price but the colour (metallic silver) is not visible enough for me...

I want to turn it bright yellow (or actually some kind of vintage, maybe yellow with black or silver centre stripes or something).

The helmet is not polycarb, it's some kind of fibreglass composite.

Here's the link: http://www.denniskirk.com/jsp/produc...fCatId=&mmyId=

• Snell and DOT certified
• Painted lightweight composite fiber shell (Carbon, Kevlar, Kural & fiberglass), with Hi-Brite protective clear coat
• Optically correct, tool-less quick-change Lexan face shield
• All shields offer total UV protection
• Multi-position anti-scratch flat racing shield; ready for NFR antifog insert and equipped with tear-off pins
• Two position air intakes with aerodynamic ventilation system
• Integrated chin bar vents
• Fully removable and washable interior on snaps and tabs
• Removable cheekpads
• Velour chin strap padding
• Sanitized anti-microbial hypoallergenic interior
• Double D-ring retention system
• Weight of medium helmet 3lb. 15oz.

I would have got a bright one but I really don't like those bright busy helmets that most of them do. Now we are seeing retro bikes it's about time we saw some retro lids....

Dan

[jonesti]

Use AutoAir http://www.autoaircolors.com/ then have the local paint pro throw down some uro clear. Did this for a buddy racing...he likes attention


Here's a useful site for painthelp http://www.kustomkulturelounge.com/forum/

[salty_monk]

hehe - I won't be replicating that paint job!!

[jonesti]

hehe - I won't be replicating that paint job!!

HAHA nobody should! He has a "look at me" defect!

[TheCafeKid]

On the DoTheTon forums there's an admin that's into painting helmets. Maybe he can give you the finer points of it. His name is loco leon i think. His stuff looks pretty good BUT he does mostly vintage paint jobs

Noel...he is a bit loco for sure..lol They call him the "Destroyer of NOS" because he thinks nothing of cutting up a perfect NOS seat pan or tank to build something out of it. He catches all kinda flack for what he does to his vintage helmets...some of them do look kinda cool tho IMO and its his stuff so to each his own...