My Helmet's New Paint Job (a how to.....)

i hated the flames on my sixsixone helmet so i set off to do something about it.

before:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0376.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0377.jpg

I bought sand paper and two tones of spray paint and a clear spray laquer:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0378.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0380.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0381.jpg

I then sanded both the visor and the helmet:
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0382.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0383.jpg

I applied 5 very light coats using a sweeping motion across the entire helmet allowing about thirty seconds in-between coats. And two Laquer coats allowing about two minutes in-between. I touched up as i went using a -tip without the cotton. Two days drying time in a cool indoor location. Then i removed the masking and bolted the visor back to the helmet:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0384.jpg

I would caution against this type of paint. It's not made for impact. I did this about five years ago with a composite kayak helmet. Sanded it, 8 layers of paint, 3 layers of clearcoat (the same kind pictured). It fell off my tailgate and the paint cracked and chip all over. This type of spray paint is really brittle when it dries.

Go to an automotive paint store and ask for a durable clear coat to go over what you've already done.

and also be aware that some paints react with the helmet plastics and can actually weaken them.

you guys are ruining all of my fun....and at least i look cool now.......by the way, its a one impact helmet so chipping isnt much of a concern as with a multiple impact kayaking helmet., not that i care anyway........

-aaron

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pechelman

and also be aware that some paints react with the helmet plastics and can actually weaken them.

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yeah...that's what i would be most concerned about.

most headgear warns you against painting...i'd check it out before trusting your melon to it.

helmet does look better, though.

I can see being concerned about painting directly onto closed cell foam, but it looks like his helmet has a plastic shell and should be ok with paint as long as the foam areas were masked off well.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bio-smear

I can see being concerned about painting directly onto closed cell foam, but it looks like his helmet has a plastic shell and should be ok with paint as long as the foam areas were masked off well.

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BECAREFULL!

Most spray paint contains Acetone wich will decompose the stryrofoam used in most helmets. Even if the paint does not come into direct contact with the inside of the helmet, the vapor alone can cuase it to significantly weaken. Plus the dmaage may not always be visible, since it can occure in places that are hidden between the liner and the hard outer shell.

Why not jsut buy a diffrent colored helmet?

I hope that the stuff between your ears is worth at least a few $$$$$4 to you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mtbakerskier

I hope that the stuff between your ears is worth at least a few $$$$$4 to you.

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That totally explains why I've never seen you wear a helmet while skiing. ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BakerBoy

That totally explains why I've never seen you wear a helmet while skiing. ;)

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Thats because it is too much of a pain in the ass when I am shooting pics of you!

Actually my last helmet shatered in a little tree incident, so I will be getting another!

You guys are such a load of whiney bitches. :D Helmet looks great, hope you don't die.

edg

All that effort and paint when there are already so many solutions! ;)

http://web.ivenue.com/breckenridgeha...eadhc_tm75.jpg
from
http://www.breckenridgehatcompany.co...tCat50943.ctlg

http://ecom1.sno-ski.com/media/HHUnicornSM.jpg
from
http://ecom1.sno-ski.net/helmetcovers.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gonehuckin

I bought...two tonnes of spray paint

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That's a lot of paint !

Seriously, you did all that to end up with a plain-black helmet :rolleyes2 (what a sensless waste of effort)

Oh Yeh, BTW it won't work at saving your brain, any more.
Ever wonder why more people don't paint their helmets...?
Yeh, that's why allright.

...and you'll have to change your avatar now !

ok to end all of this speculation. first, the helmet is two tones. the visor is one color and the helmet is another. secondly, i considered your 'ruined the helmet' arguements and they don't fly. why? you ask, well i masked well to prevent 'vapors' from getting to the foam. also when sanding the helmet, my goal was to put minute scratches in the helmet but not to penetrate the existing clear coat or current paint. thats why i used a very fine grade sandpaper and i didnt exert much pressure. so there...........


-aaron

fyi

I asked leedom directly, and these were there responses.

Wrote: Can I paint your helmets?
The hard-shell helmets (Vandal, Scream,Limit) are more receptive to paint because they utilize an ABS shell.

What type of paint should I use?
You should consult the paint supplier and inform them the of the surface material you are painting.

Will this void the warranty on the shell?
Yes

Will this degrade the shell plastic?
The level of degradation will depend on how aggressive the chemicals in the particular paint are. It seems to me that your shells are already painted and thus by painting over it would not incur any damage to the shell. The shells have undergone compatibility tests with various paint compositions to ensure the best compatibility and the least amount of degradation.

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so it can go either way
you could have sanded through the paint to the helmet shell which now could be degraded by your black, or the shell could be as compatible as the ones the leedom tech speaks of and it doesnt matter. either way its a gamble imo.

Sorry to bump this thread..but figured it is better than starting a new one. If paint is bad for a plastic helmet..which I really doubt that it is...why are there so many companies offering custom helmet painting, and why do top pro's send their helmets off to get special paint jobs..wouldn't the helmet manufacturers discourage that?

I see it like panting a new car. Shouldn't void the warranty, except in a case of extreme user idiocy. It's pretty doubtful most paint will ruin the helmet cause I think it would have to be some toxic shit to damage an abs helmet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 123ski

Sorry to bump this thread..but figured it is better than starting a new one. If paint is bad for a plastic helmet..which I really doubt that it is...why are there so many companies offering custom helmet painting, and why do top pro's send their helmets off to get special paint jobs..wouldn't the helmet manufacturers discourage that?

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This just in, there are different kinds of paint. Some contain chemicals that will ruin the other compounds in a helmet, and others don't. Any custom helmet painter worth his/her salt will know which type of paint to use without damaging the underlying materials.

Everyone here gets a free subscription to the Journal of Anecdotal Evidence once they hit 1000 posts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Socialist

Everyone here gets a free subscription to the Journal of Anecdotal Evidence once they hit 1000 posts.

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965 left to go, keep trying.

but without the flames, how are you going to go fast? Don't you know that painting flames on anything increases speed by 23.45498%!!!