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Painting a Helmet

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BagOTricks
Posts: 819 - Karma: 3,377
I'm tryin to paint a white helmet black. Any tips? should I just buy a can of spray paint and go for it?
9 years ago
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FluidMotion
Posts: 65 - Karma: 31
Clean the helmet up, lightly sand, dust it off, tape off the area you don't want painted. Then spray paint away. There are spray paints that stick to slick surfaces like plastic so you should definitely check that out so it doesn't just flake right off. Also make sure you aren't spraying near anything you don't want overspray on!
9 years ago
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cultrara
Posts: 5147 - Karma: 46,849
If you want your helmet to still protect your head, make sure the paint you're using won't degrade the plastic. Many paints will compromise the strength of the helmet's plastic or foam.
9 years ago
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GrapeHunter
Posts: 2406 - Karma: 8,779
Do lots of super light coats and build up the paint. Also, do it somewhere that isn't freezing, cold paint is very runny and will cause drips.
9 years ago
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schoeski
Posts: 126 - Karma: 1,524
lightly sanding it is a must! if you just go for it, it won't stick properly therefore the flaking
9 years ago
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BagOTricks
Posts: 819 - Karma: 3,377
cultraraIf you want your helmet to still protect your head, make sure the paint you're using won't degrade the plastic. Many paints will compromise the strength of the helmet's plastic or foam.


What paints should I look for to avoid this?
9 years ago
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hydd
Posts: 31 - Karma: 110
Only issue is that helmets will bend slightly, paint doesnt, meaning should you bend your helmet or knock it, the paint may just start flaking off anyway
9 years ago
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hydd
Posts: 31 - Karma: 110
Only issue is that helmets will bend slightly, paint doesnt, meaning should you bend your helmet or knock it, the paint may just start flaking off anyway
9 years ago
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NewWave
Posts: 101 - Karma: 186
SonOfAnderI'm tryin to paint a white helmet black. Any tips? should I just buy a can of spray paint and go for it?


Just invest in a new one, if your white one is more than like 3 years old, if you just got it then paint it.
9 years ago
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NewWave
Posts: 101 - Karma: 186
SonOfAnderI'm tryin to paint a white helmet black. Any tips? should I just buy a can of spray paint and go for it?


Just invest in a new one, if your white one is more than like 3 years old, if you just got it then paint it.
9 years ago
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BagOTricks
Posts: 819 - Karma: 3,377
ColeHanlonJust invest in a new one, if your white one is more than like 3 years old, if you just got it then paint it.


Just got it before last season and haven't taken any hard hits to it yet so definitely gonna paint it.
9 years ago
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Cahal
Posts: 945 - Karma: 594
PRIMER IS MAJOR KEY
9 years ago
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lilgapaboi
Posts: 260 - Karma: 580
plasti dip my friend
9 years ago
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TowRopeCalvin
Posts: 138 - Karma: 361
buy a 5 gallon bucket of paint and just throw the helmet in there
9 years ago
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Mr_Orange
Posts: 1024 - Karma: 154
I wouldn't do it. Chances are you won't be happy with the result. Take my word for it, I've learnt the hard way from experience.
9 years ago
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BagOTricks
Posts: 819 - Karma: 3,377
lilgapaboiplasti dip my friend


Plasti dip is friend to everyone
9 years ago
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MikeWeinerONE
Posts: 501 - Karma: 1,215
While this won't help you as far as what you want to do. Just be aware that painting or changing your helmet can affect you. The NFL color rush uniforms they wear on Thursdays must wear the same helmet. They aren't allowed to paint them, or do anything because it can affect how they protect. And the NFL has a pretty strong concussion protocol. Paint will deteriorate plastic and even the smallest amount can make a difference in head injuries.
9 years ago
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nilzlet
Posts: 1892 - Karma: 16
This Is a perfectly fine idea....while certain solvents can deteriorate plastics, I can assure you, the solvents that will touch your helmet will not bite into it nearly far enough to actually cause any trouble. The only way you would have trouble is if you like, soaked your helmet in lacquer thinner for an hour...

My recommendations are to use an "enamel" (huge umbrella term, but lets not get into that.." such as this
https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Oleum-7792830-Stops-Spray-12-Ounce/dp/B000SASWK2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1478890596&sr=8-3&keywords=white+rustoleum+enamel

Even though that's a seemingly cheap can of spray paint, it will hold up much better than a lot of the acrylic, lacquer type spray paints that dry in like 5 mins. - The restoleum one I just linked you to will take about two - three hours to dry to the touch. The reason this paint takes so long to dry is because it it has "binders" in it that will react with oxygen, unlike many other spray paints that dry purely by the solvents drying off.

Definitely scuff it up thoroughly before painting it. Use these - https://www.amazon.com/Scuff-Pads-Scotch-Brite-Brand/dp/B00MBPT0F8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1478891312&sr=8-2&keywords=maroon+scotch+brite

Apply a nice, wet coat of paint. One coat should do it, but you can do two. Do the coats like half an hour apart to ensure they melt into each other nicely.
9 years ago
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BagOTricks
Posts: 819 - Karma: 3,377
So i'm looking to just plasti dip it. That way if it looks awful i can just peel it off. I have a Gyro Combine so not sure how the whole paint eating away the plastic thing applies to this helmet, but hoping plasti dip won't eat it away at all since it acts almost like a big sticker.
9 years ago
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