Spraying a helmet

[adamski49]

Is there anything tricky about spraying a lid. Do you need to use special paints or can I take a trip to Halfords and just use a standard car aerosol?

I've found a cheap, new, 'end of line' lid in a dodgy colour. I was considering buying it, stripping it down and spraying it gloss black or silver with a clear lacquer coat on top... how hard can it be?

Finances are limited at the moment and this will work out only slightly more expensive than buying a new visor for the 3 1/2 year old Shoei.

TIA for any advice / experiences.

Adam

[winger]

I've had several helmets painted,the trick is in the stripping down as much as the painting,or if your not feeling very brave,do a very good job of masking it off.

Chris

[carlk]

Problem isnt the outside, but the polystyrene liner, this is the stuff that protects your head and paint fumes are a solvent.

Bottom line dont do it as it it's nearly impossible to keep the fumes from hardening the polystyrene

[IanM]

Just to echo above comment, Plastics is my line of work (if you call it work) and the bottom line is the solvent in the paint WILL attack the expanded styrene that protects your head. Cos its hidden you won't be able to see the damage, but it will be there, if you are unfortunate enought to need the helmet in the event of a "spill" you would be better off with a wollen bobble hat . DON'T DO IT

[adamski49]

I thought that solvents were the problem. Do solvent-free paints exist that would still give a good finish?

I'm beginning to think this idea might be a false economy.

Adam

[IanM]

you might get lucky with a solvent free paint, but how lucky do you feel

[Paul]

Solvent free paint? You mean like that high quality stuff BMW uses on the forks... If it's all as good as that it's not a great recommendation, is it?

Cheers,

Paul

[Archie]

I think you may be able to remove the polystyrene liner on some helmets - at least on top end helmets, like Arai RX7 etc.

[adamski49]

Got round to trying the lid I was going to buy, a BMW System IV Evo. Not too keen to be honest and I couldn't get my glasses on so I'll stick with Shoei - nice helmets that fit my head and take glasses without any problems.

Anyway for those that are interested, Astle have a bundle on ebay, in particular a capri blue (yuk) at a starting bid of £62.50 (no reserve as far as I can tell but I could be wrong).

Adam

[winger]

Go to any BSB raceing meeting have a look at the Arai service truck ,all the helmets have paint jobs on e'm,with Arai's blessing,both my RX7 and Junes have had a paint job on e'm for years and their fine it's the cheapy plastic crap thats affected by the paint,and even then that kind of stuff stopped some years ago.

Chris

[Rob B]

Adam,

What Chris said, although the last couple of helmets that I have had sprayed are stripped down to the bear shells for paintwork.

Rgds, Rob

[gus]

I sprayed my Arai rx7 myself.I stripped it down to the outer shell and used 2 pack.That was nearly 5 years ago now.
gus