factory helmet

[jonmiller]

hi guys

i just bought myself a helmet off ebay to have a go at painting.

its plain black with the brand logos on front n back. the decals are under the factory clear. which means there is a slight ridge around them.

how sould i go about prepping it? should i just flat the clear n prime/paint or should i sand right through until i reach the decals? or..?

cheerz,

jon

:)

[Jeroen - CDM]

If the brand logo's are stickers:

Nope...sand the whole thing. 80 - 120 grid till 400 till there is no sticker left. Then prime - sand, prime - sand, till it's smooth. then basecoat. Only way to make sure it will hold up over time.

[jonmiller]

bummer, thought that might be the case. haha
cheerz cdm. guess ill be gettin the old elbow grease out. :)

[ABD]

Yip I do what Jeroen says...Just don't trust painting over stickers...I sand ever bit of em off and re-prime..........One of the 1st things I ask peeps looking for a helmet painted..."Are there stickers under the clear??"..If the answer is "yes"..The price just went up...LOL

[jonmiller]

cool, thanks abd.

what type of primer do you guys use? im not clued up about this, but i think most helemts are fiberglass or like the one i just bought, technopolymer injected. what type of primer would you use for the different ones?

is it recommended to use the same brand primer and clear? or should it not matter because of the basecoat/sealer n painting inbetween?

[Carlos]

just on a slightly different note, is it generally OK to clear over computer cut vynyl stick on lettering? Like on a bicycle frame, or would you need to coat in adhesion promoter? Can you get letters cut in a matt vynyl that accepts paint?

[Strictly Attitude]

carlos I'm sure some of the sign guys will have an answer for ya on that

[ABD]

cool, thanks abd.

what type of primer do you guys use? im not clued up about this, but i think most helemts are fiberglass or like the one i just bought, technopolymer injected. what type of primer would you use for the different ones?

is it recommended to use the same brand primer and clear? or should it not matter because of the basecoat/sealer n painting inbetween?


I like epoxy primers..Just seem stronger than most.

I mix brands, so long as it's cured up real good 1st..Like one brand Primer another brand of clear..I'd never apply em all in the same day..Still might be fine, I just like things cured up before I put a new layer of something else on..lol


just on a slightly different note, is it generally OK to clear over computer cut vynyl stick on lettering? Like on a bicycle frame, or would you need to coat in adhesion promoter? Can you get letters cut in a matt vynyl that accepts paint?

Lots of people do it...I think there are better brands of vinyl that are suitable for clears and paint...Some cheap stuff might just melt away..LOL...Just guessing tho, I try and steer clear of paint over stickers of any kind...Rather not risk it.

[jonmiller]

cool. thanks for the responses guys.

would the epoxy primer be suitable for both types of helmets?

[ABD]

cool. thanks for the responses guys.

would the epoxy primer be suitable for both types of helmets?

Honestly I don't know jack about what helmets are made out of and what's compatible....I know painting any helmet usually voids warranty and makes it non legal for the sticklers out there..

I tell all peeps looking for helmet work it's at there own risk doing so.....But out of all the different helmets I've done, never had an ill effect from the paints......Doesn't mean something didn't go loopy on a microscopic level..haha..But they're still in use and nobody has split their head open...LOL

[jonmiller]

haha..cool. suppose you have a stack of disclaimers ready for peeps to sign then.


so any of the helmets youve done/will do you have/will use an epoxy primer.

will give it a shot.

cheerz dude.

[Stu]

Under the impression you should not paint thermoplastic lids/helmets. Paints ,solvents can break them down ?
As to stickers, if you have a sign writer with a plotter ,get them to cut the positive part out and use it for a stencil to ab it on .