PAINTING CRASH HELMETS?

stirlinggaz · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jul 2007 Karma :

Hi all,
my mate reckons he wants to paint his crash helmet, as its covered in scratches.
its quite an expensive lid & he doesnt want to buy another one.
i advised against it, as i remember the horror stories about the paint weakening the structure etc, but wondered if this was still the case?
is there a particular type of paint to use?
i presume helmets are still made out of fibreglass or polycarbonate type stuff & he would need to establish what his lid is made of before proceeding.
just looking for some up to date advice on this, as the info i have is at least 15yrs old!
cheers,
GAZ

el_oso · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 May 2008 Karma :

i painted an old shitty helmet that is used for a spare spare. my girlfriend keeps it at her house. the helmet was so bad that i doubt it would protect her head anyway.
not really relevant but just thought i would let you know that it has been done.

oh. and the paint job looks quite shocking. i would not recommend it. may find it ends up looking worse than before[/u]
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Duke 390
Previous: '05 XR125L | '96 XJ600S Diversion |'05 Suzuki GSXR1000 | '05 Honda CBR125-R | '97 YZF 600R Thundercat | '11 Honda CBR250
Car: Jeep Wrangler 4.0L

Bendy · Mrs Sensible Joined: 10 Jun 2002 Karma :

Water-based paints are fine. Solvent-based paints aren't.

I painted one a few years ago, search should turn up the thread.

Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

Open face helmets can be made of Polycarbonate
Full face helmets are made of fibre glass.

Loads of companies can paint a helmet for you.
No need for it to be too expensive.
Depending of the 'creativity' of the art work it probably wouldn't cost more than £100.

Now.. The problem with refurnishing a helmet is the condition of polystyrene liner, which is the 'working part' of the shock absorption part of the helmet. If it is really old then the cells in the liner will be crushed.
This will happen in normal use from the lumps, bumps on your oversized head making a 'fit' in a new helmet liner.

If for the same lumpy bumpy head then a respray will probably be OK.
But if someone else with a less lumpy or smaller head uses the helmet then there is room fot the skull to accelerate uncontrollably in the event of impact.
In that situation the helmet may not provide the maximum protection.

The polystyrene can break up from old age too.
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