If I were to paint a brand new helmet, would I need to prime it first, or can I just scuff and squirt?
Depends, some brand new stuff hasn't fully cured yet then there's new stuff that's been new for ages, lol. I'm sure it was baked at the factory and the paint is good enough to scuff and squirt, which is what I'd do unless it was really trick paint, graphics, time/money invested then I would scuff, seal and paint.
The cheap metal flake helmets tend to peel when you pull the tape off, or wrinkle when fresh paint is applied. I would prep well and use good adhesion promoter and that should help.
Slightly off topic but is this helmet for racing in compe***ion? A lot of tech inspections will fail a re-painted helmet because they feel it may have been done to hide knicks and scratches in the finish from the helmet being dropped.
REALLY!! I am sorry, but that is about the dumbest thing I have ever heard. Now if a track person sees you throw the helmet to the ground, they will ask to see your helmet and then pull the spec sticker from the inside and hand you your helmet back.
I was told many years ago that a painted helmet is no longer dot approved. The reason was that the solvents used in the paint could compromise the integrity of the helmet shell. It never stopped me from doing it though.Ive always had Bell's and they have had a fibergl*** shell. I treated it like any other fg part.I always used acrylic lacquer because they were flamed or laced,what ever then cleared and buffed by hand.
Compe***ion, yes, but vintage go karts. I don't think they'll care about paint, but thanks for the tip. I'd better ask first. From what I've read, "DOT-approved" seems to mean very little. Just about every helmet seems to be DOT-approved. The helmet I'm looking at is Snell m2010 rated per track requirements. FWIW, I'm not doing anything fancy with this, just a simple repaint, but I want the paint to stay on and not chip off easily or wrinkle up.
99.9% of every profesional race car driver (NHRA-INDY-NASCAR-F1 and everyone else) has their helmet painted, in fact I get a blank shell from Simpson and have it painted first and then send it back to them to have it ***embled and certifyed. If there was any concern by them as to painting, they would not tag it and put there liability on it and then send it back to me. Tech only looks for the dated SNELL sticker and nothing else unless there is real physical damage or non-factory mods.
please dont paint it all sparkly gold or gay like that, to many guys with bobers paint them all fruity.
I have had helmets professionally painted for use in compe***ion before. It is O.K. as long as it is completely dis***embled. The problem is that the solvent from the paint will compromise the inner styrofoam type lining.Try filling a styrofoam coffee cup with thinner and you'll see what I mean.
Joe, I have always scuffed AND primed my helmets before the finish coat. Never a problem for me since they were shot with primer first.
I don't have a bobber, but I do like all that sparkly gay stuff. If I did have a bobber it would *****le for sure, however this helmet won't.
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