Does it harm a helmet to paint it?

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

x-no-archive:yes

I have a mint green looking helmet and would like to paint it yellow. Will this harm the plastic
in some way? Which paint should I use?

Pat in TX

They make a big deal about painting helmets in general. Hockey helmets are only allowed to use
certain stickers because of the possible effects on the plastic shell. I really don't know which
paints should be used with which plastics, but there certainly are some rules. So I wouldn't just
let'er rip. It can certainly be done, goalie masks, motorcycle helmets etc. are all painted, but
they probably have info. from the mfg. as to which paints to use.

Cheers,

Scott..

Quoted post said:

Originally posted by Pat
x-no-archive:yes

I have a mint green looking helmet and would like to paint it yellow. Will this harm the plastic in
some way? Which paint should I use?

Pat in TX

Only if anymore of it seeps into your brain or is polyurethane based as it will eat foam slowly. If you are really worried do the American thing and spend, spend, spend, and get individual helmets to match all of you bikes and outfits.

Today's Designated SmartAss

Pat said:

x-no-archive:yes

I have a mint green looking helmet and would like to paint it yellow. Will this harm the plastic
in some way? Which paint should I use?

Many (most?) paints include a solvent to "improve the surace" to help the paint stick.

The integrity of the polymers on the outer shell could be "damaged" by these solvents. If the
integrity were damaged to a point, the helmet might not do as good a job when you need it.

That said, you can now begin the how much helmet is enough, are helmets worthwhile, etc. discussion.

You could try calling the manufacturer, but I suspect they would immediately say NO PAINT. Because
the integrity is out of their control, etc.

Also, (if you're in the US) this might limit your ability to sue the manufacturer for billions for
making a defective product. ....in spite of the fact that you were bombing down a hill at 45 mph.

🙂

a.

Pat' may have said:

x-no-archive:yes

That doesn't work if it's not in the header. Welcome to posterity.

Quoted message said:

I have a mint green looking helmet and would like to paint it yellow. Will this harm the plastic in
some way? Which paint should I use?

If the paint is capable of dissolving polystyrene foam, it's going to damage helmets made from that
material; many spray paints fall into that category. It will be difficult to mask the vent slots, so
the paint needs to be safe for the foam.

My advice: Test paint a small area of foam (say, 10mm in diameter or less) and see if the surface of
the foam collapses. If it does, disqualify that paint. Then apply the same test to the shell; if the
shell warps or the paint fails to adhere properly, disqualify the paint. Be prepared to reject a
large number of paints. It's my expectation that you will have problems finding one that will not
damage the foam, but which will stick to the shell.

--
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don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

"Pat" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

x-no-archive:yes

I have a mint green looking helmet and would like to paint it yellow. Will this harm the plastic
in some way? Which paint should I use?

Model airplanes are sometimes made of styrofoam, and model airplane shops sell paint that's safe for
styrofoam. Many paints can dissolve styrofoam, though, so be careful.

Matt O.

Try getting a yellow helmet cover instead. Much easier, and you won't ruin the helmet. I know they
make them- try Nashbar, or your LBS.

Pat said:

x-no-archive:yes

I have a mint green looking helmet and would like to paint it yellow. Will this harm the plastic
in some way? Which paint should I use?

Pat in TX

"S. Anderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

They make a big deal about painting helmets in general. Hockey helmets are only allowed to use
certain stickers because of the possible effects on the plastic shell. I really don't know which
paints should be used with which plastics, but there certainly are some rules. So I wouldn't just
let'er rip. It can certainly be done, goalie masks, motorcycle helmets etc. are all painted, but
they probably have info. from the mfg. as to which paints

I painted my helmet. I'm a bad bad man (boy?)..

I have one of those cheap(er) helmets with the plastic shell that is taped on top of the styrofoam.
presumably, this plastic shell is just to keep the foam from getting scratched up, so i wasnt
worried about damaging the shell with solvent based paints.

i peeled the tape holding the shell off, pulled the stickers off, wiped it down with a paint
thinner, and airbrushed it. then i used
1/2" colored electrical tape to tape it back onto the foam. no one can tell i painted it myself.

suits me fine. i havent the faintest idea what awful destructive thing ive done to my helmet, but
painting the shell while separated from teh foam, and letting is truly dry away from the foam, is
enough to make me feel safe.

cheers anthony