Thursday, June 30, 2022
No Result
View All Result
Cosmo Friends
  • Home
  • Cars and Motorcycles
  • Fashion and Style
  • Coupons and Bargains
  • Tv and Film
  • Love and Dating
  • Frugal Living
  • Astrology
  • Home
  • Cars and Motorcycles
  • Fashion and Style
  • Coupons and Bargains
  • Tv and Film
  • Love and Dating
  • Frugal Living
  • Astrology
No Result
View All Result
Cosmo Friends
No Result
View All Result
Home Cars and Motorcycles

How to Paint a Motorcycle Helmet

by Cosmo Friends
in Cars and Motorcycles
How to Paint a Motorcycle Helmet
9
SHARES
103
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

[ad_1]

Restoring a classic motorcycle often includes repainting the chassis or panels. But the owners often want to go further with the appearance of both the bike and riding gear.

Personalizing riding gear by painting helmets or adding studs to a leather jacket, for instance, is something motorcyclists have done from their inception. Both of these examples need skill and patience. The good news is that the home mechanics with access to basic painting equipment (i.e.: spray gun, air brush, and an angle sander/polisher) can transform a standard helmet into a custom designed unit.

New helmets come in a variety of styles and paint finishes, as well as prices. But a plain white or black helmet will be less expensive and a good starting point for a custom paint job. However, it is very important to check with the helmet manufacturer and paint supplier to ensure that the chemicals you intend to use are compatible with the helmet’s base material.

Preparation

Image courtesy of Nick Tsokalas

The process starts by preparing the working area and getting the appropriate tools ready. The work area must be clean dry and dust free. Mounting the helmet at a suitable height on a workbench with a mannequin Styrofoam™ head will make the job easier. 

Full face helmets must have their visors removed, along with any plastic attachments such as vents.

The first part of the procedure is to degrease the helmet with a mild solution of some general household detergent or dishwashing liquid. This should be followed by using a proprietary wax and grease remover. The artist who painted the helmet shown here uses Acetone, but this is a dangerous chemical and should only be used by painters with knowledge of the safety requirements.

As the human hands and fingers carry greasy deposits, it is important to wear disposable gloves, such as Latex gloves, when handling the helmet.

After degreasing, the surface finish must be sanded using a fine wet sandpaper (400 grade) to remove the sheen and give the new base paint a suitable surface to adhere to. When the entire helmet surface has been sanded to give a flat dull appearance, it must be cleaned off using a damp cloth. When it has dried, the surface must then be wiped off using a tack rag to remove small dust particles.

Masking Out the Design

Image courtesy of Nick Tsokalas

The helmet and any remaining fittings must now be masked-off. Ideally, a good quality paper clear of any printing should be used for this process along with Vinyl tape of ⅛” width (the narrow tape makes bending around corners or difficult shapes easier).

The first coat/s of paint (the base coat) can now be applied; however, it is very important to allow the paint to dry before applying another coat to avoid runs.

Once the base coat has dried, the design can be applied. Again, it is important to avoid skin contact with the surface to avoid grease spots. Taking great care with the application of the masking tape to ensure symmetry, for instance, will pay off in the finished helmet.

Painting Different Colors

Image courtesy of Nick Tsokalas

In this example, to separate the different colors, only areas where paint was to be applied were left exposed, whereas areas that will get a different color were masked off. After leaving sufficient time for drying, the newly colored area is masked off and a different color applied to the newly exposed area. This process is repeated until all the colors have been applied.

Clear Coat

Image courtesy of Nick Tsokalas

Removing the masking tape can only be undertaken when the various colors have completely dried and should be done slowly to ensure that the paint is not lifted during the peeling. A tack cloth should be used again to remove any dust particles trapped under the tape.

The final coat to apply is a Urethane clear coat (it is very important to use a propitiatory respirator during this process, available from major auto stores). The more coats applied, the more apparent the depth of paint will be. Typically four coats of clear coat are sufficient.

After the clear coats dry (typically 12 to 24 hours) the entire surface should be wet sanded to remove any dust particles and small imperfections with 1500 to 2000 grade paper. Finally, the entire surface should be buffed (especially around any sanded areas) with an appropriate polishing compound.

Reassembly

Image courtesy of Nick Tsokalas

When the final clear coat has dried and been polished for the final time, the various attachments can be put back on the helmet.

Although the process of custom painting is labor intensive, the finished product is something the owner will be proud of and one that will be admired by many.

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
Cosmo Friends

Cosmo Friends

Related Posts

How to Ride a Motorcycle in 10 Simple Steps

How to Ride a Motorcycle in 10 Simple Steps

by Cosmo Friends
June 30, 2022
0

Learning basic motorcycle operation is similar to learning how to drive. Both can be a little intimidating at first....

How to Brake on a Motorcycle

How to Brake on a Motorcycle

by Cosmo Friends
June 30, 2022
0

Before you start riding a motorcycle, make sure you understand how and when to use the front and rear...

What is Before Top-Dead-Center (BTDC), and Why is it Important

What is Before Top-Dead-Center (BTDC), and Why is it Important

by Cosmo Friends
June 30, 2022
0

Definition: A common term used to indicate the amount of ignition advance. For instance, 10 degrees BTDC indicates the...

How to Save Gas When Riding Your Motorcycle

How to Save Gas When Riding Your Motorcycle

by Cosmo Friends
June 30, 2022
0

Tip #1: Don't Lollygag During Warmup Don't wait longer than you need to when warming up your bike. Photo...

A Visual Guide to Types of Motorcycles

A Visual Guide to Types of Motorcycles

by Cosmo Friends
June 30, 2022
0

From scooters to supermotos, here's a visual rundown of the basic types of motorcycles currently on the market.  Adventure...

5 Reasons Why People Buy SUVs

5 Reasons Why People Buy SUVs

by Cosmo Friends
June 30, 2022
0

Not sure if you should buy an SUV? Here are five of the most common reasons people give for...

0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Support

  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms And Conditions

Categories

  • Astrology
  • Cars and Motorcycles
  • Coupons and Bargains
  • Fashion and Style
  • Frugal Living
  • Love and Dating
  • Tv and Film

More News

  • GermanGrandmother 56afaef05f9b58b7d01bd0bc
    German Name for Grandmother
  • boggeddown 57d1b5523df78c71b6341f36
    Understanding the Fixed Signs in Astrology
  • Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms And Conditions

© 2022 Cosmo Friends - Friends For Life Animal Shelter

No Result
View All Result
  • Cars and Motorcycles
  • Coupons and Bargains
  • Fashion and Style
  • Tv and Film
  • Frugal Living
  • Love and Dating
  • Astrology
wpDiscuz
0
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x
| Reply