Looking to repaint my helmet a matte black finsh w/ some air brushing, what grit sand paper should I use to start things off? I don't plan on going too far as I know it sometimes weakens the plastic.
D.I.Y. helmet painting help
- Thread starter NotQuiteJdm
- Start date
i believe that it's fiberglass, I just sanded mine down with a belt sander, and I went almost all of the way through in one tiny spot, oh well it was a free helmet anyways, I would reccomend some sort of power sander because the paint is wicked hard to remove
I'll just use alittle elbow grease...
What is the best kind of paint to use and how should I apply it? Is anything in a can bad news?
What is the best kind of paint to use and how should I apply it? Is anything in a can bad news?
You only really need to scuff it, use the existing paint as a base to attach to. Unless you have some knar gouges.
Oh ok, would you say use a medium grit paper? Im gonna try to do some flames or something too..
i'd say sand it with 300-400 ish. thats what i usually use when i sand down primer for automotive applications. Make sure it is a wet sand though. if you dont have experience with sanding, i'd probably go wtih a 600, just so you dont cut through the paint layer. Because the helmet is spherical its easy to cut to deep in some spots. SO DEFFINATLEY WET SAND. If you do go through to the **** underenath the paint, i'd say get a can of light primer, and then spray and re-sand that area so that it blends. Just becareful nto to sand thorugh and you should be fine with no peeling and such.
I'd say 80% of painting is the sanding and prepwork. So take your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'd say 80% of painting is the sanding and prepwork. So take your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh trust me I know about the prep, my friend did all the prep work himself (even the taping) and got it painted at maaco for $800 and there was only 1 small fisheye on the trunk lid and it looked awesome then it got stolen :-(
Sorry to hear. Yea this past summer i picked up paint gun so i could paint my '57 schwinn chopper. Paint guns lay down such nice, paint, but god there is a lot more prep work.