Recommendations for helmet painting?

[stark]

Can anyone recommend helmet painters? If you've got a photo of the quality of their work that would be brilliant.

What sort of timescale to they work to? Did you supply them with a design and how well did they stick to it?

Thanks!

[tristancliffe]

http://www.jlfdesigns.com/

Excellent service and a great price. I supplied them with a design, discussed it with them (so that it was doable at my budget), and waited.

Whilst it was being done, I booked my first test of the year, and that was before it was due back. Fortunately it was at a circuit local to them - they got it finished, and drove it down to the circuit, and right into the pit garage we were in.

Can't fault the service, the price or the finish.

No point showing a photo - it's a first class, smooth finish of my design, and would be good enough to pass muster at any level of motorsports (the finish that is. My design is probably a bit too boring for many these days!)

[andrew1988]

JLF again.

Not cheap but the finish is superb. I told them the colours I wanted, and also that I wanted paisley and voila, perfect!

[PTRACER]

Are there any companies that will charge a small amount of money to do say, a single, thin stripe on a helmet? I'm not interested in anything fancy, just three thin stripes along the side of the helmet (not even all the way round)!

[Al Weyman]

I am at a loss to know why ordinary signwriting vinyl is not suitable, I have had all this nonscence in the past relating to stickers on safety helmets and the glue would do this and that and it turned out to be a load of old cods. I have removed vinyl from plastic and acrilic signs and vans after years of outdoor use and the plastic is completly unmarked, I would really need convincing to accept the argument it would harm the helmet.

[kimbo]

Originally Posted by Al Weyman

I am at a loss to know why ordinary signwriting vinyl is not suitable, I have had all this nonscence in the past relating to stickers on safety helmets and the glue would do this and that and it turned out to be a load of old cods. I have removed vinyl from plastic and acrilic signs and vans after years of outdoor use and the plastic is completly unmarked, I would really need convincing to accept the argument it would harm the helmet.

I thought the problem was with the polycarbonate (moulded plastic) type of lid. Back in the day we were told that it was a no no to paint them or even attach stickers, but that all was OK on fi-glass helmets (no carbon/kevlar then).
I would have thought that if covering a helmet in a volatile solvent (paint / laquer) wont damage its structural integrity, then a sticker wouldn't either.
But what do I know??

Kim

[Al Weyman]

Exactly, the things are protected in the factory with a coating of something I am sure and its the same as safety helmets I just fail to see how a piece of vinyl can effect them.

[midgetman]

Maybe just a modern myth then? Prhaps a scrutineer on here would say what his take would be on a helmet with vinyl on.

[Al Weyman]

unfortunately I doubt any will in fairness to them because of the just in case factor.

[scrutineer]

Just when you thought I had gone lol. From a personal view, I am always a bit more weary when I see stickers/vinyls on a helmet as I always ask myself 'are they trying to hide something?' I can understand that glues react with certain materials but after all the MSA make us put a blue one on the side of your helmets and no one has ever questioned what glue they use?

[andy_b]

I asked a scruitneer, rallying, about this a few years back as I have a big St.Georges cross stickered (2-3inch thick stripe) over my shiny helmet, he said it wasn't a problem with today's helmet,,,,but quite rightly he did feel the sticker, so see if there were any dimples etc.

If its just a thin line (aka like James Hunt's three colour stripes), then I'm sure stickers will be no problem

[Al Weyman]

And a good paint job will also hide damage as well, glad to hear a sensible approach seems to being taken as it is with safety helmets now I believe.

[Al Weyman]

BTW PT if you are ever in the Harrow Weald Stanmore area and want some scraps of different colour vinyl to have a play with pop in the shop you would be welcome to some. Weekdays only, weekends is for race cars!

[PTRACER]

Thanks for the offer Al.

Not sure if I'll be in that direction any time in the near future, but will pop in if I still need some vinyl.

[redturner37]

Originally Posted by PTRACER

Are there any companies that will charge a small amount of money to do say, a single, thin stripe on a helmet? I'm not interested in anything fancy, just three thin stripes along the side of the helmet (not even all the way round)!

Pop into your local bodyshop and cadge a few inches of coach striping. I used to have a small tool which we would put rolls of tape in and cut to any width required and roll onto the bodywork.Must work the same with a helmet.

[PTRACER]

Well, my helmet is now complete. It took me a few hours, but it only cost me £6.50

[Chris Y]

How did you do that in the end?

[PTRACER]

Vinyl from the art shop and lots of masking tape with lines drawn on it to try and accurately position the stickers. The vinyl is rectangular rather than curved, so it's far from perfect but it doesn't look like there's anything wrong with it.

If a scrutineer doesn't like it, they peel off whole without leaving anything behind on the helmet.

[Andrew Busby]

Vinyl's great if you're going for a retro look but I think things have moved on a little since James Hunt's day. Have to agree with previous posts - JLF do an excellent job