Thread: Helmet Clear-coat?

Question:

I have a co-worker that wants me to paint their helmet, a beanie type, my question is the clear-coat, I live in an apartment so don't have and can't shoot the clear with a full size sprayer

can the clear for this small project be shot with the AB ?
or?

Have 2 Badger 150's, heads from fine to large

plan to use HOK paints,local Wal-Mart carries small bottles but not their clear?


any help appreciated

This is a great question I am in the same boat. I have been thinking I could use a spray can clear or what about finding a auto body shop to do it for you. The only problem with the auto body shop is I don't know how much they would charge.

they charge alot. LOL the airbrush is too small to be trying to clearcoat anything that size with. youwould end up with stripes and most likely a very uneven finish. i would go to your local hardware store, and find some clear lacquer in a spray can. i get it here for about 5.00 us a can. build up two light coats, then scuff with a scotcbrite pad when you can no longer smell solvent on the finish. then hit it with a third wet coat. its not as durable as automotive, but will get pretty hard. hope this helps. LJ

Originally Posted by Icewolf0927

This is a great question I am in the same boat. I have been thinking I could use a spray can clear or what about finding a auto body shop to do it for you. The only problem with the auto body shop is I don't know how much they would charge.

Originally Posted by Shadowen

Question:

I have a co-worker that wants me to paint their helmet, a beanie type, my question is the clear-coat, I live in an apartment so don't have and can't shoot the clear with a full size sprayer

can the clear for this small project be shot with the AB ?
or?

Have 2 Badger 150's, heads from fine to large

plan to use HOK paints,local Wal-Mart carries small bottles but not their clear?


any help appreciated

I would try and stay away from using your ab....You would have better luck if you use a small touch up gun... If your budget doesnt permit you to buy some of the nicer touch up gun like the Sata or Iwata guns you can get a cheap touch up or detail gun from home depot or Harbor frieght for around 35 40 bucks...Some are not the double action but if that all you can get at this time it will still turn out better than your ab.. In my opinion...
If you can get a better gun.. I choose the Sata Mini jet and the Iwata Lph50.. super nice detail and touch up guns... I even have those cheaper ones from harbor frieght that work well for doing primers....
I have never use HOK walmart clear... But I do use HOK UC35 with Ku150 catalyst and ru311 reducer... I feel it has the best finish and flows out the nicest.... Well that my two cents...

Thank You
that answered my questions

since i want to do more helments in the future I thimk i will just bite the bullet and buy a small touch-up gun, will just have to commadere my friends garage lol

thanks again

i have painted only a few helmets.....very rewarding.....i cleared all of them with autoclear from ppg....2 part uro.....any way, one of them i cleared with a rustoleoum rattle can clear. it was my helmet. i have used this clear in the past with good results on liscence plates, ect. i left my helmet on the seat of my bike in the hot sun for about 3 hrs.....the clear has "cracked"...it seperated in a Y shape across the top of the helmet, about a 1/16th inch wide seperation....glad it was my helmet.....just a thought here if your dooing custom type work for someone else........oh, the other helmets are just fine.....

Shadow'
Ive used Krylon enamels in a rattle can for this and it works great.
I've even used the sun to bake it on and you can hand buff 'em out about an hour after spraying them.

hmmm might try using rattle can clear till I can afford to buy a good touch up gun, worst case I would have to redo his helmet, since this will be a no charge piece, more of a trial shouldn't be any issues

I would like to thank you all for your help though, wish I could have found something like this forum 18 yrs ago when I first bought my AB and started ABing and got discouraged and put it down,tried again,stopped etc.
luckily found you all a few months ago and am quickly picking back up what I had learned as well as a lot of new and better ways to go about ABing

thanks I now have a purpose in life, the setbacks where starting to get to me

now if only I could figure a way to make money (more then the occasional shirt or pants) and AB at the same time and I would be set

well enough rambling, back to painting

You can buy real two part clear in a can....It is a special can that you activate then spray away. It is only good for one day since it is catalyzed and when activated will harden right in the spray can but I hear it works very well.

If you ask Jammer I think he knows where to get the stuff at the best price.

Thanks, will have to try that and see how it works, still think i will buy a touch up gun, have a freind who wrecked his bike and would like me to repaint it this winter, so will need the gun regardless lol


thanks all

I have been in that situation before. Rattle cans generally suck, take along time to flash off and do not give a lasting durable finish.
A cheap touch up gun and quality clear is better than nothing. I use dupont chromoclear over House of Kolor paints. Very easy to use 4 parts clear to 1 part hardner.

I have a 4 foot wide pasche sray booth and use a Devilbiss detail gun for clear and larger color jobs. I even use it to paint bikes.

A box fan in a window works well if you don't over do it on the clear coat duration.

Go here www.graphixbyjim.com

[QUOTE=Shadowen;80519]Thank You
that answered my questions

I've painted close to 20 helmets with clearcoat with my airbrush and haven't had any problems...one light tacky coat and two more nice coats for a great finish.

Do you think it's because i didn't know better? LOL

[QUOTE=glasman9;82436]

Originally Posted by Shadowen

Thank You
that answered my questions

I've painted close to 20 helmets with clearcoat with my airbrush and haven't had any problems...one light tacky coat and two more nice coats for a great finish.

Do you think it's because i didn't know better? LOL

LOL

well till I get money was thinking about buying a little clear and see how it sprayed through my AB, now I think I will, will try it on a few test oanels to see

lol