Looking for advice from any spray painters, helmet painters etc I’m thinking of buying a carbon fibre helmet that has a clear gloss lacquer finish. As my Diavel has a matte / satin finish to all the carbon bodywork, I’d like the helmet to have the same finish. Not being an expert at painting helmets, I hope that all I need to do, is flat the current lacquer to give a key, remove and mask off as much as I can, then re lacquer with a satin lacquer. Not saying I will do the work myself, but, will it be this simple?
I would suggest a little research into the satin clear coat, to ensure no solvents are contained that could weaken the structure?
I believe on the older helmets particularly fibre glass and the old stinky chemically paints there were worries about structure but not so much on todays helmets and paints but as wayne says, best check first. This is just a read and a recent one https://www.thoughtco.com/custom-helmet-painting-743637
If you are painting over the top of the existing clearcoat, you'll be fine. Key the original surface with a scotchbrite pad or similar and thouroughly clean the helmet with panel wipe prior to painting. One thing to bear in mind with matt clearcoat, is that you can't polish it. So if you have any dirt inclusions present after painting, you can't flatten and polish them out as you would with a gloss finish.
Do they not also make the helmet in a matte finish? Asking because I bought a carbon helmet last year and it was available in either gloss or matte finish.
All the above is true, providing the clear coat you are keying, and the one you are putting on have the same base chemical. Remember the old days of spraying acrylic over cellulose etc and it just bubbled up ?? As already said, a bit of research pays dividends.
Which manufacturer? AGV do both glossy and matte Pista and Sportmodular flagship models. If it's a Bell, stay away. Am guessing it's likely an X Lite though?
its funny, all the reviews said it was noisy as hell, but a few riders report it being quiet! must be hair/head shape. its a very cool helmet though, in every way!
Yep, great ventilation and the aero shape seem to suit me well. The lack of side pods avoids a lot of wind at war level, and the noise there is seems acceptable. I think that reviewers write bobbins most of the time, and I’ve bought some right crap over the years that received rave reviews. Pista is quieter than my Tour X4 or my RX7v. Helmets are a weird thing, you spend a lot of money on an unknown quantity and only find out whether it suits you when you’re financially committed.
