Spraying a bike helmet

[Chris S]

I was thinking of spraying my bike helmet a lighter colour for safety reasons.

I know you can't spray motorcycle helmets because the paint weakens the polycarbonate body.

Does the same also apply to bike helmets? Most of the protection seems to come from the polystyrene foam inside the plastic.

 

[screenman]

Solvents and polystyrene do not go together, that is one of the reason motorcycle helmets are seldom painted without first removing the polystyrene. Most paints unless you go WB contain solvents.

Try spraying a piece of scrap polystyrene and you will see what I mean, it will end up polygone.

 

[Chris S]

I hadn't thought of the effects of paint on polystyrene - I've seen what glue will do to it though. I was initially more concerned with what the paint might do to the outer plastic shell.

I think I'll experiment with an old helmet that I'm going to bin anyway.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

I hadn't thought of the effects of paint on polystyrene - I've seen what glue will do to it though. I was initially more concerned with what the paint might do to the outer plastic shell.

I think I'll experiment with an old helmet that I'm going to bin anyway.

Use acrylic paint and a brush instead. Paint from a can will trash the helmet.