Tag: Helmet

Can I paint my poly p helmet?

qna
Question:
I would like to know if I could paint my OBO Poly P helmet, and if so, what kind of paint is the most recommended?

Answer:
As the Poly P helmet is plastic, it’s a little bit easier to paint than some of the fiberglass masks. Most of the Poly helmets already have the color blended in the plastic so it’s simply a matter of painting over them and how detailed a paint job you’re looking to do. The preparation you do will determine the longevity and durability of your paint job. Basically you’re looking for paint that is labeled For Plastics (as opposed to metals) and you can find a wide range of colors in spray cans at most hardware stores. Make sure the helmet is clean, wash it with a mild detergent, rinse it well and let it dry. If you’re looking to go big, and paint the whole helmet I’d recommend putting a primer base down, especially if you’re putting a lighter color on a dark colored helmet. If you’re only painting sections of the helmet and leaving parts of the base color then you skip the primer. Make sure you let the primer and paint dry between coats. Paint has to cure and it won’t bond to a surface if you’re just piling coat upon coat of uncured paint. Clear coat is also a good idea as a top layer to add durability to the finish. A couple of warnings, obviously hockey masks are collision type items and plastic is a somewhat flexible material, paint will chip with contact. Be patient. The amount of time you spend in preparation and execution go along way towards determining the quality of your finished product. Depending on what you’re looking for as a paint scheme, plastic decals can offer a durable solution. There are graphic companies that make them for ice hockey goalie helmets and you can read about them if you Google “Goalie Helmet Decals.”

good luck,

Jon

Refurbish or replace – mouldy helmet……

Having had my head protection for some 10+ years now, the foam is somewhat mouldy and nasty. I can get replacement foam from local retailers but want to know

A: Is it worth replacing it, and

B: How do I go about removing the existing foam without damaging the shell?

Can’t really afford to buy a whole new lid, especially as being the kit-tart I am it would have to be a custom graphic version!

What should I use to clean the inside of my mask?

qna
Question:
I was wondering if you could tell me what I should use to clean the inside of my OBO mask…
Answer:
What you use to clean your mask will depend on how dirty it’s gotten. If you’re cleaning it fairly regularly you can wash and rinse with warm water and an anti-bacterial soap. If it’s pretty grungy I would recommend rinsing the mask thoroughly, then scrubbing it with a gentle plastic brush with something like Fantastic or Formula 409, followed by rinsing and washing again with a an anti-bacterial soap. It’s important that you dry the mask after washing to keep the hardware from rusting and any mold developing.

good luck,

Jon

What glue?

qna
Question:

My son is a hockey goalkeeper and owns a Robo hockey helmet. We purchased this fantastic helmet about a year ago. The only, ongoing problem we have is that everytime he removes the sweatband from inside the helmet, the piece of velcro which holds the sweatband in the helmet comes loose.

We have tried so many different glues on the South African market and nobody can give us advise as to which glue to try. After every practise and every match (probably about 4x per week) we have to re-glue the velcro to the helmet.

We are afraid of trying acid based glues incase the eat the padding in the helmet.

I would be extremely grateful if you could advise me as to which glue I could use or any solution to the problem.

Thank you!

Cheryl

Answer:

Hi Cheryl,

I’ve had a lot of success with that very problem using a product available in the US called Gorilla Glue. Below is a link to their website which has a “Where to Buy” section.

http://www.gorillaglue.com/

Hope that helps,

Jon

Helmet Sizing

ABS / PE / FG / CK Helmets come in two sizes: medium and large. And as every Goal Keeper’s head is different, here are some guidelines for choosing a helmet which fits well.

There are two important measurements for helmet sizing. You’ll probably need to get a friend to help you measure them. As shown in the picture, you need to measure in a straight line:

      Width – Temple to Temple (the flat part of your skull outside your eye socket)

Length – Top of Head to Chin

We know that different Goal Keepers like to wear their helmets in different ways, so all OBO Helmets come with an adhesive foam pad, which can be used to customise your helmet to suit your own preferences.

So depending on your head measurements here are the guidelines:

      LARGE – If your head is wider than 150mm and longer than 240mm you will need a large helmet.

MEDIUM – If the width of your head is between 135mm and 150mm, and the length between 225mm and 235mm, you should get a medium.

We’ve found that heads about 135-145mm wide and 225-235mm long fit snugly into a medium helmet. Anything much over these dimensions starts getting pretty tight. So if either of your head measurements are larger than these, we recommend a large helmet with extra customised padding layers (particularly for those with short wide heads or long narrow ones – you can pad out the top or the sides as necessary).

If you’re still not sure about the sizing, please feel free to contact us with any questions you have, and we’ll be happy to advise you about which size helmet is appropriate for you.