How to Paint Softball Helmets
- 1). Remove any padding from the inside of the helmet by hand before doing any spraying to avoid damaging the padding.
- 2). Sand the surface of the helmet, being sure to sand any area that will be painted. Attempting to paint over a helmet that already has a finished clear coat that has not been sanded off will result in the paint that does not adhere to the helmet. Sanding provides the rough texture needed to make the paint stick.
- 3). Spray the entire helmet with a primer coat, using sweeping strokes and never stopping or changing direction while pointed at the helmet. Changing direction over the helmet will lead to pooling at the point where you changed direction, as the gun will be stopped for a fraction of a second. The primer provides a canvas for the base coat, allowing for it to be applied evenly and attractively.
- 4). Spray the entire helmet with a base color after the primer has dried. If desired, multiple layers of the base color can be applied, drying between each layer, until the desired color is achieved.
- 5). Apply a design using the air brush if desired. Intricate and stunning designs can be created with an air gun, but those who are new to painting with an air gun should start with a single color helmet.
- 6). Apply a glossy finishing coat to the helmet. The clear coat will serve as a sealant that protects the paint layers, as well as provide an eye-pleasing sheen to the helmet.