paints for helmets?

J

J.Dore

Guest
What types of paints should I be looking into for doing motorcycle helmets? Preferably a more affordable brand to start with. I have already been suggested createx Wicked, but at $6 for 2oz, I can't really justify it while learning. What other paints can I look into?
 
J.Dore said:
What types of paints should I be looking into for doing motorcycle helmets? Preferably a more affordable brand to start with. I have already been suggested createx Wicked, but at $6 for 2oz, I can't really justify it while learning. What other paints can I look into?
Click to expand...
That's extremely cheap for anything that's gonna work on helmets.

Us art supply would be good for practice.

Premium craft paint can be thinned down and work reasonably for just learning.

Either way you'll need at least some basic wicked, just to see how the paint should act for spraying, so you can imitate that as best as possible with cheap stuff.

Hobby lobby primary set wicked is like $15 after their 40percent coupon.
 
Clear coating after is where you'll run into the real money.

Though for something for yourself there is at least one spray can clear with reasonable performance.
 
I do not understand why you want to cut down on airbrush paint.
To put it in perspective.
1 spray can white 10 euros.
1 spray can 2k clear 22 euros
1 tape 5 euros
wet sandpaper 3 euros (1 euro per sheet)
Airbrush paint 5 euros and that is a rough estimate, do not think I ever used that much.
 
J.Dore said:
What types of paints should I be looking into for doing motorcycle helmets? Preferably a more affordable brand to start with. I have already been suggested createx Wicked, but at $6 for 2oz, I can't really justify it while learning. What other paints can I look into?
Click to expand...
I see where you’re coming from, but because all paint typed behave differently, there is a good argument for starting with a specific paint system and learning that as you learn how to airbrush. Some systems can be a little more user friendly to begin with, but the price is worth it to have an airbrush specific paint. As a beginner there’s enough to worry about without having the unknown factor of an unusual paint.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
If you are not set up to do urethane paint in a proper setting I will suggest using Wicked brand made by Createx and the Candy o2
Being you're in Northern Cali contact Dave and his crew http://www.coastairbrush.com/
You can buy 2k clear in a rattle can but once you mix it you only have a certain time limit in which to use it.
 
I have to agree with everyone else. Createx Wicked is a good paint that is usable for a lot of things from illustration to cars. I pay approx. $10.oo for 4 oz here in Canada and that will go a long way. You will also reduce this paint which stretches it even farther. Do yourself a favor and learn on the paint you are going to use. Every paint and every brush acts differently.
Here is my cost break down for doing 1 helmet....
prepping material (sandpapers, scuff pads, cleaners, tapes)....$10.00
primer......$5.00
Base.........$10.00
Airbrush paint ....$2.00
Finish (2k clear (Spraymax), sand and polish materials)...$50.00
The airbrush paint is the least of all the costs when doing something like a helmet. I did a hood for my truck using wicked, AutoAir and Candy20 and I think I used less than $20.00 worth of Createx products and around $400.00 for everything else....
IMG_2899 (2).JPG
Cheers and good luck on your journey
 
You will be surprised how much a 2oz bottle of paint will last. Maybe not for painting a whole helmet but it wouldn't surprise me if there was enough. For practise a bottle will last you ages and with the 40% coupons for hobby lobby and home depot? you will save some cash. Wicked is probably your best bet too for helmet work unless you can spray urethanes but that's another list of equipment/things you will need. Waterbased will do you for sure and you can clear over the top with a 2k topcoat. Better to learn with one good brand of paint too. Airbrushing is a lot of learning as it is without having to battle with getting an inferior paint to spray properly.

Lee
 
I actually haven't looked into the cost of top coats yet, I was trying to figure out costs from the bottom up, and since everything until the paint I can manage to get free, the paint is currently my biggest cost, I had no clue (yet) that the finishing costs is where it gets you! Looking online, all the wicked paints that I have found were $10+ for 1-2oz and their website hadn't mentioned thinning it so I assumed it was airbrush ready (already thankful for this forum just from learning that!), though I have been experimenting with thinning my current paints to a consistency that seems to work for me and my airbrush. This is a whole new ballgame for me - clearly.

I'm currently not too worried about "user friendly", I've always been taught to learn with cheap/crappy so when you get decent and invest in nicer quality equipment/mediums you have a smaller learning curve that will prove better results - I don't actually know if that theory would be effective in this situation though - we will see soon since I've so far learned with thinned out craft acrylics.

As far as time put in, aside from fridays and saturdays, I'm working on so crafty hobby about 14hrs a day, since the newest craft is airbrushing, and people already want to order from me, its something I really have to put extra time in on, so literally every free second at home is spent on it, and most free time outside of home is being spent on researching it. I have time, I'm told I have natural talent, so if I work on lots of practice and making/bettering my method, I should be okay - theoretically.

I really appreciate you guys all ready, I'm already learning quite a bit!
 
J.Dore said:
I actually haven't looked into the cost of top coats yet, I was trying to figure out costs from the bottom up, and since everything until the paint I can manage to get free, the paint is currently my biggest cost, I had no clue (yet) that the finishing costs is where it gets you! Looking online, all the wicked paints that I have found were $10+ for 1-2oz and their website hadn't mentioned thinning it so I assumed it was airbrush ready (already thankful for this forum just from learning that!), though I have been experimenting with thinning my current paints to a consistency that seems to work for me and my airbrush. This is a whole new ballgame for me - clearly.

I'm currently not too worried about "user friendly", I've always been taught to learn with cheap/crappy so when you get decent and invest in nicer quality equipment/mediums you have a smaller learning curve that will prove better results - I don't actually know if that theory would be effective in this situation though - we will see soon since I've so far learned with thinned out craft acrylics.

As far as time put in, aside from fridays and saturdays, I'm working on so crafty hobby about 14hrs a day, since the newest craft is airbrushing, and people already want to order from me, its something I really have to put extra time in on, so literally every free second at home is spent on it, and most free time outside of home is being spent on researching it. I have time, I'm told I have natural talent, so if I work on lots of practice and making/bettering my method, I should be okay - theoretically.

I really appreciate you guys all ready, I'm already learning quite a bit!
Click to expand...
Hobby lobby also carries Wicked and the Candy o2 and with their 40% off coupon it makes a bottle cost about 3.50 to 4.50 a bottle
 
I would start as you mean to go on. Paint is such a massive variable, that learning on one type then switching to another is going to give you a headache as you will get used to working a certain way and will likely have to change reduction/air etc when you switch to the one you need, which will perform differently. Wicked is a great choice imo for auto/helmet work as it pops when cleared (I recommend the trans for this) is lightfast and when used in conjunction with the 4012 reducer (which I highly recommend, lots of benefits) cures to a tough finish.
 
J.Dore said:
I actually haven't looked into the cost of top coats yet, I was trying to figure out costs from the bottom up, and since everything until the paint I can manage to get free, the paint is currently my biggest cost, I had no clue (yet) that the finishing costs is where it gets you! Looking online, all the wicked paints that I have found were $10+ for 1-2oz and their website hadn't mentioned thinning it so I assumed it was airbrush ready (already thankful for this forum just from learning that!), though I have been experimenting with thinning my current paints to a consistency that seems to work for me and my airbrush. This is a whole new ballgame for me - clearly.

I'm currently not too worried about "user friendly", I've always been taught to learn with cheap/crappy so when you get decent and invest in nicer quality equipment/mediums you have a smaller learning curve that will prove better results - I don't actually know if that theory would be effective in this situation though - we will see soon since I've so far learned with thinned out craft acrylics.

As far as time put in, aside from fridays and saturdays, I'm working on so crafty hobby about 14hrs a day, since the newest craft is airbrushing, and people already want to order from me, its something I really have to put extra time in on, so literally every free second at home is spent on it, and most free time outside of home is being spent on researching it. I have time, I'm told I have natural talent, so if I work on lots of practice and making/bettering my method, I should be okay - theoretically.

I really appreciate you guys all ready, I'm already learning quite a bit!
Click to expand...
Sounds like a sensible approach. Don’t read too much into the “Airbrush ready” paints. Most benefit from at least some reducer, learning how much is a huge part of the learning process.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Best money saving advice..
Go online and buy a full quart of 4012 reducer if you are going to be ising waterbased paints.

Wicked is dirt cheap in comparison to most auto paints. The "airbrush" part of painting is such a small percentage. A 2 oz bottle reduced goes a very very long way. What costs a lot is playing around trying tons of different products. .. i know i have tried them all. The basecoats and clearcoats and primers are what will get expensive.
And dont forget we call it custom sanding for a reason
 
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