One of the first questions most people have after they ask "Do you paint ***"?" is... "how much?
That is the hardest question to answer because there are so many factors involved in determining the amount of hours a project is going to take. The other question people sometimes wonder but don't ask is "how is the cost determined? If you would like to know, keep reading.
For a simple helmet paint job there is a lot of preparation that must be done before the helmet can be painted. If you just took a new helmet, sprayed it with a new color and called it good, the paint will just flake off. In order to ensure a long life to your custom paint job there are several essential steps to ensure a smooth and durable finish. First, remove any padding and visor from the helmet to avoid damage during the painting process. Next, thoroughly clean the helmet's surface to eliminate grease, dirt, and old paint using a mild detergent or alcohol solution. Once clean, sand the exterior with fine-grit sandpaper to create a texture that helps the new paint adhere better. After sanding, wipe down the helmet with a clean cloth to remove dust and debris. It's crucial to apply a primer to the helmet for optimal paint adherence and to achieve a uniform base color. Finally, once the primer is dry, you can paint the helmet with your desired color. Once the base coat is applied there is lots of design layout, and hand cut stencils that I print and cut in order to layout the placement of your designs. Once the rough shapes are painted in, I will freehand in the details. Most projects require back masking to protect the artwork from overspray which takes additional time. Once the artwork is finished the helmet goes in for clearcoat and then sits for 2 days to let the clear harden. I then reassemble the helmet for use.
Several hours of work go into a helmet and I only use quality materials, including ppg automotive grade clearcoat for your project, which is why my helmet commissions start at $250. This preparation process is pretty standard for most items that need to be painted.