How to Custom Airbrush Paint Football Helmets

While meant as head protection to prevent injury during football games, helmets can also make personalized fashion statements or gift ideas for fans of the game. These items can even be sold to interested consumers. Customizing your own football helmet allows you to display your favorite team logos, colors, names or other distinguishing marks. Using products found at a hardware or craft store, you can design a helmet that matches your style and allows you to represent your team in unique ways.

Things You'll Need

  • Sandpaper
  • Masking Tape
  • Primer
  • Design Stencils
  • Paint Brushes
  • Paint
  • Towel
  • Clear gloss
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Instructions

    • 1

      Draw your helmet design on a piece of paper to give yourself a layout for your work. Include multple angles of the helmet to plan where you want to position any logos and where each color will be placed on the helmet.

    • 2

      Use the sandpaper to rub away the glossy surface of the helmet. If you have an unfinshed helmet, you can skip this step. When rubbing with the sandpaper, use soft strokes in the same direction to avoid causing scratches on the helmet.

    • 3

      Cover areas such as the facemask and earholes with the masking tape. The tape will protect these areas from getting painted as you make strokes across the helmet. Also add masking tape to the inside of the helmet to prevent paint from leaking on the inside and damaging the fabric.

    • 4

      Mix the primer and add it to the airbrush. Paint a coat of primer on the helmet using light strokes. Avoid using a heavy amount of primer in one spot to prevent drips from forming on the surface of the helmet. Sit the helmet aside for two hours to allow it to dry.

    • 5

      Clean the airbrush using warm water and a rag while the helmet dries. Use a dry towel to remove the water once the airbrush is clean. Add the paint that matches your planned color scheme to the airbrush.

    • 6

      Paint the helmet using light strokes across the surface. Do not spray to much paint in one area to avoid the formation of drip lines. Apply two coats of paint to the helmet. Sit the helmet aside for at least two hours to allow all the paint to fully dry.

    • 7

      Use the design stencils and marker to trace the logos that you want on your helmet. Slowly trace the designs to make sure that you are going over every line smoothly and in the correct fashion. Paint the logos using the small paint brushes because the airbrush is not equipped to paint small areas. Allow the designs at least two hours to dry.

    • 8

      Spray paint the helmet with a clear gloss to add a protective finish. Allow one hour for the gloss to dry. Once it is dry, use a dry cloth to shine and remove any debris from your customized helmet.