How to Create an Eye-Shield Insert for Football

An eye-shield is a small piece of plastic that slides into your football helmet and protects your eyes from being hit. These shields can cost upwards of $50 dollars a piece, as of publication. Building your own plexiglass or plastic eye-shields for your football players can let you build personalized eye shields for a fraction of the cost. Use a large sheet of plexiglass to build eye-shields for your entire team.

Things You'll Need

  • Tape measure
  • 5-by-5-foot sheet of plexiglass
  • Circular saw
  • Plastic cutting saw blade
  • Screwdriver kit
  • Electric hand drill
  • Drill bit set
  • Sandpaper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the width of the open area in your football helmet. Find the height and width of the minimum area required to fill the eyes. Add 2 inches to the height and write these dimensions down.

    • 2

      Draw a rectangle on a piece of paper that is set to your original dimensions. Design a 2-inch-tall rectangle with the center in the middle of your original rectangle. Draw it about 4 inches wide.

    • 3

      Etch the design of your shield on your piece of plexiglass, making it as exact as possible to your original design. Cut out the original design and lay it on the plexiglass to use as a guide if necessary.

    • 4

      Put your plastic cutting blade on your circular saw and cut out your plastic visor along the edges of your design. Lay the rest of your plexiglass to the side after you are finished.

    • 5

      Unscrew the screws with your screwdriver set to remove your face mask from your helmet. Find the right screwdriver for your mask, as they will vary in size. Place your face mask and screws to the side.

    • 6

      Place your plexiglass shield up to your helmet opening. Position your 2-inch rectangle on the middle attachment area of the helmet. Mark the exact center of the holes where the face mask attaches on the plastic with a pencil.

    • 7

      Remove your plexiglass and drill holes through the exact center of the hole markers in the plastic. Put your face mask screw through here to test the width. Widen the hole with another bit if necessary.

    • 8

      Sand the rough edges of your plexiglass down and then place the shield over the helmet hole. Position the drilled holes over the top holes and screw your face mask into place, with your shield in position over the hole.