How to Customize a Goalie Helmet

Detroit Red Wings goalie Jim Rutherford is the first known National Hockey League goalie credited with customizing his plain white fiberglass mask with a paint design. It soon became common practice among many goaltenders at all levels of the sport and continues today. Customizing the paint scheme on your own goalie helmet is all about imagination, as there's literally no end to the design options you can choose.

Things You'll Need

  • Scratch paper
  • Pencils
  • Wax pencils
  • Fabric dye
  • Scissors
  • Spray paint
  • Masking tape
  • Screwdriver
  • Paint markers
  • Clear coat spray
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Use the scratch paper to jot down a custom design. Common themes include the team mascot, prominent host city landmarks (the Statue of Liberty on a New York Rangers goalie, for example), something about your hobbies/personality or your favorite team's colors.

    • 2

      Unscrew the metal mask clips that attach the cage to the helmet's shell. Remove the cage. Unsnap the buckles that hold the backplate to the helmet, then remove the buckles from the harness. If you wish to dye the harness, prepare the dye according to the package directions and dye accordingly.

    • 3

      Draw the basics of your design on the surface of the helmet and backplate with the wax pencil. Cut small pieces of masking tape to cover the areas you don't want painted, then spray paint the base color of your choice. Allow the paint to dry completely before applying any additional base coats.

    • 4

      Spray on two to three clear-coat applications once the base coat dries. Allow the clear coat to dry. Peel away the masking tape, then cut new tape pieces to place over the newly painted design. Spray paint the new design as you did the previous one in the color of your choice, then allow it to dry before applying additional coats.

    • 5

      Continue this method until you've painted the entire design scheme on your helmet and backplate. Remove all remaining tape. Use the paint markers to make any touchups as needed. Paint and clear coat the cage if desired. Reattach the buckles on the harness, then attach the backplate. Screw on the cage once the paint is dry.