Our Process  
 

The Arsty Fartsy Stuff

Whether you have specific images and ideas about the artwork you'd like or you need help from us to develop your new look, we'll work together to finalize sketches and color schemes to your satisfaction. Once the final design is rendered, we'll begin the work of transferring those ideas on to the surface to be painted.

We welcome any and all references you have to help us visualize the final piece - so bring your own sketches, magazine photos, Web links or whatever, and we'll get 'er done.

We can also get digital photos of your bike, goalie pads, etc. in cases where we will color match an exisiting design. (Example, painting your new motorcycle helmet to match your bike.)
 
 

The Application Process

It all starts with a good prep job, buddy!
We prefer to start with new helmets or surfaces, or at least those with little wear and tear.* The surface is carefully cleaned, and minor defects repaired, sanded, and cleaned again to insure good adhesion for the paints.
After the primer coat is applied, the process of masking, taping, and laying down your design begins.

We use Createx Auto-Air Colors custom automotive paints. Auto-Air allows for greater ease in mixing custom colors and blends. These paints also offer excellent durability and more flexibility than urethanes. We have a full range of colors and a variety of different special effects and metallic tones such as:
  • pearlized, metallic, iridescent, candy, hi-lite interference, color shifting paints, semi-opaque and Hot Rod Sparkle flakes

Once the graphics are applied, helmets etc. are sealed with a three part automotive clear-coat that really brings out the color and a brilliant wet gloss. The clear coat is baked on in an automotive booth, providing a rock hard surface that will really stand up to the wear and tear of 100 mph pucks bouncing off your melon!

Our clear coat applications always come out looking great straight from the booth. But if you like, we can provide a show quality finish for your tank or helmet. By carefully color sanding any paint edges, and polishing and buffing the clear coat using 3M's Perfect It line of polishing compounds and glazes, we can get a deep, wet, smooth, shine that looks absolutely like glass!

*Helmets with more than minor wear and tear cannot be expected to maintain paint integrity. If it's too roughed up - we won't paint it.