|
Post by Melson on Jul 25, 2005 10:22:09 GMT -5
ok, my helmet is all green, and i dont like it, i dont want to spray paint it but i dont want to buy an actual cover for it because i dont think it would work as there are no buttons or anything for it to be securely on.
so i thought why dont i make my own helmet cover? i think it would be a great idea, but i really dont know wat kind of material to use that could stay on and securely fit.
if anyone has made their own or have an idear of what kind of material to use for a helmet cover that would be great
|
|
|
Post by frostee on Jul 25, 2005 11:25:39 GMT -5
If you are doing woodland, 3 color desert, or Marpat you should be able to find cotton fabric at your larger fabric retail stores like Joann's. You might also want to check your local army/navy store to see what they have in stock.
Any thin cotton, cotton blend, or 50/50 twill will work for your application. The thing you'll want to stay away from is Cordura nylon as it will be too thick for your purposes.
|
|
|
Post by Melson on Jul 25, 2005 13:02:16 GMT -5
Any thin cotton, cotton blend, or 50/50 twill will work for your application. The thing you'll want to stay away from is Cordura nylon as it will be too thick for your purposes. im guessing joanns will know wat that cordura-jarble means right? ;D yes im going for woodland and black. black for a SWAT look and it would be the same material for black correct? now the question is how the hell do i get it on when there are no buttons or anything.
|
|
|
Post by Gestapo on Jul 25, 2005 14:35:54 GMT -5
you could put some velcro on the fabric and the inside of the helmet and fold the fabric onto the velcro.
|
|
|
Post by hawksnest on Jul 25, 2005 15:14:52 GMT -5
ok, my helmet is all green, and i dont like it, i dont want to spray paint it but i dont want to buy an actual cover for it because i dont think it would work as there are no buttons or anything for it to be securely on. so i thought why dont i make my own helmet cover? i think it would be a great idea, but i really dont know wat kind of material to use that could stay on and securely fit. if anyone has made their own or have an idear of what kind of material to use for a helmet cover that would be great i would suggest going to a surplus store and buy about 3 different colors of jute/burlap and get a fish netting, if you have a weak helmet or a strong staple gun staple down the side in about 6 places, then start knotting up the burlap over your helmet. worked for me.
|
|
|
Post by Munin on Jul 25, 2005 16:11:23 GMT -5
Staples? Wow. That's ghetto in a way the contemplation of which hurts me in my private parts.
|
|
|
Post by frostee on Jul 25, 2005 16:50:21 GMT -5
Heh, the people at Joann's might look at you weird if you mention Cordura, first because its a brand name and second because they don't carry any nylons that heavy. However, an army navy surplus does.
Do you have any experience with sewing machines? If not, you'll be doing it by hand. Which is fine, you'll end up with decent product, but it will take some time. I would take a guess at about 6 hours, including planning and cutting.
Since one big round piece won't fit nicely up against the helmet you'll have to use some geometry skills to figure out what shapes you'll need to cut the fabric to get it to fit. By looking at other helmet covers you should be able to get a good idea of what shape they'll need to be.
I also would recommend using a stapler, but not in the method hawksnest proposed. Instead, you can use a common paper stapler to staple pieces of fabric together just the way you would sew them. It allows you to do a quick and dirty prototype to make sure size and shape are correct. If you plan your staple job you can even leave the staples in while you sew it together and then remove them when you're done. Stapling makes sewing, especially hand sewing, much easier.
For a quick and dirty securing method I would probably "turn-up" (sewing term) the edge of the fabric (at the bottom edge of the helmet) and run a piece of 1/8" shock cord (bungee cord) through the tunnel. A "turn-up" is just taking the cut edge and folding it about 1/2" to 1" and sewing it so that it forms a tunnel. This tunnel is what you will run the shock cord through. Just like the cord on your sweat pants or your swimming trunks. You can easily adjust the snug fit to the helmet by loosening or tightening the shock cord.
This is one way of doing it. I would probably try to find a pattern or borrow one from someone so I could copy the design, but this idea should work.
|
|
|
Post by DevilDog on Jul 25, 2005 16:54:28 GMT -5
Looking at the Cover on my Kevlar, it's made out of three pieces. The cover is also secured to the suspension of the helmet by tie downs that velcro at the ends.
|
|
|
Post by WarmongeR on Jul 25, 2005 18:49:01 GMT -5
I used a real one and velcro easy cheesy ,looks great..
|
|
|
Post by Melson on Jul 25, 2005 18:56:42 GMT -5
wow frostee wow
i might have to read that post again a few times and im sure if i had it in my hands it would be more helpful so thank you. i think yur basic idea is not making it just ONE cover but rather segments and piecing it together correct?
im sure you'd have to overlap them too so wen they do spread apart there wont be green showing wen its sposed to be black.
and as for yur idea of having it stay on frostee you lost me, i think your saying you put some cord through the material right?
warmonger yur saying gestapos idea is a good one?
|
|
|
Post by frostee on Jul 26, 2005 6:43:25 GMT -5
No, Warmonger is saying the DevilDog's post is a good idea. The original attachment method way is the best way.
DevilDog, can you help a brother out and post some pics of your helmet cover from different angles, so MelsonRanger can see how its supposed to be done.
Thanks in advance.
|
|
|
Post by DevilDog on Jul 26, 2005 7:16:50 GMT -5
Frostee, I will take some pics when I get home this afternoon and post them up here for MelsonRanger to see.
No problem, that's what I'm here for!
|
|
|
Post by PathFinder on Jul 26, 2005 8:31:18 GMT -5
OK I'm waking up bare with me.......If he doesn't want to go the traditional method .Try contact adhesive.If you only spray one side its not permanent.
|
|
|
Post by Melson on Jul 26, 2005 11:21:44 GMT -5
thanks guys, im not retarded this just doesnt make a ton of sense when i have no visual.
i am definately going to do this, it shouldnt be a lot should it? maybe about 5-10 bucks on the materials?
|
|
|
Post by frostee on Jul 26, 2005 13:49:55 GMT -5
thanks guys, im not retarded this just doesnt make a ton of sense when i have no visual. That's right. Hard to do things if you don't have a good picture in your head. DevilDog will hook you up with some pics so you can see what we're talking about. You should be able to make this for right around $10.00.
|
|