Fiberglass Rubies Vader Helmet Recast Mod Project
- Plo Strax-Avix
- Posts: 655
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:27 pm
- Location: Grips Central
Thanks for the info, Plo.
I'm slowly working on a new costume involving a helmeted character. A prop maker has offered a fiberglass helmet but he did caution me about the 'smell'. I put on Don's Biker Scout fiberglass helmet before for the fun of it and I also noticed this putrid smell. Do you know of any way to 'detoxify' the fiberglass smell?
I'm slowly working on a new costume involving a helmeted character. A prop maker has offered a fiberglass helmet but he did caution me about the 'smell'. I put on Don's Biker Scout fiberglass helmet before for the fun of it and I also noticed this putrid smell. Do you know of any way to 'detoxify' the fiberglass smell?
- Plo Strax-Avix
- Posts: 655
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:27 pm
- Location: Grips Central
There's nothing like leaving it in a well ventilated area and let the smell dissipate naturally over a few years...renzaijh wrote:Do you know of any way to 'detoxify' the fiberglass smell?
In the meantime you can try applying a sealant over the areas with exposed fibreglass. Be sure to choose a non-toxic sealant that do not exude irritating odor. Another way is to seal it with automotive body filler, and then paint over it after its been sanded and primed.
Wow! Stickied! This is my first!
Anyway, the putrid fiberglass smell can be a bit overwhelming... when I first got my Red guard helmet for example, I thought someone had pissed into it previously. In the case of this Vader lid, what I did was once the painting was completed, I fixed my electricals (two fans) on the inside and covered the wires as well as the entire inside of the helmet with foam padding, the type you can get at any haberdashery. I was fortunate to find the black colored variety instead of the typical beige one so it suited the Vader lid. Its very comfortable and to be honest, I can't smell the fiberglass at all. I'll take some pics tonight and post them.
On my Red Guard helmet, I didn't pad the inside as it was already claustrophobic as it it, adding padding would make it even worse. So what I did was wash the insides with scrubbing brush (the gentle variety, not the steel wool!) and a pleasant smelling soap. After a few wash, the smell is not as bad. But make sure you wash with hot water (but not boiling), they tend to get rid of the smell better.
Oh, and to answer the earlier question, I'm about 450 km north of the Causeway ... in KL.
Anyway, the putrid fiberglass smell can be a bit overwhelming... when I first got my Red guard helmet for example, I thought someone had pissed into it previously. In the case of this Vader lid, what I did was once the painting was completed, I fixed my electricals (two fans) on the inside and covered the wires as well as the entire inside of the helmet with foam padding, the type you can get at any haberdashery. I was fortunate to find the black colored variety instead of the typical beige one so it suited the Vader lid. Its very comfortable and to be honest, I can't smell the fiberglass at all. I'll take some pics tonight and post them.
On my Red Guard helmet, I didn't pad the inside as it was already claustrophobic as it it, adding padding would make it even worse. So what I did was wash the insides with scrubbing brush (the gentle variety, not the steel wool!) and a pleasant smelling soap. After a few wash, the smell is not as bad. But make sure you wash with hot water (but not boiling), they tend to get rid of the smell better.
Oh, and to answer the earlier question, I'm about 450 km north of the Causeway ... in KL.
- Plo Strax-Avix
- Posts: 655
- Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2005 5:27 pm
- Location: Grips Central