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ChaChi

My latest helmet shield for my very first customer

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I did his helmet shield 3 years ago and it's held up well until a big fire a couple weeks ago. It finally gave it up in a upper level house fire with temperatures estimated around 1000 degrees. I just had to make him another with new and improved design.

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Edited by ChaChi

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Excellent work! Thanks for sharing the pics with us.

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ChaChi

Nice looking shield!!! Are all your alls shields painted. Thanks for posting.

Mike

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ChaChi

Nice looking shield!!! Are all your alls shields painted. Thanks for posting.

Mike

Thanks Mike. So far they've all been painted but I'm working on a commemorative plaque right now with a shield on there that will have a western floral background and I'm NOT painting that one (well, maybe the letters).

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What gold paint or dye did you use? I have a customer that wants some gold leaf or gold sparkle in his design.

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What gold paint or dye did you use? I have a customer that wants some gold leaf or gold sparkle in his design.

I was using the cova color gold from tandy in the begining but now I use a brand from the Wal Mart craft section called FOLKART pure gold. It's like a $1.50 for the small bottle and 3 bucks for the bigger one. Goes on great and covers really good. Haven't had any problems with it yet. I just painted it on the leather after texturing it with a backgrounder.

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Is there one specific backgrounder you prefer?

I use the craftool e-294 series on these helmet fronts. They come in 3 different sizes so get them all. The bigger ones save time and the tiny one gets you into all those impossible spots.

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How are those shields attached to the helmets? Do the leather helmets have some mounting hardware installed from the factory? I've made a couple prototypes for the Bullards we use (not leather) and I am debating using snaps/velcro. Do you know of any possible problems with making holes in a fire helmet for installing hardware? (NFPA/OSHA) I appreciate any help.

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How are those shields attached to the helmets? Do the leather helmets have some mounting hardware installed from the factory? I've made a couple prototypes for the Bullards we use (not leather) and I am debating using snaps/velcro. Do you know of any possible problems with making holes in a fire helmet for installing hardware? (NFPA/OSHA) I appreciate any help.

The leather helmets have 2 screw studs sticking out of the front from the factory. What you see on the face of my fronts are the chrome acorn nuts that attach to them. I would NEVER go drilling holes in any helmet to mount a shield up there, but I don't think velcro would hold up tp the heat. Don't Bullards have a factory mounting block behind the shield on the helmet for the lower screws to bolt in to? They know a shield will be mounted up there. Surely there's something. The Bullard factory is actually about 15 minutes down the road from me. I may have to check that out.

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We use the FX style helmet. There isn't any kind of factory mounting hardware. Here is a link.

Bullard Helmets

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We use the FX style helmet. There isn't any kind of factory mounting hardware. Here is a link.

Bullard Helmets

Yeah Ive never seen a leather shield mounted on that type. Ususally they just have a department sticker or appparatus ID up there.

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What type thread do you use to sew your fronts together. I have been toying around with some different designs and already have a few guys interested in a custom shield if I ever figure it out. Also, what do you use to finish your shields with?

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What type thread do you use to sew your fronts together. I have been toying around with some different designs and already have a few guys interested in a custom shield if I ever figure it out. Also, what do you use to finish your shields with?

I just use 277 thread with a tippmann boss stitcher and they're usually finished with super sheen or polyurethane gloss for woodworking projects.

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