So how many of us have made our own helmets before, and what are the risks involved? Is it better to start from scratch, or will taking a non-kayaking helmet and modifying it work just as well? What's the best way to set up the retaining straps and padding? Is any home-made helmet destined to be a playboating helmet, or can they be made strong enough for creeking too? What's the best paint to use? Or if you have anything else on this subject to say that doesn't answer a specific question, fire away as well.

(this sort of came up in a different forum, but I thought it deserved it's own)

Just my personal opinion but I don't reckon home made helmets are such a good idea. You can not stress or impact test them properly and certainly can not justify expensive independant testing as should be done on all helmets (And has to be done to sell helmets internally in Europe).

After all it is your life your playing with and is it worth skimping on a few quid for a decent tested helmet.

Denzil

As a rule I tend to agree that unless you have experience with composite work it is something that should be approached with extreme caution.
I have the good luck (I suppose) of many years of composite work (structural and no structural) experience on a variety of different helicopters.
I also have access to advise and evaluation from other colleagues and a engineering department at work.

So, if you want to make your own there is nothing stopping you but be prepared for the risks envolved and if there is a local or regional authority that requires a stamp of approval for your personal insuances then I would think twice.

I did not build mine to save the money. By hte time I have finnished mine it will not have been an inexpesive endeavor.
My wife and home accountant released the funds if I want tobuy a new helmet from Sweet.
I really wanted to see if I could do something that works and is safe.
For my own product I am very satisfied.

At this point, I should point out that cost-saving had nothing to do with my decision to make my own helmet. I more attracted to the satisfaction of building my own gear, so that I know I'll be less reliant on what the manufacturers are producing. I also want to learn how to work with the materials, so that I can use that know-how later in life. I'm simply building my own helemt because I want to, not because I want to save money, and I have another helmet, which I'll use if this one proves unsafe.

Hello,

If you want to make a creek helmet it can be done. A mixed cloth would be a good option (kevlar/carbonfibere). minimum 3 layups 45 degrees offset from each other for strength and stiffness. reinforced at edges (at least 1 inch width strips around circumference) and reinforced acrross helmet (fore/aft and laterally (1 inch wide strip). Put the reinforcemet strips between 2 layers (it will look better).

Use webing to buy amke your straps attached with stainless steel rivets (I would use a solid core pop-rivet (something where the stem does not pop out or if you can use solid riviets (stainless or monel) with a rivet squeeze.

Once again, this is FYI info and your composite skills should get a bit of practice on plain fibreglass.

Pay very close attention to your resin to cloth weight ratio. (too much resin makes a brittle product and heavy too. Not enough makes a soft product that is also suceptible to water damage).

This is FYI info and should be used with caution and is not intended to replace experience and proper instruction.

If you are making a creek helmet: exagerate the flair at the bottom and make the helmet larger for a heavier foam liner (doubler).
Tst your model helmet on your head. Prtoect the back down to the back of the skull and dwn the side to at least partially cover the ears.
The flair help to put additiona space betwen rocks and your head.
If you use a bill on the front (keep it v ery short (no longer than an inch).

Again this is only FYI info and should not replace proffesional knowlege and experience.

If the regional authorities require a standard for manufacturing and testing then go with an approved helmet. (that is all about personal insurace claims)