For anybody finding this looking for ways to paint their own masks: in my experience metallic sharpie shows up REALLY well on masks! If your design can look nice with silver/gold, you can probably just hand draw it on with a sharpie! This spray painting method also works really well too, it's just a bit more labor intensive. I've used both methods and they're both good, just depends on the colors you want and complexity of your design.
Classical fencer here (non-HEMA) so I've never gotten all too adventurous with my masks. Is there any vision issues? Like distraction from the differing colors, that you've noticed?
Absolutely not. However fighting against someone with a well painted mask can be really unnerving and make it harder to concentrate on the fight! + from me! Distract opponent!!
@@anthonycoffey6565 Saber mask painted? errrrr.......... Are you sure!? You not suppose to paint saber mask - it has to be fully conductive. If you paint saber mask - the paint blocks the hit zone and if he's hit in the mask - the opponent won't get proper scoring there. Certainly a no-no, forget about tournaments.
I'm glad to see that you and your wife share in each others hobbies. I'm also fortunate enough to have a girlfriend who enjoys many of my hobbies as well. I hope my girlfriend and I will have an opportunity to join a HEMA club together someday. BTW great project. Love the designs as well.
You suppose to use clear coat either way. It will extend life span of the art. Plus if you are hit hard in the mask - the paint will not chip and fly into your eye. In terms of "conductivity" - this is epee mask, no need conductivity. Same goes for foil mask. The only mask you cannot and shall not paint is saber mask - it has to stay fully metallic and fully conductive.
One can simply dip some brushes in paint and paint the thing, no masking needed. Of course this method is safer, with hardly any room for mistakes. I wanted to take a more artistic approach with my mask though. Turned out alright. :)
+Antti Palosaari I actually tried to do some dry brushing on this one, but I didn't like the way it turned out, so I started over (You don't see that bit in the video). I couldn't get the dry brushing to come out evenly, and it had a tendency to put too much paint down and fill in the mesh, which I didn't want. I'm glad it worked for you, I'd love to see your mask (have any photos anywhere?). This video isn't meant to imply that this is the only way, or the right way to paint a mask. It's just the way that worked for us.
+Casey Riley The mesh is indeed not the best or friendliest surface to paint on - I can see why your method makes a lot of sense! Here's a pic my mask: goo.gl/5nUEma As you can see, the coating is uneven at places, however I have no problem seeing through it.
Hi. I just came across this channel and don't know anything about you or what exactly you do with the mask. But your mask only resists 350N, right? FIE-norm for fencing is 1600N. So maybe you should consider to buy another mask as long as yours is not only for the showcase.
Does it impair your vision at all? Or not really impair I guess wouldnt be the right word, but like do you see the changes in color that might distract you?
No. It's dark inside the mesh, so no color is seen. I did 3 layers of paint due to the design of one of my club member's mask - and it's still not at issue. Especially if it's in the eyes area.
The only problem I can see is someone overpainting (using too much paint and filling in the mesh). Easy does it, several light coats (as done in the video) are better than one heavy coat. Fraggin awesome by the way!
No way! Only use painter's tape. It's available in any home depot/lowes. This tape is easy to shape,cut, bend around corners and it is not too sticky - which is very important when you pull it off the surface. .
+Draaguoh Depends on your purpose, basic sport fencing runs cheaper than HEMA fencing mask. The best inexpensive HEMA mask would be the Absolute Force masks, but there are much better masks out there.
+Geht KeinenWasAn (SpareTimeWarrior) From inside the helmet it is like looking through a screen door, you can see any details or color, the backside of the mesh is still black.
Hi, for Sport Fencing It's tolerated in litle event,but for national and international you have to ask a permit to your federation with photo and logo of the paint. If you pratice Sabre it's more difficult ,the paint have to be conductive. For épée no problem. For HEMA it's all ok,no federation exist (recognized),no one ( exept the event organisation ) can give you a sanction for that.
Didn't have a problem with sanctioned tournaments with my painted mask. For Nationals, I'd bring painted and clean mask as backup.Main rule of a thumb- it shall not be anything offensive, or controversial (like F word or Swastika)
@@bobu5213 no, especially if the spray paint is an all in one. Keep in mind the man is going to get beat up, so the paint will scrap of over use. But you can see in this video we just used a single pass if spray paint.
