attaching helm padding

[Magpie Saegar]

I've recently completed a new helm (which I'm completely in love with), and I want to add a little padding to it in places. I currently plan on using the normal walmart blue camp-pad....

...my question is this: how do I attach the camp pad to leather? do I DAP it? do I sew it with the waxed polyester thread I used for the helmet? do I .... tape it? or what? I don't have rivets (and wouldn't want them digging into my head anyway).

I'll probably experiment before I come back here and see the answers, but I'd still like to know. in my experience, I don't think that DAP sticks to leather real well...

[Sir Cairbre]

...SCA advise.

The foam used for the ends of arrow heads makes the best padding for a helm.. blue camping is to hard... look inside any helmet for a bike or motorcycle it is closed then open cell foam...

What I recomend is cover the blue foam or open cell with cloth tape and then use 3m Double sided (indoor outdoor) to adhere it to the inside of the helm. Make sure all the surfaces are clean and "smooth".

[V-Hil]

I attach the foam with dap. It's worked for both the leather and the steel helmets I wear. Rough the foam (I used closed cell), dap it and the helm and attach after it dries.

Good luck!!

[Turin]

If you wanted to get real craft-ninja with it, you could sew up an arming cap with places to insert foam. Remember to use a breathable cloth unless you want heat stroke.

[Magpie Saegar]

sweet. three replies, three different (and all good options). thank you!

I think I'll do a combo of blue foam and arrow-tip foam, roughed up and dapped in. I would use the 3m double sided, but I don't have any on hand and would like to get this done..

I'll edit this post with pics once my camera's batteries charge and I get some free time to pad the helm.

[Forkbeard]

I used 1/4" thick blue-type foam in mine. It wears very well and take hits like a tank. I really beleive you would need more in a steel helm, but inside a hard leather one, you don't need that much.
One thing I recomend is putting a much thicker band of padding in the back just under the curve of your skull. THis tends to hold the helm on your head like a football helmet.
I also dap it in.
FB

[Grim Warhawk AlRitte]

I know the guys that worked the IRF (profession jousters) used 1 layer of blue foam lining the inside of their helm's. They were taking face shots with lances, and not the panzy little balsa wood pole ones either.

[Bothvar]

I've found polyester pillow filling great for helm padding. It comes in sheets & can be layered off to desired thickness, it breathes better than foam (not as hot on the head), easy to cut to fit, & doesn't have to be glued in as the fiber kind of klings to the leather.

[Kensman Bam]

There is also some open cell foam that is made for military helmets that you can purchase at some Army/Navy stores. Depending on the helmet size your might need 2 of them but the sell for pretty cheap if I remember right.