Hockey helmets are a pretty important part of any sports equipment collection. Not only do they protect your noggin’ in case of a collision, but they also double as selfie machines. However, getting a GoPro attached to a hockey helmet is a bit more complicated than just putting the camera on the head cover.
Fortunately, attaching a GoPro to a hockey helmet is a piece of cake. All you need is a little bit of glue and some time.
Let’s take a look at how to attach a gopro to a hockey helmet.
Table of Contents
Materials Needed
For this project, you will need the following:
- A hockey helmet
- A GoPro camera
- Scotch tape
- Mod Podge
- A heat-stabilized plastic housing
- A vinyl banner (optional)
You will also need to have access to a vinyl cutter so you can cut the banner. If you don’t have one, you can download a vinyl cutting template for free from the internet. Once you have everything, you can start creating your own personalized hockey helmet selfie banner.
Now, let’s get into the details.
Attach The GoPro To The Helm
The first step is to attach the GoPro to the helmet. If you are planning on using an adhesive, be sure to choose an appropriate one. You don’t want to stick the camera to the helmet with super gooey adhesive, especially if you are planning on taking it off sometime soon.
If you are planning on using screws, be sure to use a proper screwdriver. You don’t want to use a knife or any other tool that could slide when you are trying to screw something. Also, make sure that the screws are long enough to reach the bottom of the camera’s housing.
Cut The Vinyl Banner
The next step is to cut the vinyl banner to fit around the camera. You can make several cuts along the banner’s edges so you get the precise fit you want. Once you have it measured and positioned, you can use the vinyl cutter to make precise cuts in the banner.
The best way to ensure the banner fits around the camera without any visible wrinkles is to draw around the edges of the camera with pencil before you cut. This will help you get the precise fit you want without any problems. You can also use the banner as a template when you are cutting the main body of the helmet.
Apply The Glue
Once you have your vinyl banner cut, apply the glue along the edges to hold it together temporarily.
It is best to use a brush to apply the glue. If you are planning on applying the glue to the inside of the banner, you can use a pencil to make a small incision along one of the edges to help the brush reach all the areas inside. This is especially helpful if the edges are rough or the banner is a bit torn already.
Once you have applied the glue, leave it to fully dry before you peel off the vinyl banner. Do not handle the banner directly after applying the glue as the adhesive may still be wet. This could cause the vinyl to peel off or become less flexible.
Assembly
Now that you have your vinyl banner attached to the helmet, it’s time to put all the pieces together. Peel off the protective sheet on the back of the camera and place it on top of the main body of the helmet. Make sure the banner is positioned so that it covers the whole front of the camera and the edges meet at the back of the head cover. Now, using some tape to make a circle around the edges, you can secure the camera to the helmet. Make sure to cover the lens of the camera with the banner when it is time to take a picture. This will help you keep the focus on the subject of the picture instead of the background.
If you are attaching the camera to a hard hat, you can reinforce the connection further with some epoxy or super glue. This will also help prevent damage in case the head is hit during play.
Testing
To check the accuracy of your measurements, you can use the banner as a template to cut out a small sample of vinyl and apply it to the head cover of a dummy or a human head. This will help you see how the banner fits around the head before you make your final cut and apply it to the whole head cover. Ensure that the edges of the banner meet at the back of the head so you do not have any wrinkles or sloppy cuts when applied to the entire head cover. You should also test the glue by applying it to a small area of cardboard to ensure it will not peel off during use.
Once you have everything cut out and positioned, apply a small amount of water along the edges of the cut out banner. This will help the glue adhere to the template better and ensure a neat appearance when applied to the entire head cover.
You can also test the completed product by taking a selfie in front of a blank wall and comparing it to the same selfie taken in front of a mirror. The mirror will distort your appearance, while the wall will help you maintain the same proportions as the camera sees you. If there are any differences, you can correct them with a phone’s scaling tools.
Customizing
To create a personalized design that will show up when you take a selfie, all you need are some scissors, a glue brush, a vinyl cutter, and Photoshop or another image editing program. Choose the image you want displayed on the banner and cut it out. Use the scissors to cut along the edges of the image. Start from the top left corner and work your way to the right, repeating the process along the bottom. The edge of the vinyl banner will start looking like a checkerboard pattern as you go across the image. Once you reach the end, start over again at the top left corner to cut the banner the same way you started. This will help you create a cohesive pattern between the two sides. Once you have finished cutting, use the scissors to cut along one of the edge of the image to create frills or other decorative details.
Protect Your Investment
Once you have created your own personalized design, you can use the vinyl cutter to remove the image from the banner. This will protect your investment in the design you have made.
A vinyl cutter will make precise cuts along the edge of the template, so you get a clean and professional appearance when applying your design to the entire head cover. This will help you retain your cool and avoid any mishaps while playing sports.
This is a fun and quick project to customize the appearance of your helmet. You can use this technique to cut shapes or add designs like cartoon characters, patterns, or whatever you can think of. The sky is the limit!