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Rain on the Helmet Shield Rain on the Helmet Shield
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Photo by Sean Howman, The Pamir highway in an unseasonably cold late October, Tajikistan

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Sean Howman,
The Pamir highway in an unseasonably
cold late October, Tajikistan




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  #1  
Old 15 Nov 2007
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Rain on the Helmet Shield
Hello HU Community,

I apologize if this has already been covered. I tried searching for the answer but the results came back empty - both here in HU and on google and on ask. Ok, that was my disclaimer. Here's my problem.

I'm looking for something to put on the plastic shield of my helmet to make it easier to see in the rain. My first thought was Rain X, but then I read that it is not supposed to be used on plastics. But I want something with that same effect - beading up the waterdroplets and letting them slide away. I'm currently in Cuenca Ecuador headed to Peru, so I might not be able to find name brand products.

If anyone knows of a good solution I can make using some simple cleaning products that would be great.

Thanks!
fatrob
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  #2  
Old 15 Nov 2007
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This isn't the perfect solution, I don't do perfect, I do bodged.

Every so often I take my visor fully off, and wash it in hot water and washing up liquid. I then rub washing up liquid into the interior side until it stops being smeary. This stops fogging quite effectively.

Then I take a little bit of sunflower oil on a soft cloth and rub it onto the outer face of the visor. It seems to disperse rain to some level, but there is probably a better way to do it, that doesn't make your hat smell like a chip factory!

Happy Riding
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  #3  
Old 15 Nov 2007
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I was riding back through Spain with rain problems and stopped at a supermarket to see if I could get something. I found something that looked suitable and surreptitiously squirted some on the visor, then continued on my way. Don't know what it was, but I had real problems with bubbles and foam for the next few miles!

Anyway... RainX can be used on some plastics and I have used it on a visor before, just be careful and test an area at the side first!

I currently use Nikwax Visor Proof which I believe is available in the US.

Tim
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Old 15 Nov 2007
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SILVO Tarnish Guard (silver polish), takes out any small scratches, Doesnt make stars on the visor at night, and when you buff it off keeps a small layer that makes rain rivet off of it cheap easy fix.

You can also use it on your wind shield, plastics, metal bits great stuff.

And while I'm on the subject of treating your kit, If your boots leak then use Shoe Goop to seal the areas around stiches and soles, then give them a good polish after and all dry, the stuff also works on sealing hoses if your stuck out in the field and can't get a replacement.
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Old 19 Nov 2007
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Thanks for your responses. I think I'm going to try all those ideas. I'll just have to wait a couple of days because it is really sunny here in northern Peru!

Thanks Again!
fatrob
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  #6  
Old 19 Nov 2007
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How about...
...using regular car wax. NO, not the polish stuff, just normal "hard-wax". Put it on the shield, then buff it with a soft cloth and you should have a pretty decent rain-drop-"rainX"-solution. I do this with my helmet every now and then. Advantage, you can use the same stuff for your bike and I assume you can get it almost everywhere!!

Safe riding,

Klaus
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  #7  
Old 20 Nov 2007
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Mr Sheen - a pressure pack can of furniture polish .. good on plastics and leaves a wax film that makes water bead..
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  #8  
Old 22 Nov 2007
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I always use rain-x, as said above test it on a small area first but I've used it on Shoei, FM and AGV clear visors for years with no problems. Never tried it on a tinted visor though as I don't tend to wear one in the wet.
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Old 22 Nov 2007
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yep..Rain X
Rain-X ok on most visors.... just dont use it on the actual helmet.....dont know how it affects the polycarbonate (if it is a poly lid)
i usualy get an eyedropper bottle from the chemists,( 40p last time i got one. tell em what its for, they are usually ok, the little family owned chemists are best) a plastic one and decant rain-X into that mark it CLEARLY NOT FOR EYES, saves carrying a big bottle with you, just drop 2 or 3 drops on the visor, spread around with fingers and buff off with bog roll......sorted!
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  #10  
Old 2 Dec 2007
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Visor Proof performance
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tim Cullis View Post
I was riding back through Spain with rain problems and stopped at a supermarket to see if I could get something. I found something that looked suitable and surreptitiously squirted some on the visor, then continued on my way. Don't know what it was, but I had real problems with bubbles and foam for the next few miles!

Anyway... RainX can be used on some plastics and I have used it on a visor before, just be careful and test an area at the side first!

I currently use Nikwax Visor Proof which I believe is available in the US.

Tim
What is your experience with Visor Proof? I am working on a competing product.
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