Mask Porn?

[the_umpire]

Those Nike Ti masks look great!

[the_umpire]

@Platejob29 who did you use to cut off the throat guard? 

Edited August 27, 2015 by the_umpire

[Platejob29]

@Platejob29 who did you use to cut off the throat guard? 

Just a normal every day hack saw. Then I used steel automotive files to clean up the edges and smooth it out. I suggest using a fresh blade for each bar you cut through. It makes it go by much faster and much more consistent. 

[MadMax]

Dammit, @Platejob29, chopping a Nike Ti frame is like chopping the horn off a unicorn! Here some of us are, trying to find an intact Nike Ti and here are you two barbarians lopping the chin guards off of 'em. Have you no heart?!?!

There there, my precious Nike Steel... I won't let the bad man with the hacksaw get you.

Seriously, though, I've got a gumption to try fabricating my own mask. The +POS ZRO-G is really good, but the geometry of the Nike (Steel & Titanium both) is that much more... favorable. What's got me fueled to do this is how bent and dinged up my Steel is in light of how freakin' hard it is to purchase one (except for you, Platejob, they seem to grow on trees)!

It looks like November will be the month to send all three masks to Tony (at MaskIt). All three need some TLC. Although, I might keep the ZRO-G here and have it powder coated by a local guy.

[MObetterBlue]

A brief aside from the cool rigs...  For those that have a sunshield, does it do anything for you?  Since I always have a hat on, I don't really see the point.  Maybe I'm missing something.  I will admit, there is a coolness factor - it looks good!

[Thunderheads]

A brief aside from the cool rigs...  For those that have a sunshield, does it do anything for you?  Since I always have a hat on, I don't really see the point.  Maybe I'm missing something.  I will admit, there is a coolness factor - it looks good!

2 things ...

1) personal preference, ....  some like it, some don't (I like the look)

2) remember, ... the sun is still beating on your cap.... I'd like to think it helps to keep the cap brim cooler

[Man_In_Black]

2 things ...) personal preference, ....  some like it, some don't (I like the look)

2) remember, ... the sun is still beating on your cap.... I'd like to think it helps to keep the cap brim cooler

I tried a sunshield for a complete season a couple years back. I wear a 6-stitch cap behind the dish and I honestly didn't notice any difference as far as the shield keeping the brim of my cap cooler. On bright, sunny days, I work the plate with Oakleys on anyways, so sun glare isn't an issue for me.

I think like @Thunderheads said above, many folks like the look of it...and that's fine. I didn't notice any real benefit from using one, so I just took it off. One less thing to break. But I'd never criticize anyone for choosing to wear one. It's a personal preference.

[MadMax]

A brief aside from the cool rigs...  For those that have a sunshield, does it do anything for you?  Since I always have a hat on, I don't really see the point.  Maybe I'm missing something.  I will admit, there is a coolness factor - it looks good!

Both my Nike Steel and +POS ZRO-G have a sunshield on them (Steel got silver-black tint, Zero got blue tint). I'd have one in the FM4000 if one would fit.

I wear a 4-stitch hat for PU, and the sunshield performs two functions for me (besides looking badass)...

1. It creates an extended shaded zone above my eyes that the hat visor may not quite cover. I have found that I have not had to wear sunglasses as PU since I started using the sunshields.
2. If it's drizzling or raining, it keeps rain out of my eyes and off the hat visor, where it would otherwise start coagulating and dripping from.
3. BONUS: I suppose it would also keep snow out of my eyes, or at least give my eyes something else to look at instead of a bleak, wintery sky that is soon to come to Wisconsin.

As far as hot / cool, temperature-wise? Never noticed.

[Platejob29]

Dammit, @Platejob29, chopping a Nike Ti frame is like chopping the horn off a unicorn! Here some of us are, trying to find an intact Nike Ti and here are you two barbarians lopping the chin guards off of 'em. Have you no heart?!?!

There there, my precious Nike Steel... I won't let the bad man with the hacksaw get you.

Seriously, though, I've got a gumption to try fabricating my own mask. The +POS ZRO-G is really good, but the geometry of the Nike (Steel & Titanium both) is that much more... favorable. What's got me fueled to do this is how bent and dinged up my Steel is in light of how freakin' hard it is to purchase one (except for you, Platejob, they seem to grow on trees)!

It looks like November will be the month to send all three masks to Tony (at MaskIt). All three need some TLC. Although, I might keep the ZRO-G here and have it powder coated by a local guy.

The Nike steel is one hell of a mask. The one I got my Dad last year is somewhere posted on this very thread. He said the same thing about chopping the chin off my mask. He practically locks his up in a safe when I'm around out of fear that I'll try and chop his. My roommate actually said the same thing you did when I chopped mine and then after seeing mine in person and holding mine it became a race to see how fast he could get the chin off of his.

[umpstu]

Both my Nike Steel and +POS ZRO-G have a sunshield on them (Steel got silver-black tint, Zero got blue tint). I'd have one in the FM4000 if one would fit.

I wear a 4-stitch hat for PU, and the sunshield performs two functions for me (besides looking badass)...

1. It creates an extended shaded zone above my eyes that the hat visor may not quite cover. I have found that I have not had to wear sunglasses as PU since I started using the sunshields.
2. If it's drizzling or raining, it keeps rain out of my eyes and off the hat visor, where it would otherwise start coagulating and dripping from.
3. BONUS: I suppose it would also keep snow out of my eyes, or at least give my eyes something else to look at instead of a bleak, wintery sky that is soon to come to Wisconsin.

As far as hot / cool, temperature-wise? Never noticed.

What if the snow accumulates on the shield?  Where are your going to find mini snow shovels to take care of that?

[the_umpire]

New Mask to add to my collection...

[MadMax]

The Usual Suspects...
Left: +POS ZRO-G frame, Team Wendy pads (+POS logo is Sharpie'd on), Honig's navy harness, Markwort blue-tint sunshield – this is my navy-trim mask
Center: Nike Steel (Non-Retail) frame, Team Wendy pads, Nike black harness, Markwort silver-tint sunshield – this is my black-trim mask
Right: All-Star FM4000 frame, Team Wendy pads, +POS black harness – this is my black-trim secondary

I'll be sending the Nike off to MaskIt to get repaired first (it took some whallops this spring) and touched up, then following with the FM4000... should I get it painted Black? Charcoal? and keep to tan pads, or should I go Silver? Platinum? ... and team it up with black pads?

The ZRO-G I may just try to powder coat here with a local tradesman.

[Thunderheads]

I tried a sunshield for a complete season a couple years back. I wear a 6-stitch cap behind the dish and I honestly didn't notice any difference as far as the shield keeping the brim of my cap cooler. On bright, sunny days, I work the plate with Oakleys on anyways, so sun glare isn't an issue for me.

I think like @Thunderheads said above, many folks like the look of it...and that's fine. I didn't notice any real benefit from using one, so I just took it off. One less thing to break. But I'd never criticize anyone for choosing to wear one. It's a personal preference.

 

my theory, (right or wrong) ....the sun shield protects a lot of the upper

[Storm13]

Gerry Davis masks...any opinions? Looking at one online and not sure if I should pull the trigger.

http://www.gerrydavis.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=21543668c0d1825a42d3c2b634fff191&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GDS&Product_Code=BB-PR1259060099&Category_Code=Umpire_Masks
  

 

[MadMax]

Gerry Davis masks...any opinions? Looking at one online and not sure if I should pull the trigger.

http://www.gerrydavis.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Session_ID=21543668c0d1825a42d3c2b634fff191&Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GDS&Product_Code=BB-PR1259060099&Category_Code=Umpire_Masks
  

 

Storm, that's just a Diamond DFM-UMP-iX3 outfitted with pads sporting the Gerry David branding. So, those pads are (very) likely better than the original pads on that mask from Diamond, but they're no different than the new (2014-15) pads.

You know, I think Ump-Attire sells that mask as a bare frame. You can outfit it with whatever pads you wish. Another option is Honig's, who sells their signature mask (much like the Diamond, it has a crown guard) as a bare frame. Lastly is +POS, who sells their ZRO-G as a bare frame. Catch a trend? Nearly any mask frame is very good – it's the pads that make the difference.

[Storm13]

Storm, that's just a Diamond DFM-UMP-iX3 outfitted with pads sporting the Gerry David branding. So, those pads are (very) likely better than the original pads on that mask from Diamond, but they're no different than the new (2014-15) pads.

You know, I think Ump-Attire sells that mask as a bare frame. You can outfit it with whatever pads you wish. Another option is Honig's, who sells their signature mask (much like the Diamond, it has a crown guard) as a bare frame. Lastly is +POS, who sells their ZRO-G as a bare frame. Catch a trend? Nearly any mask frame is very good – it's the pads that make the difference.

that is the stuff I am looking for...now I know the pads are the key.  What about a harness?  I have been using stock harnesses but thinking of upgrading it.

[gnhbua93]

Here is the "perfect strap" for every mask

http://www.daveystrap.com/

[Storm13]

I figured I would give everyone on here a chance to check our some trashy mask porn...lol

I am planning to upgrade ASAP.

Edited September 9, 2015 by Storm13

[kylehutson]

I figured I would give everyone on here a chance to check our some trashy mask porn...lol

I am planning to upgrade ASAP.

Even in a thread marked 'porn', that kind of thing doesn't belong on a family-friendly site. ;-)

[Storm13]

Even in a thread marked 'porn', that kind of thing doesn't belong on a family-friendly site. ;-)

Your just lucky my other pic would not load...lol

[MadMax]

Your just lucky my other pic would not load...lol

That thing has more bad vinyl on it than an attendee of a goth "club" party somewhere in mid-continent America. Yeesh.

That mask is steel, and judging by the bar ends, it might be hollow, but chances are not. You know it's steel because it is vinyl-dipped to prevent corrosion. So not only is that mask ugly, it's also heavy (or heavier than it needs to be). It's a pretty ho-hum layout. The pads suck and the harness sucks. The mask frame itself is useable, either as spare or as a charitable donation to a future partner who trots out the only mask worse than that thing – a Rawlings PWMX.

Someone here (was it you, @Majordave?) burned off the vinyl and then had the mask frame powder-coated.

[Storm13]

I told you it was an ugly and cheap mask...lol. It will end up being my last resort mask very very soon. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Majordave]

Max,

I burned off all the vinyl from a very good Wilson Davis New-View (flattened profile) Cro-Moly mask and then sanded and steel wooled it, primed it and painted it myself with satin semi-gloss spray paint. April of 2014. I retouched it this spring and will again this winter for the 2016 season. I've got it as black with tan leather Wilson West-Vest pads and Wilson MLB harness. I also added my Major's Rank epaulet over the gold W. And hung a Honig's 4" throat protector from the bottom bar of the mask proper (not the jutted out bars throat protector that either you or KyleJT told us was originally designed for carchers to drop their chins to block and not impale their chests with the bloody things.)

This modded Cro-Mo frame is only 3 ounces heavier than my Wilson Ti New-View profile mask set up the exact same but with black leather Wilson pads.

I started a thread in this forum about the refurb process.  I don't remember what I titled it though.  It has pics.

BTW, Both pad sets are on their fourth season or more. I get popped in the mask all the time;At least once a week, and no headaches or jaw or vision or concussion problems. Mask spins off. I laugh. Put it back on and away we go. 

To quote Major Payne..."Works every time!"

The refurb was easy. Took about two hours to strip and sand the frame. Primed and painted over a couple of days.  It's my favorite over the Ti. But I still love that look too. Silver and black. Black and Tan. 

Now I'm thirsty. Black and Tan sounds good. Guinness. It's good for you!

[Platejob29]

Here's the pictures of the mask I got my Dad for Father's Day 2014. I mentioned in an above post that I thought I had already posted it but I think it was on my other account that I accidentally made and deleted so here it is again. Sorry I can't get the pictures to turn around the right way up. So anyway the mask is a Nike non retail steel frame. I stripped off as much of the plastic coaching as I could before taking it to the powder coater who then sandblasted the last bit of plastic off. The second picture is the mask assembled before taking it to the powder coater. The last picture is the completed mask with the frame finished in a custom powder coat blend that my Dad helped to "design" with the powder coater. It's a metallic grey base with a little metallic denim and a little flat silver with a matte clear coat over it. Loaded with black TWs which i think he has since switched with Wilson Memory Foam pads for this last season. The harness is a Wilson MLB logo harness. Now if he would only let me chop the chin and put a killer throat guard this thing would be really cool but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

[Majordave]

That looks pretty boss.  Too bad I'm hooked on new-view frame shape. Full frames don't give me the view I'm now accustomed to.