AOSC Forum Archive

Deep Scar IV made me realize that, unless I go out and spend money on goggles with fans, the eye pro I have right now is utter fail.  Thus, I would like to convert an old pair of ski goggles I've got into a nice pair of mesh goggles.

The only downside to this operation is that I have absolutely no idea where to buy the mesh, what kind to buy, or what to do with it once I have it.  Any help that can be offered would be greatly appreciated.  Remember... this is for y'all's safety as much as mine. 

Thanks, guys, really do appreciate your help!

RB, it's been several months ago but I did some Google research and there were a lot of sites then that gave tips and pointers.

1) Mesh is great when its bright out.  When it starts getting dark,and sometimes in the woods, you cant see crap.  It limits the amount of light that gets in. 

2) BB's can splinter and pieces can go into your eye.  Shots taken from angles are more susceptible to this. 


If you still want them:
www.evike.com

I order the vast majority of my stuff from them.

No offense, Travis, but did you read anything past the title of the thread?

I understand that with mesh comes the inherent consequence of BB fragmentation, and I know that it can limit vision, that's inherent with the solid surface between the holes.  Pretty common sense stuff, and it's still better than running around blind on the field.

The point of the thread is, I would like to make my own, and I'm seeking the how-to/do-it-yourself knowledge to make them...

You know, from now on, I'm not going to bother posting questions, if the only answer I'm going to receive is "Go look it up."

So that's what I'm gonna do from now on.

It's wonderful that we can ask questions and learn from each other.

well my advice ole buddy is to get fan goggles....the ONLY time they finally fogged up was when it was pouring out, and it only fogged half. sicne we are similar in physical makeup.
as for converting your goggles... would just buy a good set. i bought a cheap set...and u get what u pay for and they weretn comfy at all.
grim said his marui knockoffs worked lieka champ. my ess fangoggles were awsome.
i would have wire as backup...thats my 2 cents

I just thought the examples on the web were better than anything I could give you.
I have worn mesh for over a year now and even taken a direct hit to the face at 20 feet with a 400+ fps AEG (TigerMaw II '08) and never had a BB penetrate or splinter.
I still recommend buying them though.  The cost you save making your own my not be worth it since mesh goggles are not expensive.
I believe Robin (SCAA) has made his own and would be a good resource to get you started.
Here to help...

Radar wrote: I have...even taken a direct hit to the face at 20 feet with a 400+ fps AEG

I did read  your post...
Do you trust your inexperience in making eyepro against the above quote?  You will end up buying a pair.  I was just saving you the trouble, time, money and possibly your vision.  Let me know what kind you get.

Radar wrote: never had a BB penetrate or splinter.

I tested a pair I had with a 290 fps gun up close and had fragments.  That is why I always mention that.  I have never heard of anyone getting hurt from it, but I also didnt hear about anyone losing teeth until about 1.5 years ago. 

screw it get an Army of 2 mask....after my last experience...i am getting one for cqb

IronChef wrote: screw it get an Army of 2 mask....after my last experience...i am getting one for cqb

If I didn't wear prescription glasses I'd be all over one of those.

Hey Arbee, I can't tell you where to go to get mesh, just ensure that whatever you get is rated to handle the impact.  The mesh goggles out there have (more than likely) been tested to withstand the type of bb impacts from airsoft.  If you happen to get some mesh that may not be able to handle the impact, apply it to your goggles, then find out during a game that it isn't strong enough (although I hope you would test it beforehand  ), that would not be good. 

I have a pair I bought from evike for less than $25 (http://www.airsoftpost.com/product_info.php?cPath=30_154&products_id=29783), and I think I was hit in the face 5 or 6 times at DS IV.

If you build your own, just be sure to test them with different fps guns.

First off, I'd like to apologize for my outburst earlier.  I don't know what it is, but when I'm looking for help, and the first post is "use Google," that just ticks me off.  Google has plenty of "helpful" idiots suggesting that I use the sides of mesh-style trashcans to fashion the lenses for mesh goggles and spraypaint them black.  Nooo fxxxing way, man.

See, I've already got the goggles.  They're comfortable, they fit my face well, and if I could find the right kind of mesh, I'd be good to go.  Which is why I was asking where I could get the mesh in the first place.

To Travis:  If I can make one pair of mesh lenses on my own, and they stand up to the kind of force I need them to stand up to, then my inexperience won't be a factor any longer.  This has become a personal project for me.  I'd tell you what you can do with Evike and their eyepro selection, but I just apologized and I don't want to do it again.

Well... the trash can idea isn't half-bad. Many of the mesh trash cans I've handled have been made from fairly strong steel and would probably stand up just fine to a BB. If you happen to have access to one, offer to take out the trash and see what happens when you shoot it.

Barring that, go to a machine or welding shop and ask where you could buy some mesh (and show them what you're asking for).

Sorry to necro, but I have to address the "BB splintering on mesh" issue...

I often hear of people afraid to buy mesh goggles because they think that they are going to get shards of polystyrene in their eye, and I'd like to dissuade them from that point of view with the following:

1: I have worn mesh exclusively for more than a year, and I've been to as many games as any other very active player, I also know lots of players that use mesh. Neither I nor anyone I have ever known of has had any kind of splintering happen.

2: BBs are made of polystyrene, more specifically a semigranular highly compressed form of it. This means that if it was to crack on impact, it would not turn into shards, but rather a crumbly granular substance. Don't believe me? Break a BB and see if it makes "shards". The only kind that will are cheap .12s made of hard plastic, which are not used in any game I've been to, and are often not even allowed.

3: Assuming one does burst, and you happen to be the first person to have that happen to them in this state (that I'm aware of at least), not only will the only pieces small enough to fit through the holes be granular/dustlike (and therefore not sharp), but by the time they reach your eye it will be closed, due to the natural reflex to close them on impact to your goggles.

I love mesh it is way better to use.

arbee if you send garrett a private pm he can tell you how to do it...he has turned 3 paintball masks on our team to mesh using window screening and it works quite well.  he made red's and i shot it point blank with my 385 fps co2 pistol and the bb bounced right off.  i would tell you how to do it but garrett is much better at doing in