Mask facts and myths.
Many false claims are made about masks which are NOT backed up by technical facts.
The prices of fiber reinforced masks can vary from 250 dollars/euros up to 1500 dollars/euros but what are you getting for your money?
Do expensive masks (600 dollars/euros and up) have more advanced fibers than those costing HALF that amount - in most cases NO!!!!!
Through the lack of knowledge by the potential buyer you can be talked into buying anything with the STICKER of choice.
Fibers used in mask making are fiberglass, carbon, aramid and polyethylene. Lets explore the merits of each fiber.
Fiberglass - cheap - not very light - easy to cut and clean up - heavier than all other advanced fibers.
Carbon Fiber - expensive - very light - often MISUSED for strength properties but is infact only a stiffner offering very little resistance to shock loads like pucks etc.
NOT used in armour protection by the military due to these shortcomings. Easy to trim as a finished laminate therefore time saving in production.
Aramid Fiber - expensive - very light - used in body armour such as bullit-proof vests and helmets - armoured vehicles - aerospace applications etc. Very difficult to cut and trim the finished laminate - one of the main reasons it's not used much in goal mask manufacture. Needs a high quality aerospace EPOXY resin to ensure delamination doesn't occur and expensive special tooling is necessary. Polyester and vinylester resins are not very suitabe for laminating products which encounter high impact shocks. How many masks have you seen with splits/cracks in the chin and forehead areas due to the use of inferior resins and INSUFFICIENT layers of reinforcement. This is not restricted to cheaper masks but also happens with masks costing up to 800 to 1000 dollars/euros.
Polyethylene Fiber - expensive - also used in some SOFT body armour but has recently been replaced by the CHEAPER polypropylene but has the same stretching/no return characteristics as polyethylene which makes it UNSUITABLE for goal mask production (although it is used by companies not aware of this shortcoming).
One very important fact is recently vinylester resin has been occaisionally re-labled epoxy - IT ISN'T - it's still vinylester. Aerospace epoxies are only used by two or three companies because EPOXY takes a lot longer to cure in the mould and is a lot more expensive. No - I repeat No massed produced mask uses AEROSPACE EPOXIES in their construction - it costs too much!!!!!
Why do those masks cost so much - because YOU don't know what you are buying!!!!!!. What justifies a FIBERGLASS mask costing upto 800 dollars/euros when you can buy one made with a high ARAMID content for HALF that much and a FULL ARAMID model for 100 dollars/euros for LESS than a Fiberglass mask. Why buy a Chevrolet when you can buy a Caddilac for less and is better/stronger/lighter made????
Methods of construction. There are only TWO ways for making mask laminates - the MORE than 20 year OBSOLETE balanced plies method where the mask is the same thickness all over resulting in increased chin and forehead damage - that being cracks and splitting in the chin and forehead which occur only too often and NOT only in the cheaper masks.
The second method is the strategically placed layers where the chin and forehead are thicker as these areas are the most vulnerable for goalies.
When buying a mask - new or used - check to see if the chin/forehead is thicker - if it isn't I'd give it a miss or expect problems. Get your mask maker to JUSTIFY his price - it's to your advantage.
Product guarantees. Check how long the guarantee is for the mask you intend to buy. Some masks costing 250/280 dollars/euros have guarantees SEVERAL times longer than masks costing upto 900 dollars/euros - it pays to check. Also check that the mask you intend to buy has a PRODUCT LIABILITY INSURANCE in case of injury. If it doesn't you are left with the hospital bills if the maker can't pay !!!!!!!!!! Product Liability Insurance is a STAND ALONE policy - it CAN'T be tacked on to a household insurance if sold as a commercial product - i.e. for money. Don't think you are saving money buying a mask WITHOUT this insurance - if it cracks/splits and you are injured the hospital costs can be enormous.
More mask knowledge can be found on this website - www.goaliestore.com - click on Equipment Forum - usually the first thread after the store sponsored links.
Have a great game.
Stacey
Owner - Stacey Composites
