# Bolting a combat helmet onto a human skull? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 3, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801 "2010-12-03T13:28:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/1 "2010-12-03T13:28:26Z")
To be brief, I’m looking for a way to bolt [M1940 Stahlhelm](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stahlhelm#M1940)s onto human skulls, in such a way and place that a) the bolts wouldn’t damage the brain, eyes, or major nerves (and preferably not the jaw), and b) the helmet would still be removable for replacement or maintenance. The helmet has to stay on securely under combat conditions, but pain management, blood loss, or infection are not considered an issue. So, where on the skull would be the optimal place to put the bolts, and how much would I have to modify the helmets to accommodate them? I don’t need an answer _super_ fast, but it sure would help me out [del]in my fiendish plans[/del]. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/2 "2010-12-03T14:16:42Z")
Err… why? Sure you can bolt things to the skull (it’s done for various research and medical purposes occasionally) but I think it’s a bad idea for a helmet. The helmet is there to absorb impacts and transmit them gradually evenly over the whole skull. If you bolt it to the skull, it’ll now very efficiently transmit any shock directly to one small part of the skull. The part of the skull which is now weakened because you drilled a large hole for the bolt. With a helmet like this every little shock will be like a pickaxe to the brain. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/3 "2010-12-03T14:24:31Z")
Well, after [some googling](http://books.google.com/books?id=lRZgCwyh6rAC&pg=PA1335&lpg=PA1335&dq=thickest+part+of+the+skull&source=bl&ots=isc9snQMyr&sig=_7gvB_8jis6fU83hp2W_4Tulxjs&hl=en&ei=wfv4TJP0FY-asAO5q6SuAw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CFYQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=thickest%20part%20of%20the%20skull&f=false) it looks like the [occipital bone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gray194.png) is the thickest part of the skull. It seems logical that you’d want at least one mounting point there. ---
**Author:** ![StrangerThanFiction](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f05b48/32.png) [@StrangerThanFiction](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StrangerThanFiction)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/4 "2010-12-03T14:28:11Z")
Your zombie army will still be vulnerable to beheadings… ---
**Author:** ![misling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3ab097/32.png) [@misling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/misling)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/5 "2010-12-03T14:40:43Z")
I’d have to agree with lazybratsche - what you need is not to bolt the helmet to the skull, but to fasten it on with something shock absorbing - springs? Foam blocks? something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Scumpup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce73a5/32.png) [@Scumpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scumpup)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/6 "2010-12-03T14:42:07Z")
Rather than bolt anything to the skull, cement it to the head with an adhesive. Something along the lines of rubber cement that has a little give and elasticity would probably give better results than a brittle superglue type product. If the helmet needs removed, injecting an appropriate solven through vent holes should release it. ---
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/7 "2010-12-03T17:18:54Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > Rather than bolt anything to the skull, cement it to the head with an adhesive. Something along the lines of rubber cement that has a little give and elasticity would probably give better results than a brittle superglue type product. If the helmet needs removed, injecting an appropriate solven through vent holes should release it. Sounds like a job for polyurethane foam – just sticky enough to keep the helmet attached and it’ll add to the padding. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/8 "2010-12-03T17:51:32Z")
Assuming pain isn’t an issue, the most secure way would be to glue it to the hair. Doesn’t really work for your “removable” criteria, though. ---
**Author:** ![caveman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/caveman/32/7242_2.png) [@caveman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/caveman)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/9 "2010-12-03T17:55:50Z")
I’d suggest affixing 4 mounting points on the skull (perhaps one above each eye , and another pair high in the rear), each using many small fasteners instead of one large one, so that they can grip the bone without fully penetrating it. Onto these mount points, affix rubber or spring steel shock absorbers, which in turn latch onto the interior of the helmet via quick-release clips. Easy on, easy off, and the head is kept relatively isolated from impacts. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/10 "2010-12-03T18:00:23Z")
Tomorrow’s question: can I superglue my contacts in? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/11 "2010-12-03T18:07:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Tomorrow’s question: can I superglue my contacts in? Sure you can. Once. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/12 "2010-12-03T22:18:59Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Sure you can. Once. For how long? ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/13 "2010-12-03T22:27:22Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > For how long? Depends how long the eyes in question function. I am guessing seconds, due to the makeup of standard superglue. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/14 "2010-12-03T23:30:01Z")
> [@gurujulp](#): > > Depends how long the eyes in question function. I am guessing seconds, due to the makeup of standard superglue. Ah. My guess would have been 20 minutes, but you have to be in on the joke. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/15 "2010-12-04T01:53:45Z")
It seems you need to come at this from a different angle. How about you replace the majority of the subjects’ skull with the Stahlhelm? Make it a replacement for the skull as it were. Ooh, you could graft new skin over it and have cool tattoos instead of decals! ---
**Author:** ![cornflakes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@cornflakes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cornflakes)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/16 "2010-12-04T02:04:50Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Ah. My guess would have been 20 minutes, but you have to be in on the joke. Ah, so if you’re prepared… ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/17 "2010-12-04T18:16:11Z")
okay, I’ll bite. after 16 posts, nobody has yet asked _why_ you need to bolt said helmet onto said skull. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/18 "2010-12-04T18:24:55Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > okay, I’ll bite. > after 16 posts, nobody has yet asked _why_ you need to bolt said helmet onto said skull. So it doesn’t fall off. Duh. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/19 "2010-12-04T21:35:18Z")
There’s a [guy who’s bolted a camera to his head](http://media.theage.com.au/outer-net/weird-week/artist-has-camera-implanted-on-head-2079367.html) - does that provide you with some inspiration? ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bolting-a-combat-helmet-onto-a-human-skull/562801/20 "2010-12-05T04:04:11Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > okay, I’ll bite. > after 16 posts, nobody has yet asked _why_ you need to bolt said helmet onto said skull. And that’s just what I love about these boards: no suspicious counter-questions, just pertinent answers. 😃 More seriously, though, **StrangerThanFiction** had the right general idea. More specifically, used on a zombie minion, to protect the head/brain (and exposed burr holes in the skull), to keep the helmet _on_ when the zombie might be too stupid to keep secure itself, and it would be too inconvenient or dangerous for a human to do it for them, and most importantly, as a horrifyingly dehumanizing aesthetic element to make the work creepier to the reader. 🙂 Some of the problems with bolting I actually plan to justify in-story…as a design flaw!