Chest armor utilizing magnet attachment method

I did a build for someone using 1/2" square X 1/8" thick N52 magnets and it worked out excellent! They are smaller but with a stronger pull and held up great. Magnets cost me about $45-$50 with shipping. Once i fit into my new BN vest, (still losing weight!) im going to switch from the bolts to the magnets.(except for the collar and shoulders) so i dont have to make holes in my BN vest :)

I get my magnets from here:
cPath_1 | Applied Magnets : Strong Neodymium Magnets - discount wholesale prices.
 
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Thanks for the links guys, helps narrow down the search! Everyone, keep chiming in on what strengths work best for you (along with actual magnet size as well). Thanks! (y)
 
I used 3/4 x 1/16 Inch round Neodymium Rare Earth Disc Magnets from Amazon. They are N48 and have a 5.3 pull force and work really well for my Bobamaker V3 armour. They were about $6 for a pack of 10, so they're quite affordable too. I bought 1/2 inch magnets for the chest diamond, but probably could have just used the 3/4 inch. Has anyone had much luck attaching the shoulder armour by magnets? I taped them in to test them and they held well enough, but they seem like the most likely piece to bump up against something (or someone) and get knocked off.
 
Has anyone had much luck attaching the shoulder armour by magnets?

It should work just the same as the other armor pieces, maybe go with something a little stronger (pull-wise) if you're worried about them coming off? I've only ever used velcro on mine and have never had them come off even once, but that's me
 
Great post, thanks! I have been debating what method to use for attaching my plates, and magnets were up there on the list (no offense but I think you talked me into Velcro/snaps). Nice plates btw, where'd you get em and what are they made of? Fiberglass?


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Thanks RKD. I took your advice and picked up a set of N50 Disc Neodymium Magnet Dia 1 x 1/8" NdFeB Rare Earth 6-Count from Amazon for the shoulder armor. They're ridiculously strong (12.7 lbs Holding Power), but will work well for the shoulders.
 
Another small point to consider when using magnets to attach the armour is weathering.
I've been using ground up pastels (and flat black paint) to weather my armour and I attached my magnets before I finished painting. I discovered that the ground up pastels were attracted to the magnets on the other side of the armour and made perfect circles of "dirt", which wasn't quite the look that was a I was going for :lol:.
I had to apply a light coat of dullcote and then use a makeup brush to distribute the ground pastels more evenly, before applying more dullcote. I'm working on BM V3 amour. I'm not sure if all pastels are attracted to magnets, as I've never worked with them before, but mine were and I wanted to pass that along.
 
Dude this is so awesome!! I thought I was gonna have to break out a sewing machine or something lol, thanks for the tip man definately doing this.... Do you know what they did for his costume in the original movie?
 
I gorilla glued some to the plates...others jb weld...even others hot glue. Then I had the magnets on the inside of the vest on attached permanently at all while I got alignment right. Once I was for sure they were correctly placed (and not by just my eyes), I used a pencil to outline the plates. Then I took the vest off carefully and ensured the alignment did not shift, flip the vest roughly inside out and hot glued over the magnets to keep them in place. I have had a couple of magnets on the inside come off but it's easy to see where the magnet goes, plus you have the others keeping your alignment correct. I am almost at 150 troops and this method has been solid for me.

Just keep in mind making little pockets over the magnets, sewing them down other ways and even putting an iron on patch over top of the magnet will not work due to the metal tools you will be using. I tired all those slick ideas and hot glue was easier, faster and worked aces.
 
How did you attach the magnets to the vest? Is there more than one suggested method?

This was an older post, but I wanted to answer the question anyway,
The great thing about this method is that you don't have to attach the magnets permanently to the vest. You can if you want, of course, but I just glued the magnets to the armour and placed the other magnet on the other side of the vest. I adjust as needed until I'm happy with placement. They're strong enough to stay in place and you don't have to attach them to the vest if you don't want to.
I also just tried magnets with my knee armour and I'm happy with the result. I don't need to sew velcro to my jumpsuit and the armor to hold them up. I still have the elastic straps in the back, but the magnets are what holds them up now.
 
What I have done which works really well and keeps the cost down it to just use the disc magnets on the armor and then I use those metal washers(not sure if they are really washers) to attach the magnets to. So I don't have to buy as many magnets and it isn't too strong where magnets are grabbing the other ones. Not sure if anyone has discussed this before but it works great. I use those magnets you can get at Ace Hardware that have the hole in the middle like a doughnut.
 
Is there a recommended type of magnets to use for this method of attachment? I am using 18 gauge steel armor and I was thinking of using 1"x1" rare earth magnets to secure my armor.
 
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