Thread: Attaching Armour : Tutorial

Just finished attaching my chest armour to the vest. i used steel eyelets, as can be seen on the ILM props. i bought the eyelets from a 'Hobbycraft' store, they are very easy to attach, everything is included in the pack except a hammer.

You can trace around your own armour onto cardboard for a template, but make sure that you keep the same curvature or the holes in your jacket won't line up with the bolts on your armour when finished.

Just a note: If you wish to troop in your armour you will need to cut off any excess bolt when finished (a dremel will do the job), get the bolt as short as possible so it won't dig into you.

Very good idea, DAZ!

Got a question for people trooping in the armor. After walking around and putting the armor on and off for multiple events, there may be chance one of the bolts may come loose. Would you recommend using a thread-locker (like medium strength lock-tight) to prevent this from happening?

Using a dab of hot glue on the end would keep it fastened and provide a little cushion from the bolt head.

Great Idea! And I really like your addition of the hot glue MandaloreFett, just peel the glue off when you need to and reglue it. Hot glue's cheap. I think this is the route i'll end up going.

Awesome tutorial Daz!

Great job Daz! I have been meaning to do a tutorial on this forever.

If anyone is curious, I know how to make it with a pretty accurate pattern for attachment, and many other things too if anyone is intrested.

Can't wait to see your finished costume!

Really nice to see this method being so nicely laid out. If anyone asks, this is the way to go. Thank you BM!

Originally Posted by MandalorFett

Using a dab of hot glue on the end would keep it fastened and provide a little cushion from the bolt head.

Or, you could use a cap nut. It screws on, and has a rounded head. No mess, and it doesn't dig into you. Drop of Loctite Threadlocker, and you're good to go!

Why would you need to take your armor off?

Hi

Try these, they're called "locking end caps" or "star washers" these will be perfect These won't come off whilst trooping.

DAZ

Originally Posted by Jimmy BufFETT

Very good idea, DAZ!

Got a question for people trooping in the armor. After walking around and putting the armor on and off for multiple events, there may be chance one of the bolts may come loose. Would you recommend using a thread-locker (like medium strength lock-tight) to prevent this from happening?

Great tutorial Daz, I'll definitely be doing this for my armour.....

...just when I think I'm done, something else comes along!!

Great tutorial Daz... :thumbup

Originally Posted by dung0beetle

Why would you need to take your armor off?

after hours of trooping in the heat wearing (maybe) a t-shirt, then the jumpsuit, then the padded vest, then a layer of some sort of plastic or other hard material to hold in the heat and the vest is bound to get stinky. If not you could end up spilling something on it or having someone spill something on you.

I think DB was being sarcy...

I couldn't find the sarcasm smiley...

That's cool... I more or less did the same with the grommets on my ESB Boba. What I like is I can get the vest really tight up against the back of the armour, no gap like I had with snaps or velcro

Just when i needed a better method, you come up with the goods . Thanks Daz

oh the new method will work wonders with some new armour i am about to order expect the order any day soon daz

Great method Daz, I think I'll upgrade to this with my current armor even before I upgrade to my newer armor. I also really like your tutorial method, very easy to follow.

looks nice Daz i used the good ol snap method and that worked well but this is great

How do you go about this with the collar and back armor bolts? What I mean is do you have a seperate attachment point for the collar armor to the vest that is different from where the collar and back armor connect with the "keyboard key" bolts/studs. And following this same train of thought, when you are attching the backplate you can't really use this method can you? How could you screw it on once the vest is on you? Would you just use velcro or snaps then on the back along with the bolts/studs?

I hope I made this clear...not sure how best to ask this...i'll wait to attach the collar and back until I get that all figured out i guess.

My attachment issues have been solved :thumbup

umm....I think i will use this method to attach my brand *NEW* BM armour

What sort of epoxy filler did you use?

I have a question.

Do you find that the vest material holds up ok to the stress of the eyelets?

Do you think that a reinforcement in the area of the eyelet would be helpful?

Could you please send a diagram to me of where you place the eyelets.

I am considering adding reinforcement to my vests, before they are sewn together.

Do you think that the location of the eyelets would be about the same for everyone?

What I am think of is placing a reinforcing patch, on the inside of the vest, that would be under the locations of where the eyelet will go.

So, if the eyelet will be withing a 2 inch radius, I could add this to the vest and the actual eyelet, could be adjusted to the individual the the reinforcing fabric would still be in a good place to do the job.

Everyone........please let me know your opinions.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Aaron

What sort of epoxy filler did you use?

I use an automotive epoxy filler.

DAZ

The jacket is certainly strong emough to hold the armour, I didn't need to reinforce at all.

You can see where I attached the bolts on my photos, they are indicated by the holes on the template armour. For the shoulders I used one on each side and one at the top (3 for each).

I think that the location of the eyelets will work for all makes of armour.

Hope this helps
DAZ

Originally Posted by LadySewforus

I have a question.

Do you find that the vest material holds up ok to the stress of the eyelets?

Do you think that a reinforcement in the area of the eyelet would be helpful?

Could you please send a diagram to me of where you place the eyelets.

I am considering adding reinforcement to my vests, before they are sewn together.

Do you think that the location of the eyelets would be about the same for everyone?

What I am think of is placing a reinforcing patch, on the inside of the vest, that would be under the locations of where the eyelet will go.

So, if the eyelet will be withing a 2 inch radius, I could add this to the vest and the actual eyelet, could be adjusted to the individual the the reinforcing fabric would still be in a good place to do the job.

Everyone........please let me know your opinions.

Thanks!

It sounds like reinforcement would not be needed.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by bobamaker

I use an automotive epoxy filler.

DAZ

Daz,

what brand did you use? I was thinking of using 2 part epoxy resins but i am sure they won't be strong enough.

What about using JB Weld?

Help ,
where can I find the eyelets at ? I've looked everywhere and all the ones I can find are too large for the job.....

I got mine at Jo-Anne's

I find them at the hardware store

Originally Posted by Slave I

On the new setup I'm working on, I was hoping to try the craft push pins, with the metal pinch clip on the other side (not sure of the exact name for those). Wondering how well they will hold up the weight of fiberglass armor, but I have a bunch of them. They would elimate some of the work if all you have to do is push the pins through the fabric, and it would also allow for ease in upgrading or changing armor while keeping the vest intact. Don't know if this will work or not, but I'll be trying it soon.

that's an interesting idea... wouldn't the backers for those pins be sort of uncomfortable though?

Where would a person in Australia find these types of eyelets... the only ones we have over here in the 'fabric specialty stores' I can guarantee will slice straight through the Tackle Twill on the outside of my vest... :S

Originally Posted by Slave I

Tried out the clips I mentioned previously and I'm

The butterfly clutches I think will work fine for a little while, but they wear out. I got tired of getting stuck by the pins in my uniform when they fall off.. I found these and I'm still using the same ones 2 years later w/ no signs of them wearing out. They are kind of expensive, but a much better alternative to the brass clutches.



http://www.galls.com/style.html?asso...og&style=NT002

Sorry for digging up the old thread, but it was a good one.