Armor/Snaps Tutorial

[Nathaniel Shrike]

In this pic, you can see the gray putty coming through the center hole. When it does that, it acts as another anchor. It forms somewhat of a "nailhead" and helps hold.


Are you using the male end on the armor and female on the fabric side?
Are you using both pieces of the snap when putting it on the armor?

I'm fairly certain I'm putting the males on the armour.  Though I'm not 100% sure.  Yes I do use both parts of each snap.  One thing I thought could be the problem is the pants I'm attaching the armour to.  I've almost got the cod piece to stay finally, but the snaps on the other plates just don't want to hold. 

[Siege]

I've got the snaps secured on my armor (I used JB weld from home depot, let it cure for about 6 hours, seems to be holding strong enough to test it), but what I'm having trouble with is actually finding a good method of placing the armor to tell where it should go.

I dont think going one piece at a time is the right method, the armor needs to be placed together so it looks uniformed.

I'm having a few issues doing it this way. (Keep in mind, this is my first kit so I'm learning as I go.)  When Im wearing my vest, its really difficult - even w/another person helping - to get the positioning right. I'm using masking tape on the vest to make the indentions and also to hold the armor in place while I piece it all together. But the tape covers up the edges of my armor and I cant tell if its straight/even/etc.

If I lay the vest on the ground, its even worse.

So, piece by piece? All at the same time?

[K'raam Xrati]

Some may have better methods but here is how I do it. 1st thing, the vest has to be on your body. Fitting it off your body will not work. One piece at a time is the way to go. A helper is good.

Start with the collar piece, establish where that needs to be. Secure the snaps and make sure that is perfectly even side to side and vertical. (You'll have that vest off-n-on about 30 times). Take your time, this is a most important part of the costume build. The armor needs to be right and sitting correct.

Next do the chest armor. Use the rule of thumb for spacing between the plates. While fitting the chest plates, keep handy the sternum diamond for proper spacing.

Next would be the ab plate. Again use the rule of thumb for proper spacing.

The rest (shoulders and back) can be fitted at any order. About the back, remember it may add weight to the vest and may pull down and cause the front to ride up. Plastic back plates may not pull at all but other materials can.

If you have a plastic (or light weight) back plate, just use velcro at the top tabs. Velcro makes it easier to get suited up alone.

[Cyrus Rang]

Cool Tut. thanx

[Anja Kad'la]

Pure genius. Thanks K'raam

[Tal Vhett]

I was super stoked when I saw this thread. Unfortunately, after trying it, It failed. None of the snaps held after snapping them in place. I used JBWeld brand and 6mm Sintra. I ended up using rivets to hold the snaps to my armour. seem to be working nicely.
http://mercs.firespray.net/forum/index.php?topic=18912.90

[GreatSkyRiver Falco]

i had to use rivets also, the plastic i used is polyethelene, no good for glue or paint. snaps are great , i think better than bolts you'd have to dremmel down.


thanks,   K'raam

[Shak-ti 4 Him]

I've got the snaps secured on my armor (I used JB weld from home depot, let it cure for about 6 hours, seems to be holding strong enough to test it), but what I'm having trouble with is actually finding a good method of placing the armor to tell where it should go.

I dont think going one piece at a time is the right method, the armor needs to be placed together so it looks uniformed.

I'm having a few issues doing it this way. (Keep in mind, this is my first kit so I'm learning as I go.)  When Im wearing my vest, its really difficult - even w/another person helping - to get the positioning right. I'm using masking tape on the vest to make the indentions and also to hold the armor in place while I piece it all together. But the tape covers up the edges of my armor and I cant tell if its straight/even/etc.

If I lay the vest on the ground, its even worse.

So, piece by piece? All at the same time?

What i did, (it really only works if you have a black vest) Is i put on my vest (tightening it as much as it would be if i were wearing it with armor) then with a little help, i placed my pieces of armor on the vest where i wanted them then i took seamstresses chalk (you could use normal chalk) and traced LIGHTLY around the plates, just enough to see the chalk. Then if you make a mistake, you can draw it on again or if you want to erase it you can either rub it off or use a little water (or spit, i know it's gross LOL!!! ). then when you go to put the snaps on, you know where the plate is and if you are using velcro, then you put some chalk on the velcro that's on the armor plate, then apply the armor piece to the vest where you want it and basically do rub it from the back or whatever works for you so that the chalk is marked onto the vest exactly where you want to pit the other piece of velcro.

But anyway, that's just what i found that works. I know that that this is for snaps but i hope that it helps at least with getting the plates on!

Hope it helps!

[K'raam Xrati]

That's is strange that some are having this method fail. I am currently wearing metal and sintra and both are working just fine.

Something tells me the issue might be the adhesive. Maybe using the wrong stuff or it is not being mixed or cured correctly. About the JB weld, it is the old stuff or the newer stick-weld?

[Tal Vhett]

JB Stickweld, epoxy. Mixed correctly. Allowed to cure for 6 days. Should be plenty of time. Cured at 73 degrees F.

[BedlamX]

I had a problem (and still do somewhat) with glue/epoxy and sintra. The glue held just fine. But the snaps I use are really heavy duty and take some "umph" to separate. While the glue held, the top layer of the sintra (being a slightly expanded foam product) ripped off with the snap. Not too hard to fix, but since giving that set to my son, we just leave the chest and ab plates on. Good thing is, I also used velcro around the edges to keep the plates from moving around any and give the appearance of them being glued to the vest.

Nice tutorial, though. It should help many people get their stuff right.

[Er'zule Ordo]

Have you guys scored the sintra before applying the epoxy putty? Might that be why it isn't adhering well?

[No'saj Huune]

I finally did this for my first troop using the tubes of JB Weld that need to be mixed.  It worked great except on one spot on my collar plate.  The quick fix was using high temp hot glue which held just as strong as the JB Weld but once summer hits full swing here in TX I'll have it put together with the good stuff.

Highly recommend using this method with metal armor 

[OriKad]

Just something that came to mind: If you've got thick plates and short enough screws, and epoxy doesn't seem to work, you can use the short screws to hold the snap on the plate (using the center hole, of course)

Make sure the screw is short enough that it doesn't go all the way through the plate.  Works best with 6mm sintra.  And then all you have to do is put a dab of bondo in the screw hole on the outside of the plate.

[K'raam Xrati]

Just something that came to mind: If you've got thick plates and short enough screws, and epoxy doesn't seem to work, you can use the short screws to hold the snap on the plate (using the center hole, of course)

Make sure the screw is short enough that it doesn't go all the way through the plate.  Works best with 6mm sintra.  And then all you have to do is put a dab of bondo in the screw hole on the outside of the plate.

I would (IMO) not try screws. Even at 6mm thick, that is not enough depth for the screw to "bite" onto the material. A fine thread would not hold and a course thread would not have much thread. Also, once you find a screw that odd/small, what kind of  screw head would it have to fit inside the snap body?

I am sure OriKad that you are just speculating on the screw method. If you do successfully make it work, start your own tutorial to share with the others. Don't forget good pics!