Well I wonder how this kid got a hold of nano tube fibers..... Doesnt sound like a 14 yearold idea to me. However with the rich people around here I wouldnt be suprised. If you care to make your own body armor or are interested in that technology heres a link from what the kid did in my home town.

http://www.islandp...731p-4273563c.html

Huh, that's pretty impressive. I've thought about trying to pick up an old flak vest or something, but making something better would be pretty cool. How difficult is it to make your own body armor and what good is it. I mean, what types of things will it protect you from and what not?

I think a guy got away from cops with the use of a couple of phone books and cardboard. I questions this but it would be interesting.

As for making your own body armor.... I wouldnt trust it to much. Its a interesting idea, but having carbon fiber tubing is probably hard to get a hold of.

Also dont buy a old flak vest they are useless as shit.

Posted by Mark Also dont buy a old flak vest they are useless as shit.

My thinking here was to protect against projectile weapons at protests and the like. They are not the innocent little toys cops make them out to be. I imagine they don't do jack against bullets. I hope not to ever be on the receiving end of one, vest or no.

Hmmm interesting... I still would skip both the bullet proof vest and flak vest. Both do not really absorb the shock to well, it displaces the shock. IE it wont penetrate, but when you get hit with a bean bag round it wont matter much. Id get some old catchers gear.

Posted by Mark Hmmm interesting... I still would skip both the bullet proof vest and flak vest. Both do not really absorb the shock to well, it displaces the shock. IE it wont penetrate, but when you get hit with a bean bag round it wont matter much. Id get some old catchers gear.

That's actually a very good suggestion. I've heard many ideas, some good, but that catchers gear is a great idea. Not that I have much need of that sort of padding now.

There is some cool "armour" being made for motorcyclists & BMXers that might serve your purposes also.

Second the warning on old flak jackets and such. Flak jackets were also never meant to stop projectiles, ie bullets, FYI. Surplus PASGT helmets, same thing. Their efficacy wears down over time, and being jostled and bumped and dropped only accelerates the deterioration. If you need ballistic protection, buy it new.

Well, the projectiles I spoke of are not bullets. They go through no rifeling so do not spin. Any use to me on that front would simply be distributing contact force. As long as it wasn't breakable plastic the BMX stuff would be just as effective I'm sure. I usually just tried to wear thick pants, boots and a leather jacket. Basically the same thing as when I ride my motorcycle.

My understanding of flak jackets and helmets is they are intended to be a shrapnel barrier. Not sure how effective they are at that to begin with, especially if there has been degredation over time. Shrapnel would be a more accurate comparison than a bullet though.

With all of the above being a bit off topic though I would say I'd love to be able to build something like the vest in the linked article. That was really cool.

The suits you mentioned that are made for motrocyclist is actually just an abrasive resistant material. Its made by aerostich and their designed to minimilize road rash. Hardend 1/4 inch steel will stop 9mm,357mag,44mag.10mm,45cal,rifled 12ga. slugs and 3inch mag buckshot. My buddy and I bought some for targets, it doesnt stop and rifle ammo whatsoever due to its higher velocities. Only weighs 2 and 1/2 pounds for a 12/12 sheet, get two of them and you've got cheap trauma plates. Just a thought.

you can by tramua plates that are stand alone ( needs not ballistic vest) and they can with stand just about anything. did a quick search:

Model AA4 - NIJ Certified Level IV Stand Alone

"Stand-alone" plates are designed to stop ballistic threats using the plate alone. No ballistic vest is required for this plate, as all the energy and fragments are stopped in the plate. These plates are usually reserved for tactical operations or anti-terrorist work where the ammunition threat is unknown, or if the wearing of a vest is considered too cumbersome.
Material: Aramid Fiber Bonded AL98, Aluminum Oxide 98%
Size 10" x 12"
Curvature: Triple Curve
Front/Back: Front
Finish: Nylon Cover
Protection Level:

NIJ Certified Level IV Stand Alone
Maximum Weight: 2.2 kg
It will defeat the following threats:



* 7.62 × 54mm lead core ball ammunition, Dragunov Sniper Rifle at 0 meters
* 7.62 × 54mm AP, Dragunov Sniper Rifle at 0 meters
* 7.62 × 51mm NATO ball ammunition at 0 meters
* 7.62 × 51mm AP M-61 at 0 meters
* 7.62 × 51mm Swiss Munitions AP (WC Core) at 0 meters
* 7.62 × 39mm mild steel core, AK-47 at 0 meters
* 7.62 × 63mm AP at 0 meters
* 5.56 × 45mm SS109/M855 at 0 meters
* 5.56 × 45mm M193 ball at 0 meters
* 5.45 × 39mm Russian ball at 0 meters
* 12 gauge slug at 0 meters

I also have another chart some where for just plain steel plating but can't seem to find it
43066.jpg (58 kb, 487x589)
the higher grade vest weigh your ass down, which is why stuff like spec ops and navy seals shouldn't wear vests, if they get shot it's gunna be from something like an AK more then likely (at the least a larger cal. weapon if no AP rounds.. so they'd need a very bulky vest to stop that, which slows you down and kills your agility, better to not be seen and be the one to shoot first then to get shot luggin a vest *shrug* Where as a cop needs to worry bout .45 and down pretty much (.22 is actually the most common in a shooting)

I haven't really researched bullet resistant vests deterioration over time, so maybe I'm completely mistaken; however, I bought some of the used police kevlar vests and a third used multiple-shot vest from a friend and I doubt very strongly that the vests protecting abilities diminish greatly over say a decade. Let's face it, kevlar is not a biodegradable fruit, it is an extremely stong fiber woven into a vest. I believe the "deterioration" is a gimic to sell new vests to police departments.
I intend to use the two police vests as thigh pads, wrapping them around the front of the thigh (femoral artery and groin area) and attach them to the leg using either a cloth fabric pouch that houses the vest and has velcro straps or buckle straps or just duct taping the pads when the time comes.
As far as mobility is concerned, it might be a good idea to re-watch the LAPD vs. Bank of America robbers in action. They had expensive gear (they could afford it with the robbery money they acquired) but it was body armor and it worked very well. They couldn't move as quickly as a person without armor I'll admit, but they could still move and survive numerous small arms hits.
HAMMER

I am working on a project at the moment to modify some of my old body armor to fit my new vest. It can be cut but its very dangerous to do so if you dont know how.

Yes they do degrade some very rapidly. Depending on the material its made from. Most body armor is made of multiple materials not just kevlar. A russian made fabric actually will turn into a acid when exposed to moisture.

PM me I have done some extensive research into that.

Um.. where do you get nanotubes?!

Similar... Stab-Proof Clothing:

http://www.bladeru...oduct/products.php

Should stop a drunken HOBO or maybe RazorWire...

where would one get nanotube fiber ? It would probably be very expensive