# Building my own suit of armor. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 20, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910 "2003-04-20T20:27:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/1 "2003-04-20T20:27:43Z")
Anybody know of a website that has directions or diagrams on how to construct a suit of armor from sheet metal? I tried but no deal. Thanks. -M ---
**Author:** ![wolfstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/d6d6ee/32.png) [@wolfstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfstu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/2 "2003-04-20T20:37:54Z")
Well, I’m not sure what you need it for… if you want to join the army, I’m pretty sure they’ll provide anything you need. And if you just want to defend your home, maybe kevlar is the way to go. But, I think that searching Google on “project Grizzly” may help. [Try this on for size](http://www.nfb.ca/grizzly/suit.html) ---
**Author:** ![CelraySoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@CelraySoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelraySoda)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/3 "2003-04-20T20:50:58Z")
Thanks for the post but it didn’t answer the question. -M ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/4 "2003-04-20T21:06:34Z")
Go googling Try key words SCA, ARMOR, Construction. Many many people in the SCA expecially the “heavy” fighters make or buy historical armor of some form or another to fight in. If your looking for something historical check out your local group. Otherwise I google for no man woman or child… No really I don’t Really… no self respecting person GOOGLES for porn. ok damn it… I googled for you… google more if it is not to your liking: [http://www3.sympatico.ca/noergate/armor.htm](http://www3.sympatico.ca/noergate/armor.htm) Osip ---
**Author:** ![Kjetil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc8723/32.png) [@Kjetil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kjetil)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/5 "2003-04-20T21:11:19Z")
I found companies that would build it for you, but didn’t see any that offered any do-it-yourself. There appear to be some groups of people who build ring-/chainmail as a hobby, you could ask them. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/6 "2003-04-20T21:12:33Z")
[Why build when you can buy?](http://www.spiral.org.uk/acatalog/Spiral_Virtual_Shop_Full_Suit_of_Armour__69.html) [Or here](http://www.vistarmoury.com/howto.html). ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/7 "2003-04-20T21:16:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Osip \* > **ok damn it… I googled for you… google more if it is not to your liking: > [http://www3.sympatico.ca/noergate/armor.htm](http://www3.sympatico.ca/noergate/armor.htm)** That site has a link for how to make “The Perfect Armor” followed immediately by “The Perfect Armor Improved”. I wonder if we’re not getting the whole story on something… ---
**Author:** ![fluiddruid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fluiddruid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fluiddruid)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/8 "2003-04-20T21:22:00Z")
If you’re new to armour-making, you might want to start a bit smaller than plate mail. I’ve looked for information on how to make plate (even just a reconstruction) without much luck. Chainmail, however, is easy to make and you can even buy the rings pre-cut. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/9 "2003-04-20T21:24:39Z")
Try [here](http://198.144.2.125/Armour/SCA%20ARMOUR.HTM). ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/10 "2003-04-20T21:29:38Z")
Or for some full plans, try [here](http://www.arador.com/construction/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![AoErat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecccb3/32.png) [@AoErat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AoErat)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/11 "2003-04-20T21:54:56Z")
Suprised this link hasn’t turned up: [http://www.armourarchive.org/](http://www.armourarchive.org/) They have forums, tutorials, and patterns. Quite a handy site. I successfully began working on armor, mostly from this site. The forum is very helpful, as is their IRC channel. Mike ---
**Author:** ![js\_africanus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@js\_africanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/js_africanus)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/12 "2003-04-21T00:18:13Z")
¿¿SCA = Society for Creative Anachronism?? ---
**Author:** ![Osip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4491bb/32.png) [@Osip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Osip)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2003, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/building-my-own-suit-of-armor/169910/13 "2003-04-21T00:21:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by js\_africanus \* > \*\*¿¿SCA = Society for Creative Anachronism?? \*\* yep