strapping help

[bokelmann]

I am having trouble getting my strapping to work. I have tried Velcro but it won't stick even with glue. I tried snaps but the elastic isn't holding either. I have looked at the anovos build and various other places and get all sorts of "help". What is the best elastic to use? I have bought Walmart and hobby lobby but both seem pretty thin and are not holding the snaps. Any ideas?

[TK-Tom[501st]]

Give yourself enough room at each end of the elastic to fold it over at least 2 times, use 3 folds for really stressed areas. Put the snap through the folded elastic. Will hold much better. You could also fold it over and sew before putting snaps through. I like to use a soldering iron to put holes through the elastic, it melts the hole and makes it more rugged as well.

[EastCoastStoneCutter[TK]]

About half way building my first armor, so take this for what it's worth:

I kept seeing 2 inch wide nylon with 2 snaps for the high stress areas like the shoulder straps, but will try TK-Tom's folded elastic to see if it works too.

 

I would agree with TK-Tom, been using my soldering iron to put holes through elastic, nylon, and the ABS plastic; it definitely seals the holes well and is super easy way to make holes.

[silverdollar22[TK]]

Check this build thread out! ukswrath's AM 1.0, ATA bucket build! He has the best strap information!

[justjoseph63[Staff]]

Like Tom mentioned, you will need to reinforce the ends of the elastic, and a soldering iron will make it WAY easier to put the holes in not just the elastic, but the nylon strapping as well.  

Some troopers use small strips of ABS to attach the male/female snap sections to the armor, but I prefer to use the heavy duty nylon for this.  The reason being is that I feel it adheres better to the curved areas of the armor.  (see photo).

In the photo, it shows 2 inch nylon webbing using the "double snap" method, which is what I used on many of my connections.  It doesn't stretch, but it will keep certain areas from separating, like the kidney/ab and the kidney/back, which are prone to gaps.

Some areas, of course, will require elastic, like the shoulder bridges.  I double over the ends for strength, glued them together, and then put the snaps in. (photo 2)