TD 8733 Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I just got my new AP armor in. Can anyone that has trimmed this armor tell me what they used? I was planning on using my Dremel but was not sure what cutting tool to use? Thanks, Ross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SethB6025 Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 The high speed cutter (it's a circle with a waffle pattern) is great. Then sand your edges with a 150 or higher grit sandpaper to smooth them over. I like to follow up 150 with a 300 & 600 wet-sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolf Posted June 16, 2006 Share Posted June 16, 2006 I got one. I just cut it out whit a big and small hobby knife. And make the armor smooth whit sand paper at last. Enjoy trooper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD 8733 Posted June 16, 2006 Author Share Posted June 16, 2006 Thanks guys. I think I will use the high speed cutter. How long did it take you to do the trim work? By the the way Seth , I got the boxes and they are fantastic! Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hellraiser Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 I just finished a set of AP myself. I wouldn't use a high speed cutter (dremel)....wayyyy too easy to slip & make permanent mistakes. Just use a utility knife (razor blade) and take your time. All you need to do is score it along the lines and it snaps easily and accurately along your cuts. Just sand the edges or use a dremel with sanding wheel to fine tune after scoring/snapping but under no circumstances would I use a dremel to cut/trim the pieces initially. Just my .02 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daetrin Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 In my ignorance I tried using a dremel to trim some styrene holsters I bought. Now they're $50 worth of scrap plastic. Yes, definately use the method above. Even better, draw the line with a pencil or marker, clip a steel ruler to said line, and cut against that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slave1pilot Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 we trimmed Hellraiser's AP armor with an X-acto knife just score & snap http://www.sandtrooper.net/forum/viewto ... highlight= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtydave Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 I used tin snips(offset) to rough trim,then the dremel with a sanding drum and final with a fine grain hand sanding on my Gino armor.worked great.Anybody have any idea how they trimed original ANH suits? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SethB6025 Posted June 17, 2006 Share Posted June 17, 2006 I've developed a steady hand with the Dremel. If you're nervous about trying that, definately go for the score & crack method. Just make sure to make several light passes, if you put too much pressure on the blade you're likely to slip and cut you or your armor. I'm glad you like the boxes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Florida_Phil Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 I've been working on trimming an AP kit for a few days now. I've tried the cut and crack method, and it's just too ******* the slow curves. I've got a pair of heavy tin snips, but it seems to twist the ABS a bit as the blade moves through it. I've ended up using a dremel with this: I've been through about 5 or 6 of them so far, as I tend to accidentally set the dremel down when I'm done on an un even surface and the disks crack and snap really bad when they are hot/have been used. I face the side where the screw secures the disk towards the part of the plasti c I intend to keep. That way if I'm not paying attention, and the chuck of the dremel bumps the surface, it's the surface of the scrap ABS. I run around 8 for the speed on my dremel (it’s a 400 XPR), and I press the disk perpendicular into the ABS, using about 1/5 of the disk cuts for curves, easing the dremel back from the cut line as I put it in. If the dremel 'gets' crazy, then the way I hold it causes it to jump away from the armor and into the scrap pieces. I tried the metal cutter on someone’s suggestion, where you use the dremel almost like a router, and I'm VERY glad that I tried it on a scrap piece first. Anyway, I’m a new guy, so take what I say with a grain of salt . It was my first armor ever, and I probably spent 3 or 4 hours using a hobby knife to get the first hand piece out. But now that I feel comfy with the dremel, and the method I use I probably trimmed the cod plate in less than 5 minutes. I’m still sanding and assembling, so wish me luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runJEDIrun Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 goodluck trooper! i myself like the dremel. the score and snap just was too unpredictable and time consuming. best to just go slow with a dremel and sand later with 150grit paper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TD5422 Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Bandsaw!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crashmann Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 Followed up by a belt sander! It makes fine tuning the fit of the armor so much nicer! Charlie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psberetta Posted July 11, 2006 Share Posted July 11, 2006 This may be a dumb question....but.......where do you get AP armor ? Looks as if the helmet is a more "Screen accurate" size. Thanks, -Tim- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runJEDIrun Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 VERY MUCH TRUE MY FRIEND! PM SENT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psberetta Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 THANKS -Tim- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freakengine Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Do any of you know if there's a good source that sells AP helmets seperately? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runJEDIrun Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 PM SENT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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