Zinfer

Gah! Finally broke the last rivet loose. Now to progress with the repair. I will not tolerate rust stained armor as a Deathstar Stormtrooper. Rivet, washer, elastics replacement. This demanded immediate attention. When selling split rivet assemblies please ensure STAINLESS hardware. We SWEAT in these things. Salty Sweat. In practice, kitting down after a troop involves packing your armor up into a Husky Bin, perhaps a post troop dinner or lunch then an hour or two drive back home. There is no AIR OUT time until you arrive back home. Please hear these words. Split rivets are the hardest to replace involving this theatrical costume. They are the hardest thing to get removed and the hardest on the plastic to remove. You only want to install these ONCE in the lifetime of the costume. This is BAD.

I am completely unsure the issue is stainless rivets or the washers themselves. Noting that the surface of the washers is heavily rusted. Seriously am I the only TK that's had this happen?

Is replacement a normal maintenance cycle? On my second year trooping and all 6 internal rivets are heavily rusted and staining stored thigh armor.

So after a recent troop on Memorial Day, A parade I commenced with the ritual post troop cleanup/recharge & polish. Came across my Chestplate elastic loops in VERY poor condition and in immediate need of replacement. First, I can't remember what diameter these are supposed to be (length of material to cut to have stitched into a loop). As an alternative - can I order a SUPPLY of loops for backups on hand? Secondly, wouldn't it be more rubust converting to snaps rather than brackets? I'm torn and could use some advice on longevity/durability. And looks especially. Thanks for any replies.

Now for my final fix. I had a few experiences with perpetration collecting in the rubber gloves. I was advised to use cotton inserts. I did that and felt that took care of it until one day recently, an all outdoor Car show for Cancer in which a high five was given and a drop went shooting out of the glove again. This is highly embarrassing. So I sought out more advice. Was told that a Nomex glove would take care of this, with the use of the plastic hand plates. Purchased the Nomex and about ready to start in on the strapping for it. I've heard just using 1 strap isn't necessarily the best approach. Should also have another at the wrist. Perhaps a button there. But I've also seen Panda attach his hand plates in the same fashion as the elbow strapping. But if I do that I would not be able to ever go back to the dishwashing gloves.

T-shirt & CA is most likely to succeed. However after careful consideration on how early this was caught and the visibility of the area I opted to trim out the troubled area. Taking into consideration Cableguys comments that it is not a repair of the split, but a reinforcement. I didn't want it creeping back on me in a few troops worth much later. Trimmed to zero or nearly zero return edge. Essentially removing the split entirely. In doing so, hoping to relieve a stress point.

First crack on this armor has begun. Chest piece, center neck. I'll need to take a photo yet. Not sure if I should try to cut most of it out. Really not sure the procedure on this before it worsens. Make that two cracks. Hadn't noticed the second until the photos.

If you'll pardon me, one more question; I hand washed the canvas belt with Oxi-Clean and it did a fabulous job. The problem stemmed from all the singeing of threads. Well - now more threads of course. Is there a better way than using a lighter as it causes some stains on occasion. I've found using a lighter has been practically the only way to get them all off troop after troop.

Those look alot more beefy than what I'm trying to bend and form. Which is good because I've had breakage before. A little pricey for just a dozen of them but I mainly only need them for the kidney/buttplate I spose.

Any recommendations on that heavier material? Hopefully a complete snap setup prefabbed. I think the procedure with the snaps is CA glue if I'm not mistaken and to avoid the metal. Heard horror stories of it deforming the exterior. Going to look up a good snap thread.

The Jury is still out on these V-Tabs. Seems to be effective for alignment but the stress point does cause some to break or work the E6000 loose. Added a 4th V-tab after a particular photo showed the left corner of the butt plate riding up over the kidney plate under the holster. One of these days I may just try the snap method. I like the lineage of OEM but...really not sure snaps would be any more effective (I'd probably then have a problem with all those glued on snaps coming loose or falling off and would probably also have to use CA on them). One step at a time.

Out of curiosity, unsnapped the canvas belt. Been a couple of years and through all the singeing of loose threads, I've got a few brown marks on it. Was interested on the maintenance side (and I've done some forum reading on this) if Oxi Clean would be a good thing to try on it. I know it'll probably create more threads but was considering it with a brush. Wondering if it's ok to just dip the entire belt into a water/oxi-clean solution with PVC plastic attached. I rivetted the plastic to the canvas as the darned thing kept unsnapping and breaking loose with standard snaps. Would there be a reaction between oxi-clean and the PVC? Or should I try a squirt bottle and just try to hit the canvas portion alone? My shoulder elastic bands are getting a little grody looking too but they are CA glued directly to the inside of the armor. Wonder if Oxi would do well with those too. Non soaked just applied and worked into it. And yea I noticed my left butt plate is riding up over my kidney. Maybet YET ANOTHER 4th V-Tab.

I found them on Trooperbay, but $1 a piece with shipping another $10. Picked up about 20 of them just to have on hand. I replaced the strip and it's now like new and doing great with the doubled up and CA applied with Zap accelerator. Thanks!

What are those rivets even called? Specs on them? I'd like to get a supply before I start on the cod. Split Rivets?

Ok, so here's an issue I am having. Firstly I probably need to source these rivets for the crotch area. I've putzed with this before and everytime I do, the legs break, so I'm going to need to find a good supply of them. But essentially my issue is, when tugged, the elastic tends to want to slip over the retaining rivet washer. I mean I could try folding the material a few times, then a hole. But has anyone come up with anything bulletproofing this area? I've panicked a few times when I pulled this out at a troop to get suited and struggled to get it back on if even for just that one troop. I'd like to fix this pronto somewhere in between my practically weekly troops!

I tried sticky backed cloth side velcro and it's still holding. Not sure it's totally stopping it, but I think it's increasing the longevity by maybe a tad.

I'll have to look for a supply of those cotton inner gloves maybe. I probably should look into cloth gloves as I've heard after a while the rubber ones tend to rip.

Alright this is starting to get gross and embarrassing. My fingertips are doused in water and come out like a prune. Waving is dangerous with all the sloshing going on and I'm afraid I may leak visible water when waving. So, I've been told the answer is jogging gloves. Now, is there a simple method to attach the armor portion via sewing or something? I've seen elastic cuffs and I've also seen them fall off during a parade. Need to fix this sloppy sweaty mess.

I don't think there is. I will pull them both out and examine. I think this is all the work of the rear joint strips/bottom edge of the calves. I was thinking maybe some sticky foam (single sided) but I could not locate any here at Hobby Lobby or Joanne Fabrics. I was going to try sticking the loop side of velcro on back of each r/l portion of the calves. One troop did all this! Granted it was a 5 hour troop. I'm kinda reconsidering doing the 3mile walk now with the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation troop Sunday. That'd really tear these up if I can't remedy it with something.

I will try to snap some photos. Yea I showed my CO where the bite was occurring and it's riding directly on my left back. I've tried trimming. I may attempt it again. May not be enough time before this Sunday/next troop. I've another issue brewing.

Ok, so tomorrow is my first Troop in the TK armor. I am having some problems with the kidney plate cutting into my back. I have tried trimming it as flush as I can but with the wire brackets I can't go any further in. Is this just a matter of losing the appropriate weight yet? I am 183 and near the 175 goal. Still - I'm just going to have to endure it cutting into my back for hours. Has ANYONE else had this experience with the Kidney plate? It's mainly on my left portion of muscle beside my spine.

Alright so far so good. Rivetted the canvas to the plastic. Tested a few times. First Troop scheduled for April 23rd in the TK. I feel it's ready. Although I still have about a 2" gap on the right clamshell. It's my belief if I can get that to 1/2" I will be at a stage to submit for Lvl 2 Certification unless I missed something and I don't believe I have.

Right, so far I've not an issue with the canvas belt coming unsnapped from the armor as it's preferred to have it tight in back w/velcro. Ok, I'm going to do this then. Just a couple pieces of information on what size rivet/washers work best. I think I've got this handled on my FB page. Not sure why my inner mid elastic snap has started unsnapping. But I think as the clamshell pulls in/weight loss- that will ease tension on it. It's the bending over that does all this.

Yea I did that gmrhodes a long while back. I've been told the best way to stress the armor is by simply bending over. Sure enough that stress tested it well. I also tried taking a knee on the right knee. Owey. I didn't care much for that as it tended to clash the left back thigh into the left back calf and I was concerned about the rear center strip. Also the pressure on my right knee from the armor was pointy from somewhere - didn't feel good. Been told not to do that afterwards. Just learning range of motions and stress testing before a couple major troops in it. So as a result. The superglue on the left snap that secures the plastic belt to the canvas held surprisingly, while the RIGHT one then came unsnapped. So I am really interested to know (as I've been told I should do this) if it is considered good practice to rivet the plastic belt directly to the canvas even for the sake of peace of mind. Because while suited up and in bucket I simply cannot tell if anything has come unsnapped. I also found it annoying that the mid inner snap was coming unsnapped. I agree I could do with losing another 10 pounds and that would probably relieve alot of stress but these snaps on this plastic belt have been coming unsnapped since day one and first test fit. So I can't tell what brand snaps these are, but they are the larger more meatier snaps. Is superglue the answer or is straight rivetting the answer? Just advice or suggestion I guess is all I'm after to prevent a wardrobe malfunction on future troops. I looked for brand names on the snaps and I simply can't find any. Tandy good. Ditz bad I guess is the rule.

Next known troop is in May. I'd love to dawn the TK for it's first troop (My second Troop). I've got some time yet until May1. Going to suit up a few times and see if I have problems. If so I'll have to get busy removing snaps and installing rivets.