DIY Body Armor

Published on March 22, 2025
Duration: 6:32

This video demonstrates the construction of DIY body armor using readily available materials like porcelain tiles and fiberglass. Two primary designs are explored: a solid tile plate and a 'dragon scale' tile plate. The process involves cutting and layering tiles, bonding them with Liquid Nails, and reinforcing with fiberglass resin. The constructed plates are then subjected to ballistic testing with 9mm, .357 Magnum, and 5.56x45mm rounds to evaluate their effectiveness, with results indicating varying levels of protection.

Quick Summary

DIY body armor was constructed using matte finish porcelain tiles and fiberglass resin. The budget version ($8-10) stopped 9mm and .357 Magnum rounds but failed against 5.56x45mm. The 'dragon scale' version ($20) failed against 9mm. This project is for entertainment only and not for actual protection.

Chapters

  1. 00:00Introduction to DIY Body Armor Project
  2. 00:13Disclaimer: Entertainment Purposes Only
  3. 00:20Initial Strike Phase: Porcelain Tile
  4. 00:33Fiberglass Liquid Resin Backing
  5. 00:51Dragon Scale Tile Armor Construction
  6. 01:33Starting Dragon Scale Armor Build
  7. 02:03Using Plate as Form for Resin
  8. 02:25Plates Finished and Ready for Test
  9. 02:31Fiberglass Layers on Dragon Scale Armor
  10. 03:09Testing Dragon Scale Armor (9mm)
  11. 04:01Testing Budget Plate Armor (9mm)
  12. 04:30Testing Budget Plate Armor (.357 Magnum)
  13. 05:04Testing Budget Plate Armor (5.56x45mm)
  14. 06:01Summary of DIY Armor Test Results

Frequently Asked Questions

What materials are used to construct the DIY body armor in this video?

The DIY body armor is constructed using matte finish porcelain tiles as the strike face, bonded together with Liquid Nails. Fiberglass strips and epoxy resin are applied as a backing to catch fragments and provide structural integrity.

How effective is the DIY body armor against different calibers of ammunition?

The budget DIY armor plate successfully stopped 9mm and .357 Magnum rounds. However, it failed to stop a 5.56x45mm round. The 'dragon scale' design failed against 9mm ammunition.

What is the estimated cost to make the DIY body armor plates?

The creator estimates the budget version of the DIY body armor plate costs approximately $8 to $10 to make. The 'dragon scale' version is estimated to cost around $20.

Is this DIY body armor safe to use for actual protection?

No, this DIY body armor is strictly for entertainment purposes and should not be relied upon for actual protection. The creator explicitly warns viewers not to try this at home, as it is not certified and could lead to serious injury or death.

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