Recurving trauma plates?
 

My compatriots and I have just purchased our own body armor. Level IIIA stand alone plates. They are of the single curve variety, my question....If I recurve the plate myself (using a press and no heat) will I compromise it's protection level?

What is the material ?

They came from Diamondback Tactical, but the website doesn't say what the metal is.

I know the owners of Diamondback Tactical, I think they would tell me what they know.

Great, I kind of figured if I asked it would be the old "If you do it we cannot be responsible.....however for $3000 we can help you out." Not saying that Diamondback would do that, just my experience with retailers.

Do you need to change an existing curve or impose a compound curve on the plate? (compound curve is a curve that bends in two directions at the same time like the front fender of a motorcycle). What we need to know is how malleable this stuff is cold and how much you need to bend it.

We are going to have to recurve an existing angle. The plates are single curved (side to side) but straight (up and down). We would like to curve the top 1/3 slightly back (towards the body) and possibly both upper corners (towards the body) as well (although these 2 small bends are not as important).

just for sake of clarity, are you trying to curve what is now straight? If so, that'll be the hard one. HOW THICK IS IT? Many "outback metal forming techniques" still in the bag here. I just left message with owner of Diamondback on this topic. If that doesn't get answered I'll try his cell phone.

Yeah, have to curve what is now straight. I plan on taking my plates home to Nebraska soon where I have a big press and a father with a lot of experience bending things. I am 95% sure I can make the required bends...I guess my main concern is, will I be weaking the plate to the point that I will lose all protection?

Not knowing the exact nature (condition) of the metal in the plate, I will guess that as long as you don't generate a stress crack from forming that the plates should maintain integrity. This is just a dumbass knifemaker speaking and more homework needs to be done. My thought on topics like this is, they had to form it in the beginning somehow.... Going across a formed curve is the hard one especially if the metal being formed has unusual strength characteristics. I'll keep trying Diamondback.

Thanks Bill.

Your welcome. Diamondback has already called the makers of the plate to get information.

Why would you want to recurve the plates?

Wearing plates w/o soft body armor is stupid!

Just gives you a false sense of protection/security. Seen some penetration test done on plates alone, w/o the soft body armor.

The individual would have still been seriously injured.

All these companies selling plate carriers are just that..."Plate Carriers"! Made to be worn over soft body armor to provide additional protection to existing armor being worn.

yeah! But how do you really feel about it?

If I'm not mistaken...
 

The new plates...that are made, so that they contour to the body. I believe they are made out of some sort of composite material.

The front/back are different. I've seen people confuse the two.

Before recurving, I would contact the the company that made them first.