Hey everyone, I've done a search trying to find my answer, but I couldn't find anything. I've got a flak jacket (3/4 collar, US Issue, heavy kevlar stuff). I've got some patches I want to add, but....how do I do that?? I can't sew them on, I'm leery about ironing them on, so how has everyone else done it? I still have the ballistic material installed. I'd prefer not to take out the stuff, but I can if I absolutely have to.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

I irom mine on with hemming web. Its not as strong a glue as actual iron-on glue so its a bit easier to remove. Still sticks well though, my patches are still on my bdu's after 2 years and a few washes.

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MSgt Matt Bradley 'Crashdown' (Formerly Mattb)
A12/TQ2.0.82145E1
CO UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'
"There are very few problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high explosives."

Can you take the plates out?

James (Caramac) has just been round to see me today with his, and he took out the plates, rolled up the material so he could get it under the foot of his sewing machine and stitched them on.
Not a bad effort to be honest. He had to hand sew on the pocket patch though,

I'm sure he'll see this and post pictures for you.

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You don't have to be pitilessly sadistic to work here.... But it helps.
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You can whip stitch the patches on. Loads of 'how to' videos on YouTube if you don't know how to do it.

Ironing isn't the best idea since the cover will most likely be made of nylon and there's a strong chance of melting it.

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"You know, you blow up one sun and suddenly everyone expects you to walk on water."

As Chef said ive sewn mine on, they were iron on ones, I removed the inner then put the patches in place and used an iron in the middle of the patch just to hold it in place. I then slid the whole vest cover over the sewing machine bed, through the opening in the back, so I could could get to the patches then with a combination of sewing forwards and in reverse I managed to stitch the patches on, it wasnt easy but looks better than by hand.The one on the pocket I had to do by hand as it wouldnt fit on the machine.

Your right Vicky - should have said. Thats why i like the hemming stuff as its quite low temp stuff.

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MSgt Matt Bradley 'Crashdown' (Formerly Mattb)
A12/TQ2.0.82145E1
CO UKCM 13th Regt. 1st Batt. 'Freebooters'
"There are very few problems that cannot be solved through a suitable application of high explosives."

I definitely want to avoid ironing of any sort. The whole outer layer of mine is nylon; too easy to damage the shell trying to iron. Carmac, when you sewed yours, did you go through both layers of the nylon or were you able to only sew through the outer layer? I get from your post that you removed the stitching on bottom of the back part to remove the lining. Is that correct?

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Yes thats right, I un picked the stitching and removed the filler, I then slid the vest over the sewing machine bed through the opening in the bottom right the way down to the shoulder so as to only stitch the patches to the outer layer, it was really difficult but not impossible

Did you replace the liner as it was, or make a new one from foam or something?

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

I made a new inner out of neoprene I used 3 layers of it to get the correct thickness, it looks the same but is so much lighter

Ah. I keep trying to find a good alternate route but it looks like I will have to move the liner. I was thinking about using sheeted upholstery foam

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."

Try shoe goo.

Ive had a few vests for Airsoft and tried filling them with various things to get the same look, Ive tried newspaper covered in gaffa/duct tape, camping mat, duvet stuffing and cloth stitched together and the 3 layers of 3mm neoprene is by far the most realistic looking, its heavier than all the others ive tried but no where near as heavy as the real thing. If your not happy with sewing the patches on what about contact adhesive? you could use masking tape to mask off an area with the middle cut out to the same size as the patch then brush contact adhesive on to the vest and back of the patch, leave it 15-2o mins, remove the tape and press the patch on to vest, leave something heavy on top of the patch for a while and you should be good to go.

Any reason why you don't want to remove the inner plates?

Not only would doing so make sewing easier, it will also make it easier on your back.

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"Awww, someone tell me that's a boot!

It's a boot!"

III drops

Well, the bulk is hard to replicate; I could stand to lose the weight but I would hate to lose that "look" the vest has. Two, I don't have a sewing machine; I would have to get my seamstress to help with sewing it back up and I won't be in the area much longer. I don't want to ruin the vest trying to mod it up to be lighter.

Charlie

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"There is a clause in the contract which specifically states any systematized transmission indicating a possible intelligent origin must be investigated. On penalty of total forfeiture of shares. No money."