Bending AR500?

[Scratch]

Has anyone here tried bending AR500 steel? I have a customer that's a runner. He has a 5.11 plate carrier and uses Rogue brand steel plates in it for weight. They are strictly for weight and even have a big sticker that says "NOT SUITABLE FOR ARMOR PLATING" or something like that. He came to me because he wanted to up his weight and the heaviest weights Rogue has is a 20 pound total vest. He wants to go heavier but when he tries adding more Rogue plates to his vest, it's super uncomfortable because they aren't bent at all. I told him I could make some new ones and bend them so I made a set of plates for him to try and it worked great! He now has a 30 pound vest and because of the bends, he says it's more comfortable than the 20 pounder!

I got to thinking that maybe I should try making some from AR500 steel...? I know it won't have spall protection at all, but I can buy spall protection sleeves for them and I don't know, might be fun to have! I could add it to my preps for when the zombies takeover. I'm planning on buying some AR500 anyways for some targets, but thought before I cut out a set, I'd ask if anyone here has done any bending of that stuff first.

Here's one of the plates I cut and bent for my customer. I used my 30 pound press and SWAG Off Road finger brake.

[mccutter]

Why doesn't he just get some dive weights?

[Matt Shade]

There are some very old threads buried on here in regards to doing this for dump truck beds if my memory is working right. I will post a link if I come across them.

I think cracking is a bigger issue than having enough power to bend it. You definitely would want the bends to be gradual.

[JBFab]

I have. Let me know what thickness and length of bend you are doing, and I can give you an idea of the tonnage required for a given die width.

I will warn you that if you need a consistent bend, it's going to be hard to do in AR. AR is very inconsistent and doesn't form consistently even in a single sheet.

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[dubby]

Yep, it'll bend. And for what you're talking about you don't need much. Even with regular steel bent around the torso if you go too far you create just as many problems as flat.

The kid is asleep right now or I'd sneak into her room to take a picture and measurements of her plates. I had to loan mine out yesterday to a buddy (security guard) who's truck was ransacked this week.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by JBFab

I have. Let me know what thickness and length of bend you are doing, and I can give you an idea of the tonnage required for a given die width.

I will warn you that if you need a consistent bend, it's going to be hard to do in AR. AR is very inconsistent and doesn't form consistently even in a single sheet.

Sent from my mobile device using ShopFloorTalk mobile app

Thanks, I'll be bending 1/4" 12" long.

[Scratch]

Originally Posted by dubby

Yep, it'll bend. And for what you're talking about you don't need much. Even with regular steel bent around the torso if you go too far you create just as many problems as flat.

The kid is asleep right now or I'd sneak into her room to take a picture and measurements of her plates. I had to loan mine out yesterday to a buddy (security guard) who's truck was ransacked this week.

That'd be great!

[Whitetrash]

We did some AR plate on the press brake in the fab shop what type or spec I don't remember anymore. Make sure you take the sharp edge off the corners of the plate it will help prevent cracks at the bend line. I keep thinking we heated the bend line a little nothing crazy like 700 degrees maybe. I'm just not sure anymore it's been too long ago.