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Discussion: Bathroom-tile armor.Reported This is a featured thread

Category: Discussion Forum / Weapons and Gear
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SasquatchJim
SasquatchJim
Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 17 2010, 9:45 AM EST | Post edited: Jan 17 2010, 9:45 AM EST
I remember seeing on an episode of mythbusters where Jamie created armor using ordinary bathroom tiles. I can't exactly remember what it stopped, but I think it stopped buckshot and .22 rounds.

So, this may be a cheap armor for those who are planning on wearing armor during Zday. Of course, since raiders will probably aim for the head, I'm not sure how much it will help, but... Do you find this valuable?    
Themiddleodnowhere
Themiddleodnowhere
1. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 17 2010, 7:12 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 17 2010, 7:12 PM EST
"I remember seeing on an episode of mythbusters where Jamie created armor using ordinary bathroom tiles. I can't exactly remember what it stopped, but I think it stopped buckshot and .22 rounds.

So, this may be a cheap armor for those who are planning on wearing armor during Zday. Of course, since raiders will probably aim for the head, I'm not sure how much it will help, but..."
well.........i really dont ahve a good answer for that...it all depends on the kind of tile.

usual bathroom tile is non strengthend clay, or some composite, and offers almost no protection. however, a stronger tile, say for ovens and stuff, are thick enough maybe to disapate the force of the projectile, but will be heavy as a result....

anyone in the military know tha composite they use in plate carriers? i kinda want to know now!! Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
2. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 17 2010, 7:28 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 17 2010, 7:48 PM EST
Silicon carbide and Boron carbide is used in us SAPI plates (small arms protective inserts) with a spectra "spall backer"; it stops shards from the impact cutting into the wearer. The Enhanced SAPI plates use Boron Carbide solely; it is the harder material of the two. Apparently the ceramic must have equivalent hardness to the core of the bullet to be effective.

I know more about body armor usage than chemical structure, so I can't say much past that.

Interesting note; silly putty will stop .38 special. It compacts and becomes a very hard material under sudden pressure. 1  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Themiddleodnowhere
Themiddleodnowhere
3. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 17 2010, 7:55 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 17 2010, 7:55 PM EST
"Silicon carbide and Boron carbide is used in us SAPI plates (small arms protective inserts) with a spectra "spall backer"; it stops shards from the impact cutting into the wearer. The Enhanced SAPI plates use Boron Carbide solely; it is the harder material of the two. Apparently the ceramic must have equivalent hardness to the core of the bullet to be effective.

I know more about body armor usage than chemical structure, so I can't say much past that.

Interesting note; silly putty will stop .38 special. It compacts and becomes a very hard material under sudden pressure."
can i fill a bag of silly putty and put it infront and back of my body??! Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
4. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 17 2010, 8:16 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 17 2010, 8:16 PM EST
"can i fill a bag of silly putty and put it infront and back of my body??!"
Well, like I said, it only stops .38 special and other handgun rounds. Silly putty also degrades very fast. Do you find this valuable?    

Ebola256
5. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 19 2010, 4:20 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 19 2010, 4:20 PM EST
It could be useful against the Zombies though, as I doubt they'll be able to bite/claw their way through it. So it could help save you from infection in small encounters. 0  out of 1 found this valuable. Do you?    
Themiddleodnowhere
Themiddleodnowhere
6. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 19 2010, 4:29 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 19 2010, 4:29 PM EST
"It could be useful against the Zombies though, as I doubt they'll be able to bite/claw their way through it. So it could help save you from infection in small encounters."
well i understand why the silly putty would, its a non neutonian fluid if im correct.

and since when does that stuff degrade?

ok, and how expensive is boron carbide powder, because i know they heat treat the stuff in molds to for the insert plates right? Do you find this valuable?    
John_234
John_234
7. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 19 2010, 9:52 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 19 2010, 9:52 PM EST
Well, it dries out unless you keep it in the container.

I have no clue, on that latter question. Do you find this valuable?    
possumblaster
possumblaster
8. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 19 2010, 10:09 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 19 2010, 10:10 PM EST
If it's something you are going to depend your life on, then you might as well buy the real stuff:

http://cgi.ebay.com/2-ESAPI-PLATES-BODY-ARMOR-ARMY-SWAT-ACU-KSK-SAPI-SAS_W0QQitemZ160395375582QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Collectables_Militaria_LE?hash=item25584f33de

(these say ESAPI, but they "appear" to be regular SAPI plates)

Cool discussion though. Do you find this valuable?    
DevilNuts
DevilNuts
9. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 20 2010, 3:40 AM EST | Post edited: Jan 20 2010, 3:40 AM EST
Bathroom tile will not protect you against bullets.

1) There are many types of bathroom tile, some are natural stone like limestone, marble, or granit; others are different clays or porcelains.

2) If you have boxes of unused tile, you can experiment with it. I have done a small amount of work with stone and tile, and from my experience it is very brittle and easy to break. Hell, dropping it on the floor will usually shatter one.

3) If it is already installed, forget it. The sturdi-flex or mastic they use to install kitchen/bathroom tile bonds to it and you would have to literally destroy the tile to pull it up. If you *were* able to get the tile up in one piece, the remaining sturdi-flex or mastic would make the tiles too heavy to move around while wearing.

It's an interesting concept, but tile is expensive, heavy and brittle and I don't think it would work out very well. Do you find this valuable?    
SasquatchJim
SasquatchJim
10. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 20 2010, 4:51 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 20 2010, 4:51 PM EST
"Bathroom tile will not protect you against bullets.

1) There are many types of bathroom tile, some are natural stone like limestone, marble, or granit; others are different clays or porcelains.

2) If you have boxes of unused tile, you can experiment with it. I have done a small amount of work with stone and tile, and from my experience it is very brittle and easy to break. Hell, dropping it on the floor will usually shatter one.

3) If it is already installed, forget it. The sturdi-flex or mastic they use to install kitchen/bathroom tile bonds to it and you would have to literally destroy the tile to pull it up. If you *were* able to get the tile up in one piece, the remaining sturdi-flex or mastic would make the tiles too heavy to move around while wearing.

It's an interesting concept, but tile is expensive, heavy and brittle and I don't think it would work out very well. "
I didn't mean the big slate tiles. I meant the ones that come in flexible sheets. The ones that are basically tiny squares attached to a sheet.
Sorry, I know I'm not being clear.

I doubted their effectiveness from the start (as I do with all armor.) However, does anyone actually remember seeing that? Do you find this valuable?    
SovietPrince
SovietPrince
11. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 21 2010, 7:02 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 21 2010, 7:02 PM EST
somewhat unrelated question:

how thick does steel have to be to stop say, 9mm? Do you find this valuable?    
possumblaster
possumblaster
12. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Jan 22 2010, 5:04 PM EST | Post edited: Jan 22 2010, 5:04 PM EST
"somewhat unrelated question:

how thick does steel have to be to stop say, 9mm?"
Now, that depends on the strength of the steel.

I have a 3/8" steel plate silhouette that I shoot at back home. I do not know the strength / hardness but a 9mm goes halfway through it at 25 meters. I do believe this steel is stronger than most because it is rediculously heavy for it's size. Do you find this valuable?    
CallsignPyro
CallsignPyro
13. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Feb 16 2010, 3:44 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 16 2010, 3:44 PM EST
"I remember seeing on an episode of mythbusters where Jamie created armor using ordinary bathroom tiles. I can't exactly remember what it stopped, but I think it stopped buckshot and .22 rounds.

So, this may be a cheap armor for those who are planning on wearing armor during Zday. Of course, since raiders will probably aim for the head, I'm not sure how much it will help, but..."
i remember that episode they had to layer the tile 3 thick just to stop the 22 & bird shot Do you find this valuable?    
SasquatchJim
SasquatchJim
14. RE: Bathroom-tile armor.
Feb 16 2010, 8:47 PM EST | Post edited: Feb 16 2010, 8:47 PM EST
"i remember that episode they had to layer the tile 3 thick just to stop the 22 & bird shot"
Really? Oh, I couldn't really remember. I haven't seen it in a while. My bad. Do you find this valuable?    

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