non- metal armor

Team Orr · Post by **Team Orr** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:25 pm

hi
i know metal armor on ants has to be 1mm or less
but can non-metal armor be thicker?
cheers
jack

peterwaller · Post by **peterwaller** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:03 am

Metal armour has to be 1mm or less thick but other materials can be as thick as you like. I think polycarb is about the best non metalic armour you can get.

Team Orr · Post by **Team Orr** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 10:17 am

cheers Pete
what armor does your ant in the pic near your name use?

peterwaller · Post by **peterwaller** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:08 am

Non really. The wheels are machined out of polycarb but I just try to keep the spinner between me and the opposition.

Team Orr · Post by **Team Orr** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:13 am

it definatly looks deadly
i have heard some good things about balsa wood
is it a good armor?
do any of you guys other ants have proper armor and what type do u use the most

Post by **petec** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 7:38 pm

Balsa wood is cheap and easy to work with but is not very strong. Polycarbonate is very strong - the stuff on your Pants is 1mm but you can get it in 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12mm (and more). I personally quite like uPVC (the stuff they use for windows)....watch out for anyone in your neighbourhood having their windows replaced and see if there are any useful offcuts you can get from them. You can also use combinations - for example polycarb skin with balsa under to provide flexiblity.

Metal, really only aluminium (coke cans are good source) and titanium (very hard to machine and expensive) are used. I use brass on Squashy but spend more time hammering it flat again...

Team Orr · Post by **Team Orr** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 8:25 pm

thanx pete c
i have opted not to go for titanium at the moment or balsa for a while
everyones saying stuff about policarb so i'll look at that
also im now pretty good at driving so expect to see team orr at events soon
if you fink theres anouther type of armor thats good exept polycarb please say so

Team Orr · Post by **Team Orr** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 7:11 pm

ok, polycarb looks good
does anybody know where i can get it as the only places i can find that sell it are WAY too expensive!

Post by **BeligerAnt** » Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:43 pm

I've just ordered some polycarb from this Ebay shop

I haven't actually received the stuff yet, so I can't comment on how good they are (only ordered at the weekend though, so give the Royal Mail a chance). Only downside is that they charge P&P per item, so if you buy 2 different thicknesses of polycarb you pay 2 lots of P&P

Upside is that they sell A4-sized sheets in all thicknesses - ideal for ants!

Team Orr · Post by **Team Orr** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:45 am

thanx gary (':P')
what thickness do u think is th best?
i dont want too end up with MASSIVE bits of polycarb
better safe then sorry!