The Armour Archive

I'm looking for finger gauntlet padding, and I understand Sorbothane has the best impact resistance.

I am confused by the durometer rating, though. I don't want it so soft that it easily bottoms out, but I can't have it so thick that it doesn't work.

i need about 1/8" thick-what's a good durometer rating for my needs?

Trevor,

Durometer ratings relate to compression resistance. Many closed cell foam products used in the North American orthopedic field fall in at 35 - 40 D. EVA used for midsole build-up is typically in this range. Light EVA (Cloud EVA is one brand name) for cushion effect tends to be 25-30 D. There aren't a lot of places you can buy a single sheet of these products, though.

Squishy white foam used for cheap insoles is something like 10 D. Blue foam for camping is probably 12-15 D. One eighth inch thick computer mouse pads might be as much as 20 D. Some solid foam sheets for workshop fatigue can be as high as 50 D. (but they are way too thick for your application)

An easy source of medium density closed cell foam products in thin sheets is drawer liners for tool chests. Woodworking and machinery retailers often carry smallish sheets for a few bucks.

I hope that helps.

Ed: these numbers are Shore A densities. Sorbothane uses Shore 00 ratings. See http://www.sorbothane.com/faq.php

Gillespie uses it in gauntlets, he'd be a good one to ask.

Foam... if used for armour padding is a good subject.
I have bought several sheets from these guys.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#about-foam/=aifn31

I have been working on a helm mod and it came with stiff foam.
I had to rip it out to weld inside.

I wondered why it was not more like my motorcycle crash helmet foam.

Motorcycle helmets are meant for one impact and then its useless. Every helmet I've ever crashed in ended up with crushed foam and obvious deformation.

Unless you want to replace the foam in a helmet every time you get hit in the head, it wouldn't work. You need a foam that is a little more durable.

Lord Trevor,

For what you're looking for I believe EVA is your best bet, you can find it in varying degrees of thickness, and although stiffness can vary due to minuscule production deviations, even softer batches should work fine. If you're feeling adventurous you could even try neoprene, which is similar. I would just recommend you go with EVA.

There is a distributor in your area that used to sell EVA in sheets, try AM FOAM. You may have to call them, but you may get a better deal than from online.

Here are a few more resources you can try.
http://www.mcmaster.com/#eva-foam/=aihu7x
http://www.foamorder.com/closedcell.html

The local AC more craft place sell 'foamies' in 2mm and 6mm thickness. This is a closed-cell craft foam in ~9"x12" sheets. I find a single piece of 6mm works nicely in my older gauntlets (Egg kydex). My present partial-finger spring-steel uses layers of 2mm that are sewn to the glove rather then glued to the steel. The multi-layers allow the foam to slide over itself for flex where a solid piece might not. YMMV.

Sean

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

The reason I'm looking at Sorbothane is because its molecular structure is such that it re-directs impact out the sides of the padding, rather than transfering it through. It's a weird little critter, and given the limited amount of padding in finger gauntlets, I want the absolute best...

Trevor wrote:Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

The reason I'm looking at Sorbothane is because its molecular structure is such that it re-directs impact out the sides of the padding, rather than transfering it through. It's a weird little critter, and given the limited amount of padding in finger gauntlets, I want the absolute best...

Interesting. Where did you get this information? That would make it a very interesting material. I only know of Sorbothane being used for sound deadening. redirecting the energy 90 degrees would take some very funky chemistry... or a fluid. Not certain I would want to protect my hands with fluid-like behavior. Eventually I want the force to keep my fingers separate from the plate rather then going sideways.

I suspect you are in uncharted waters. Please keep us appraised of your results!

Sean

IIRC, Kilkenny here on the Archive has posted in the past about padding his helm with sorbothane.

I'd be interested in learning more about this as well. Last time I looked McMaster Carr offers a sample package with a bit of each type.

Adam

Sean Powell wrote:funky chemistry... or a fluid.

Visco-elastic Polymer
http://www.sorbothane.com/material-properties.php
Youtube video

I have used it in gauntlets and helmets for years.
Mine came from Mcmaster Carr but other brands are available elsewhere much cheaper.

Tom

took a while to find it but from an old thread...

Gaston de Vieuxchamps wrote:Sorbothane is a brand name of low durometer polyurethane and was the original "viscoelastic polymer" marketed.

The shoc-tech from kemmler is also low durometer polyurethane and their prices are pretty good.

For my finger gauntlets from Morgan the 3mm works very well. Same protection as foam many times thicker but fits inside the fingers.

Gaston

http://www.kemmlerproducts.com/0.html

Cheaper source.

Awesome! Thanks!

So which of the three types are recommended for gauntlets?

Baron Alcyoneus wrote:So which of the three types are recommended for gauntlets?

With the Sorbothane I went with the lowest durometer.
I have never used the Shock-Tec stuff however, it looks like the Shocktec Gel is the closest to the Sorbothane.

You might contact Duke Gaston to see which one he used.

Tom