14g 6061-T6 Lamellar Plates Bend?

Lord Birmingham · Post by **Lord Birmingham** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:21 am

I have recently purchased and made body armor with some medium sized Tombstone 14g, 6061-T6 plates and was curious about something. Maybe i am just used to some of the stainless steel lamellar here that seems to take constant abuse and rarely bends but does anyone else with these types of plates have them bending with even just 1 shot?

I realize that they "bend" and aren't "denting" so they are easy to bend back but just curious about others experiences, just want to make sure if this is usual or not.

Any feedback appreciated.

Baron Alcyoneus · Post by **Baron Alcyoneus** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 12:24 am

If they are flat, they will bend easier than they will if they have a curve in them.

Konstantin the Red · Post by **Konstantin the Red** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:08 am

I guess it's their small size; 6061 shield blanks in temper T6 are notoriously springy, wanting either a sliproller or a deadblow hammer to get the job done. Nothing less moves the stuff; a regular sledge tends simply to rebound.

Payn · Post by **Payn** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 1:51 am

Maybe I am missing something, but I thought that T6 is oneof those "fractures when rebent" temperings?

GuntherofOrkney · Post by **GuntherofOrkney** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 4:45 am

what sized plates are yours. for anything that isnt very small like scales I like to use 0.090 thick alum and some armor I like 0.100 thick.

Sean Powell · Post by **Sean Powell** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 7:53 am

banzaimf wrote:Maybe I am missing something, but I thought that T6 is oneof those "fractures when rebent" temperings?

Depends on how far it is bent and how tight a radius. Aluminum doesn't have a sharp transition from elastic to plastic deformation like steel does. Under the right conditions I can bend it in a gradual curve and reverse it several hundred times without fracturing it. In other cases I can bend it once and fracture it. There is a lot more then just the type of temper (like is it 6061-T6 or 7075-T6?)

Sean

somedudeinutah · Post by **somedudeinutah** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:06 am

6061 will be VERY hard to bend with rattan. If it does bend, it has terrific memory and springs right back into position. I would think the only disadvantage would be the finish. It will shine up to a white mirror, but it scratches and tarnishes pretty quick.

Mad Matt · Post by **Mad Matt** » Sun Apr 18, 2010 10:56 am

If it's bending with a whack from rattan it's most likely not t-6. to put a curve in one you'd pretty much have to support it on each end and hammer it down into the gap in the middle. T-6 generally needs to be bent double the amount you want it to come out as since it will spring back about 50% from where you bend it. And a slight bend will recover completely.

As far as cracking it's not the temper as much as it is the type of aluminum. 60-61 will crack fairly easily on sharp bends.