How to Make Bamboo Armour

Use a tape measure to take the height and width of the chest you would like to model the armor for, whether that is your own, another person's, or a mannequin. make sure the measurements begin at the nape of the neck, extend down along the armpit on either side and end just below the waistline. Transfer those measurements to a bamboo sheet that's a quarter-inch thick.

Cut out the bamboo sheet, curving the shape as necessary to best fit the body that the armor is designed for. Sand the cut edges until they are smooth. Drill holes at the top of this board, which is the breastplate, directly where the armor would sit over someone's collarbone. Keep the holes an inch from the edge and put two holes in each spot, for a total of four holes. Use a wood drill bit with a diameter of one-eighth inch.

Repeat the process to create a back plate with back measurements. Drill holes in the mirrored positions. Thread a bamboo or hemp rope through one of the holes on the breastplate and then through the matching hole in the back plate. Tie the two ends of the rope together loosely with about 6 inches of length between the boards. Repeat for the rest of the holes. Set the armor on the model and adjust the rope length appropriately by untying and retying the knot. Cut off the excess rope.

Drill two holes along each side of the breastplate and back plates, 1 inch from the edge and near the bottom, if desired. Attach the two plates together with rope in the same fashion to make the armor snug against the model.