On the Chest Plate, drill the 1/4” holes to attach the ‘Riser Plate’, the remaining 12” heavy plate. They should be centered on the bar (1” from both sides), and each should be 1” from the centerline---making them 2” apart( as always, center-to-center) from each other. (see photo.) Use these as a guide to drill matching holes in the top of the Riser Plate: These holes should also be 1” from the top edge, and 2” from each other, or 1” from the centerline of the plate. Wait until later to assemble the Chest plate, vest, and Riser plate together.
Next, take aside the 2 6” pieces of Angle aluminum---This will become your ‘Socket Block’. Each is a ‘Socket Rail’.
On each, mark out and drill a set of 6 ¼” holes on one side—1” apart (center-to-center), beginning and ending ½” from the ends of the pieces.
Next, drill a set of holes on the OTHER SIDE of the Socket Rails—one ¼” hole at each end, 1” from the ends and centered on the INSIDE of the angle (should be 7/16” from the side edge.) Study the photo, and drill an additional ¼” hole on each-2” from the bottom end. You should have one hole on the top, and two on the bottom—the ones on the bottom should be 1” apart. These are the holes you will use to mount the Socket block pieces to the Riser AND Waist Plates.
Use a piece of the scrap 1” square box aluminum to get the spacing right between the socket rails---slide the piece of box aluminum and a business card in between the rails and clamp them together. The Business card will give just a little extra spacing between the Socket rails to make it easier to mount the arm…Once the project is finished. Now, use the hole spacing to mark out and drill the holes for attaching the Waistplate and Riser plate---The 4 holes at the bottom should be 1” from top to bottom, and about 2” side-to side from each other. The bottom edges of the Socket Rails, Waist Plate, and Riser plate should all be flush. Also, don’t forget to drill the holes to mount the top end of the Socket rails to the Riser Plate. As usual, clean the holes using a dremel or file.
Finally, mount it all together—You’ll need to line up the Waistplate on the waist pad on the Baby carrier---The plate should go on top of the pad. Punch holes in the pad to correspond with the holes in the Waistplate, then use the 1” bolts, washers, and locknuts to bolt it all together…Mount the tops of the socket rails to the Riser plate. Then push the 1” machine screws with washers through---starting from the holes in the back of the Vest Pad (starting with the 4 in the center), then through the matching holes in the Waist Plate, then Riser Plate, and finally the Socket Rails. Top the bolts off with another set of washers, and finally a locknut. It’s a good idea to wait until all the bolts and hardware are installed to tighten the entire assembly down. Once the Socket rails/Socket block is all tight, check clearance by mounting the Arm mount into it---The fit should be snug but not tight---You shouldn’t have to force it together, but it shouldn’t be rattling around in there…..
