How do I build a suit of armour? How could I build my own suit of armour. I'm not...

How could I build my own suit of armour. I'm not talking nearly the type of suit you see in Iron Man, basically a normal armoured suit.

I merely need to know what substance I should use, what is the strongest and cheapest type of metal or wiring I could buy, could I buy the stuff I involve from a DIY store?
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Answers:    What kind of armor? Plate. chainmail, scalemail, leather, pad?

Some of my SCA friends make armor out of those big blue plastic rubbish bins, someone else I know made a suit of armor out of pennies (I think this might be dishonest though), Chain mail is probably the easiest, only get some 16-18 rate metal wire, a wooden dowel, a rubber tack hammer, and a couple of pairs of pliers, it is not unlike knitting...I know another guy who made samurai armor from parachute cord. I dream up this question wishes a few more details before you find a proper answer.