Anyone else try making their own sheaths?

rcb2000

rcb2000

Joined
Apr 15, 2014
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I made this taco style for my AMS, not because I needed it per se,, but for practice, as I am making some knives as gifts for Christmas this year.
I did my homework, and with a few practice runs, got some great retention.
It doesn't look like it has great definition,, not sure if thats a result of the .08 thick kydex or what..probably I need some better foam.
:thumbup:
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Making the clip was pretty easy too, and had a few Chicago screws lying around.
Kind of fudged up that part, where the bottom of the clip is bent out from the rivets on the sheath.
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The tricky part, is raising the thumb ramp here.
A lot of the retention is coming from the kydex molded into the rivet hole on the scale, (shown in blue circle), so in order to maintain that and heat this section enough, I would need to submerge the sheath in cold water, and hit that very small section( above the red line) with a heat gun.
I don’t have a heat gun yet, but will pick one up and see how it goes.
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Any else try their hand at kydex bending? (Not that anything I do comes even into the same galaxy as Dave Brown, Mashed Cat, or AZwhelke)
 
I have often considered grabbing the $500+ kydex making kit from knifekits.com, but I just don't feel like I have the time or dedication to refine the craft as well as David or AzWelke...so for now I will continue to support these guys for all my kydex needs.

BTW nice job bro.
 
Initial investment. About the only reason NOT to give it a try. I've spent $75 or more on just tools to work leather for a sheath. I have yet to find time to even try my hand.

One of these days I guess. :D
 
Oh I definately don't have any equipment that nice!
I picked up a foam press for 75 off eBay, although should have just made my own.
For the rivets I use the hand setter/hammer. I break about 2/10 rivets,, but getting better.
Other than that I just use my belt sander, hand drill, and a standard oven to heat. I use the same laser thermometer I use at work, and that made a big improvement on the fit.

I did a lot of research about what temp to use it at,, and how slow to heat it,, other than that its a LOT of trial and error,, mostly error
 
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I've made several. It's actually quite easy with minimal investment if you have tools like a drill press and a vice already. They're not the kydex art that Buy Brown creates but they're functional. Yours looks very good IMO. :thumbup:
 
I have made a few, they are functional ;) I have to refine my press, as I was just not getting the definition I wanted.
 
I have been making leather for years. I had all the money set aside for a great set up for kydex.

I spent it on a sword and axe combo. What a waste!
 
I've been making my own for a little while. Hopefully will be moving to leather sooner or later.

Heres a few I made the other day. (I ran out of the correct rivets on the ASH-- and I haven't cleaned them up to look pretty yet either)
These are all made from .08 thick kydex.
 
Whoa!! Nice work man! I may have to bug you for some tips,, you even cut out the fuller on that mofo crusader(?)
 
Thanks, they work lol. Yours is looking good too.
I've only been doing it a few weeks, I've only made about 15ish sheaths total (what I could get out of the materials I ordered).
But I made 2-3 taco style, and yea they are way more of a pain. I haven't tried anymore cause my $15 heat gun broke, and like you said it'd be hard to fix specific parts and make that little thumb ramp without a heat gun.

I just use a homemade press, a regular drill for the holes, and a dremel for cutting, but I did splurge on a rivet press (I knew the hammer type ones would be a pain so I just went ahead and got a press).
I use a little toaster oven on the small ones that will fit, but a regular oven for anything over 5" blade or so. No thermometer, I just do it by feeling.

Yea I cut the fuller section out of that lol- I didn't plan to, I accidentally didn't pad the fuller enough so the kydex sunk in a little (it wasn't much, just made it a little tight) so I thought it would look cool with that cut out so I did.
 
Smart move getting the rivet press,,, I may have to ask Santa
This is what the neighbors hear coming from my shed,
TAP TAP TAP TAP "aw what the f$&k!!!!"
TAP TAP TAP TAP,,, "nice!"
TAP TAP "sh$t!!!!!!!!!!"
 
I have a heater, heat gun, rivet press, laser thermometer, clamps rivets, kydex and kydex press. Have had it for about year, bought it all together Have never used it. It's been on the back burner, I got it more for guns though, I prefer leather for my blades. I need a drill press and belt sander before I can really get it going though, or ditch it all. Who knows
 
I've made most of my own for a few years, to get that top molded out a little just use a bic lighter and hold the flame on the inside then bend it out with your thumb to where you want it. I defiantly recommend the rivet press that sure makes it easy.

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I made these with the exception of the ESEE5
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Make my own leather sheaths too

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Thats a EZE Lap diamond sharpener, they last almost forever. I've got a couple that are 20yrs old at least. Quick and easy to put a sharp edge on in the field. Thank you for the complement too.

The sharpener screws to the handle so you have a long grip to hold and then stores in the brass sleeve to keep it compact.

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That is awesome,, I'm ordering one right now. Pardon my ignorance, but what knife is that?
 
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