Attaching kydex belt loops?

[Robert_Phelps]

How do you guys attach your kydex belt loops?

I've made two kydex sheaths now, and I attached the belt clips in a sort of lame (I felt) way. I basically riveted it on from the inside of the back piece of the sheath after making 2 little holes for the rivet lips to sit in, and then smoothed the rivet a little also with some sandpaper.

Getting in my car however, it caught the seat and popped off. I don't want that to happen on something I might would sell, so I need a different way. Are chicago screws better for attaching clips? How do you attach a clip without having something poking into the sheath to scratch it?

 

[tito]

Instead of making my own, I use the Bladetech Teklocks. They use chicago screws with rubber grommets to secure the clip to a sheath. If you want to make your own, you could probably find chicago screws and grommets both at MMC. You can also buy replacement sets for the Teklocks in packages of 10 or so - I think I found them at knifekits.com or onestopknifeshop.com. Whichever you use, the light-bond Locktite or similar will keep the screws from backing out, but still allow you to remove it.

 

[Leu Custom]

How do you guys attach your kydex belt loops?

I've made two kydex sheaths now, and I attached the belt clips in a sort of lame (I felt) way. I basically riveted it on from the inside of the back piece of the sheath after making 2 little holes for the rivet lips to sit in, and then smoothed the rivet a little also with some sandpaper.

Getting in my car however, it caught the seat and popped off. I don't want that to happen on something I might would sell, so I need a different way. Are chicago screws better for attaching clips? How do you attach a clip without having something poking into the sheath to scratch it?

The easiest way is to drill your holes the spacing of a tec lok like Tito said and screw them down with the hardware that comes with! Otherwise, Drill your holes in your sheath, set rivets (or not) and then make a loop and drill the spacing the same as the sheath and then screw together!

go to www.knifekits.com and look up the kydex belp loop to give you a better idea! Drilling the big hole on top and then lining it up with the little hole on the bottom is the hard part, and usually requires a drill press and a good 1/2" countersink bit works well for this operation it cuts the top hole and lightly cuts a smaller hole (or marks it) for you to drill the smaller hole that will be used to put the chicago screw through it.

Any questions, drop me an email. jack.76@cox.net I think I can find some examples for you.

 

[Robert_Phelps]

So the chicago screws will have their backs inside the sheath? Counter-sunk? Sorry for being so dense on this, I try to have the process down before I start, I can't afford to many do overs

Thanks for the help

 

[Steven Penner]

Tek - locks

http://www.knifekits.com/vcom/product_info.php?cPath=41_56&products_id=284

Whether you use a tek-lock or just a belt loop, the screws go all the way through both layers of kydex inside the hole in the middle of the rivet/eyelet.

Search for kydex sheath and you should find thousands of photos to look at and many ways to do it.

The photo listed below allows the belt loop to go horizontal or vertical, as long as you keep the hole spacing the same on both loop and sheath rivet hole spacing.

If you hate to waste your material, you can practice with cereal box cardboard and a stapler

 

[Leu Custom]

So the chicago screws will have their backs inside the sheath? Counter-sunk? Sorry for being so dense on this, I try to have the process down before I start, I can't afford to many do overs

Thanks for the help

The countersink bit is if you wanted to make a loop like this.

See how the top hole is bigger than the bottom hole? Using a countersink bit (if that's what you call it) works well for this operation!