Cutting Kydex

You can use a hacksaw, bandsaw to cut it, or just score it and snap it.

Drilling is easy, forming it, get it hot and stick the knife in it and stick it in a sort of press. Voila!
 
I cut my Kydex with a Sears Bandsaw.Sometimes I will "score" it with a Stanley razor knife,bend it, and break it apart.
 
I use a heat gun for the heating, and some 1/2" 50 durometer Neoprene glues to some wooden boards in a vise for the forming. And i put tape over my blades before i form the sheath.
 
I have just started making sheaths and I use a little toaster oven by Black and Decker. I heat it up to about 350 degrees and leave it in there until its nice and limber and then quickly put the knife in it and into the vice it goes. Be careful and watch it closely because the other day I got a phone call and when I got back there was a big glob of kydex in the middle of the rack on the oven. Oh yeah, just lay the kydex on the metal grill part, not a pan. Good luck!
michael
 
Tin snips works great to cut it. heating can be with a heat gun, kind of hard to keep the heat all over if a big piece, or a toster oven, at 305 degrees. It kind of smells the oven up. when it starts to drop, or sag at the corners it's ready.

To form, you first have to make a "press". shefield's has the "sponges", 1' x 1'. Cut some plywood ( half way thick so it won't flex ). Glue the sponge to one of the pieces of plywood, and get a piece of plexiglass, drill holes in the corners ond screw the plexiglass to the other piece of plywood.

Now put the pieces together, sponge against the plexiglass. Use some long hinges and bend them so you'll be able to screw them to the outside of the plywood.

To hold them closed while forming a sheath frount, just use a large C-clamp.

If I'm too vague, just call me. (985)878-8275. It's not hard.
 
great info. thanks guys.
junglejim... what are tin snips.
Also, anyone know of any reputable sharpening services out there.
 
Tin snipps are like heavy scissors, you can get them at most hardware stores. To make the edges nice, go over size to start with. after everythings finished, use a belt sander or grinder to get the final shape. If you have a drill press, or a high speed drill that you can clamp down, get a "flapper" (looks like a bunch of pieces of sand paper glued to a small shaft. It works great to get a nice smooth edge on the kydex. Roll it while you run the sheath edge along the flapper. It'll round the edge real nice.

Sharpening what? knives?
 
You can use a sheet cutting scissors or a bandsaw - wich will make your life much easier - to get it cut.
An halogen lamp will heat the kydex sheets very quickly and evenly if put some 6'above them, and you can use a rubber sheet glued to a wooden board to press it and use this in your drill press.
If you need more information, just e-mail me.
 
I know I'm late but thought I'd add my two cents...

I use any combination of a sheet rock knife, tin snips and my scroll saw to cut the Kydex.

Sheet rock knife to cut the flat rough shape, scroll saw for the shapeing cut out and tin snips for cuts inside the opposite fold of the sheath.

To heat it I use the oven in my kitchen, an upside down cookie sheet and a dish towel with Kydex on top.

I find the dish towel prevents the Kydex from scorching by being directly on the metal.

I tried a toaster oven and it was just too hot being in such close proximity to the heat source, YMMV.

For pressing, I've found that nothing works better than the biggest cast steel bench vise you can find/afford. I clamp all of my sheaths tight and then cut it based on fit to give it the best relief possible and still maintain plenty of holding strength.

Have fun :)
 
cpirtle, what temp do you heat the oven to?

Thanks again for the info folks. The instructions that came with the kydex from Texas Knife were OK, but it's good to hear these other ideas.
 
I use PVC sponge to mold with backed by plywood then in the vice.
  I preheat the oven to about 225 and put it in and watch
the corners, it will be about like a limp 
 piece of wet leather when right. 
 I'll also cut it with heavy house shears or use tin snips.
here's one for a dive knife I make that staps to the leg..
gray135-1.jpg
 
I go with the poor boy method. 1: While asking around at my local plastic supplier, I found out that the difference between what they call sheet ABS and Kydex is that the Kydex has texturing on both sides. Sheet ABS has one textured and one smooth side which cuts down on scuffing of blades. ABS is also a lot cheaper costwise. 2: I just put my precut piece in the oven with the broiler turned on and watch the corners. When it is nice and limp, I fold it around the blade and lay it in an old folded bed sheet between two phone books. I then stand on it for about two minutes and presto, nicely formed sheath. Drill, add rivets, add gromets if needed, mount the belt clip and voala.
Doc
 
Where do you get that ABS sheet doc? It don't have to be kydex if it works now does it? ABS has been around for a long time too. Give us a link if you have one handy old buddy.
 
I could be wrong, but the kydex I received from TKS is .06" and is textured only on one side. The other side is more shiny and smooth.
 
Max, I had a supplier tell me the exact same thing several years ago. He even gave me a scrap of ABS to try. I tried it and my comment to him was Bull S&it. It doesn't mold nearly as well as Kydex. It also blisters and bubbles at the same temps that Kydex is workable. I think they tell them that s&it in sales school!:mad: Just to make sure I was right I went out and chercked. I have two full sheets of Kydex and both are smooth on one side and textured on the other. Another myth exposed.:D
 
Ok, so send me one of them sheets and we'll call it even Peter. He he. Thanks for the hot tip. I really appreciate it. I'm just the kind of peckerwood that would follow up on a lead like that and go buy me a sheet of ABS just to find out it ain't worth squat just like you're saying. So where do you buy your kydex Peter? I'm looking for a good supplier of .060 kydex in standard Calcutta Black. Any help there?

By the way, how about showing us a pic of that ugly knife you won the contest with. I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top