Do I need a Kydex press?

[alexmin]

Guys,

I am about to order some kydex for my first sheath and wonder if I should get a press too? Does it really help that much?

Thanks

 

[raylaconico]

I don't use kydex anymore but I've made a few sheaths in the past. I never bought a press. I made my own using sleeping pad foam and attaching it to a board. If you look I think there are some tutorals on it. It works great.

 

[JTknives]

well if you have the money the press is nice but mot somthing you have to have. a lot of people just use some plywood with dense foam on one side and put the knife between it. i am actualy building a press that is a box that has a strong rubber bage or ballon on the top and bottom. these bags can be inflated with a air pump while the knife is inside and i can get very even and strong pressure.

 

[flatgrinder]

Yep, nice to have if you make a lot of sheaths from kydex, but foam padding and some plywood do the same thing.

 

[Black Dog]

I have a Kydex press and have found that I hardly use it. I have had better results by using wood blocks and my hands (with cloth or gloves) and forming the piece a bend at a time. The fitting is much more precise than heating the whole piece and sticking it in the press.

 

[Leatherface]

I use the method that flatgrinder is referring to and I suggest it as well...You could make a kydex press just like the one shown on certain sites without to much trouble..

I plan on making a better (more efficient) press when I get done redoing my shop

 

[Death's Head]

You need some kind of press to make the sheaths out of kydex whether you buy it or you make it yourself. Because the clamps I was going to use where like $15 each and I was going to use for and I would still have to buy camping foam and by some wood, I figured that it would end up costing around the same amount as a ready made press, and the ready made one is easier to use, so that is what I went with.

 

[hp2spare]

I went all out with a Kydex Press and a rivet press. You can get good results without them, but they are nice to have.