Finally Placed an Order for Kydex

Guyon

Guyon

Biscuit Whisperer
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I've been living a lie. Ever since I first got it in my head that I was going to make some kydex sheaths, I've had "kydex dust in undies" in my user title.

But the ugly truth is that there's been no kydex dust.

Today, I finally placed an order from Knife Kits for some kydex, parts, and tools. I'll be hanging 'round these parts and picking your brains soon.
 
Guyon, I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I've even totaled up an order of about $200.00 then backed out at the last minute. Do you mind if I follow your example for awhile? Please, keep me/us posted.
 
Hillbilly.223 said:
Guyon, I've been thinking about doing the same thing. I've even totaled up an order of about $200.00 then backed out at the last minute. Do you mind if I follow your example for awhile? Please, keep me/us posted.
Click to expand...

Did the same thing here, but mainly because they were out of large Tek-Loks. They had some in today, however.
 
OldPhysics said:
Now ... you do have solid medical insurance, right? :o
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Don't worry.

Unlike most academics, I am handy. You grow up relatively poor, you have to be. I've built houses, repaired automobiles, and even welded a thing or two. :D
 
Here's how it went for me:

When I made my first sheath I thought, "Man, this is easy!"

Now, after I've probably made over 50 sheathes, I'm always thinking "Damn why is it so hard to get these right?"
 
Well, here's what I ordered to start:

8 x KYDEX™ Sheet - (.08 Black)
1 x Ball Chains - (Black Finish) - 5 Pack
3 x Belt Loops - Tek-Lok - (Large)
2 x Belt Loops - Tek-Lok - (Small)
1 x Rivets - (Black) - #8-8 (1/4) - (For .080 KYDEX™/Concealex)
1 x CKK Rivet Flaring Dies - #8 - (1/4)
2 x Sheath Making Foam - (12x12x1) - (KYDEX™/Concealex)

Rather than buy the expensive press, I just picked up a couple of (overpriced) pieces of foam so I can make my own press. There used to be a store that sold foam right down the road, but it went out of business. Figured I'd just bite the bullet on the cost and not have to waste the time looking.

Plan to use my drill press to do both the holes for the rivets and the rivet flaring.

As for heating the kydex, I have a heat gun. But I've seen where some folks use a toaster oven. Maybe I'll look on Craig's List for a used one.
 
Guyon said...
Plan to use my drill press to do both the holes for the rivets and the rivet flaring.

How do you use the drillpress to do rivet flaring???


tnx/ al
 
You chuck the one die into the press and clamp the other side in the vise on the bottom once you've drilled your holes. Press down like your drilling and voila! You just flared your rivet. Just make sure you put the right site of the rivet on the right flare...doesn't work the other way. I still mess up one or two....

Guyon,

Someone just posted a tip that you can use the camp bed mat from Target / Walmart instead the foam...though I guess that's a moot point now..I'm gonna pick some up and to replace the current foam I use to give it a try before I bite into CKK's stuff.
 
The molding foam from Knifekits.com works well in homemade presses - been using it (or similar) for a few years. You also might want to look into getting some of Spyderco's new "G" clips (should be available from SFO or Spyderco dealers). Hole pattern (corner to corner) is the same as the mini-TekLoks. Has the advantage of being able to be used beltless with sweats and running shorts.
 
Mike Sastre said:
The molding foam from Knifekits.com works well in homemade presses - been using it (or similar) for a few years. You also might want to look into getting some of Spyderco's new "G" clips (should be available from SFO or Spyderco dealers). Hole pattern (corner to corner) is the same as the mini-TekLoks. Has the advantage of being able to be used beltless with sweats and running shorts.
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Mike, I notice it has two ply with one side being a little slicker than the open, more porous side. Which side do you use to press the kydex? The slicker side? I can offer up a picture if that would help.
 
Go with the side that is more slick. Additionally, depending on the amount of heat and pressure you use, sometimes the kydex might stick to the foam a little - occasionally pretreating with a little WD-40 (or something similar) helps.
 
I saw the post about the Wal-Mart/target camping cot pad email. This started me to thinking (which is always a bad thing). I have an old Doskosil handgun case that I never use, so today I put them both together. I don't know if this will work, but will try it out tomorrow. The pad is only 1/2" thick, so I had to cut 4 pieces to fit into the case. I will glue two the pieces together to form one side of the press, and then (thanks to Mike's suggestion) treat them with WD-40. Hopefully I will have a report on how this works tomorrow.

Now I need some suggestions on how to use this press. I am actually making a holster for a handgun. I have tried using a heat gun, and heating a small area at a time, and then forming it by hand. I then cover the formed area with a wet cloth and heat another area of the holster. This holster folds over from the top of the barrel, and closes on the bottom side. I am wondering if I should heat one whole side, and place it in the press, or use some other technique?
 
rmbrad said:
Now I need some suggestions on how to use this press. I am actually making a holster for a handgun. I have tried using a heat gun, and heating a small area at a time, and then forming it by hand. I then cover the formed area with a wet cloth and heat another area of the holster. This holster folds over from the top of the barrel, and closes on the bottom side. I am wondering if I should heat one whole side, and place it in the press, or use some other technique?
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This video got me interested in trying a toaster oven to heat the kydex. There are lots of used ones in my area on Craigslist ranging from $5 to $25. I'm going to pick one up this weekend.

[youtube]3lczZWgN4Kg[/youtube]
 
longbeachguy said:
Here's how it went for me:

When I made my first sheath I thought, "Man, this is easy!"

Now, after I've probably made over 50 sheathes, I'm always thinking "Damn why is it so hard to get these right?"
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. I made one I was real happy with right before the BLADE show. Trying to make some for friends now has me rather frustrated. Res C/Kraton vs. Micarta seems to require some different techniques too.
 
Guyon said:
Don't worry.

Unlike most academics, I am handy. You grow up relatively poor, you have to be. I've built houses, repaired automobiles, and even welded a thing or two. :D
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Now that's reassuring.

Sounds like your youth ... was not that different from my own.

Hmm. And yet you survived it! :eek:;)
 
Originally Posted by longbeachguy
Here's how it went for me:

When I made my first sheath I thought, "Man, this is easy!"

Now, after I've probably made over 50 sheathes, I'm always thinking "Damn why is it so hard to get these right?"

messer454 said:
I agree 100%. I made one I was real happy with right before the BLADE show. Trying to make some for friends now has me rather frustrated. Res C/Kraton vs. Micarta seems to require some different techniques too.
Click to expand...

Basic principles are pretty simple ........... but the devil is in the details! One of the reasons I let Bob Taylor talk me into doing the DVD set.

Guyon,

Toaster ovens work much better than a heat gun, and a regular kitchen oven beats the toaster. Where in TN are you located? I sometimes do Gun/Knife shows in Knoxville.
 
Well, I finally got a way to heat up the kydex. Bought a used toaster oven on Craigslist and will likely attempt my first sheaths this weekend.

I am curious about:

- how long you heat the kydex... is there a visual indicator you can use to know when it's ready to form?

- whether you need some kind of gloves to handle the stuff when it's hot (in other words, how hot does it get?)

- how much time you have before it starts to take a set.

I am thinking about a desktop band saw or maybe just a scroll saw for trimming the excess kydex. A jig saw seems clunky, and a coping saw or the like seems like it would be a little awkward. At first though, I may just try to get the kydex close to size and work it down to exact shape with a belt sander.
 
Kydex undies? Ladies come for the ultimate in pushup bras. Would do well in the next 007 movie where the lady has a knife with matching swimmsuit. You maybe onto something!


I am facing doing my sheaths in kydex due to issues of exporting/importing leather products in Botswana.
 
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