• The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is ready to order! See this thread for details: https://www.bladeforums.com/threads/bladeforums-2024-traditional-knife.2003187/
    Price is $300 $250 ea (shipped within CONUS). If you live outside the US, I will contact you after your order for extra shipping charges.
    Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/ - Order as many as you like, we have plenty.

  • Today marks the 24th anniversary of 9/11. I pray that this nation does not forget the loss of lives from this horrible event. Yesterday conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was murdered, and I worry about what is to come. Please love one another and your family in these trying times - Spark

Help a brother out...Kydex startup list?

DylanMW said:
I have used KnifeKits.com website a couple of times, I'm sure there are much better places to get it from though!
Click to expand...
Ok, this is off topic but are you looking for a set of eskabar scales or are you selling them? Noticed it in your sig...
 
runtothehills said:
Chris,
I have new jig saw, I used once on a project and has been sitting in my tool box for a year. Your welcome to it!, if I get the first 9 sheath you make.:D
PM me, I don't bite.....................
Click to expand...

I would have hit you up today, but 3 nights of Battlestar-binging has me sleep deprived and my skull about the split. Going to bed SOON.
 
Skystorm said:
Kydex press, eyelet press and dies, bandsaw, belt sander, knives you don't use (it's pain to tape the same knife over and over again), heat gun for tweaking, pancake griddle, drill press and correct bits for plastic. uhmmm yea that should get you started.
Click to expand...

Leather gloves for working with hot Kydex right out of the toaster oven! Ouch, ouch, ouch! Besides the press, you end up using the heat gun and your gloved fingers for fine tuning the "grip" of a sheath or holster.

Another source of Kydex (new stuff out called "Holsterex"? I've worked with both and haven't been able to tell the difference) is YeBay. Otherwise everyone uses Knifekits, as you've figured out by now! :D
 
Last edited:
the holsterex is the same pattern on Both sides...so when ur making single thickness items (like my attachments for tmy 9 rig) it looks the same no matter how u bend it. I wanna try some of it out.

100_0996.jpg

u can see here where each side of kydex looks different,,,with holsterex it would look the same.
 
I've searched...a LOT for my kydex supplies. knifekits is my go-to for kydex sheets and eyelets. Their flaring dies are definitely a must; you can either tap with hammer or rig them to a hand press. The rest is easy enough to find. Press: 2 squares of plywood, glue and cut pieces of the gardening rest pad sold at home depot for like 6$, it really lasts for a lot of pressings. I don't bother with a hinge, just step on the board for 2 minutes then grab the sheath and run it thru cold water.

Couple tips:

- The most important area is the throat for retention. Focus on this area.

- If you don't mind scratching your blade, don't bother taping it up prior to pressing. Fantastic retention as the kydex grabs both at blade and throat while sacrifying finish, don't matter if you strip.

- Mark your holes with a big teklok with pencil, then dig up a bit with a fine tipped knife prior to drilling to stop the bit from walking (doesn't matter if u have drill press)

- A belt sander saves you a lot of time; also a cheap hand grinder to trim after bending and cutting squares after initial measurement (I'm a taco fan myself). Heat gun helps a lot in fine tuning throats and thumb kicks.

Have fun! This stuff is quite addictive.
 
zuluninja said:
Taco Rico has .79$ taco mondays and they are really good.
Click to expand...

Must be a florida thing...like "Del Taco" in California. We just got Taco Bell. In the future, all restaraunts will be Taco Bell after they win the francise wars...

(obscure movie reference, I know...)

Back to knives and stuff....
 
I did enjoy that movie a lot. Makes you think humanity could be headed that way!

Taco: one piece kydex folded over knife

Pancake: 2 pieces...

Pancakes are harder to do, and to me it only adds space for more eyelets, but really just one side of the sheath with holes is good enough for tek-loks, loops, etc... That's why I like simple tacos.
 
Skystorm said:
Kydex press, eyelet press and dies, bandsaw, belt sander, knives you don't use (it's pain to tape the same knife over and over again), heat gun for tweaking, pancake griddle, drill press and correct bits for plastic. uhmmm yea that should get you started.
Click to expand...

Sounds about right.
 
Here are a few tips I have learned.

The longer you take to bring the kydex up to temp, the better it will hold it's temperature, the longer it will stay pliable, and you will get more definition. So for instance, pop the kydex in at 100°, then after a few minutes raise it to 125°, then let sit a few minutes, rinse, repeat, etc... until you reach your target temp. I got some amazing results with 0.93" Boltatron at 275°.

Heat the surface of the items you are kydexing. The pads, the actual knife, etc... This will also help the kydex stay pliable longer and provide for better fitting and more crisp details.

Make sure to leave enough room from the edge of the spine and the blade to put in your eyelets. Leave enough room so that you can also have enough flex so that the blade can be removed and inserted without too much difficulty.

Drill holes first, then go back and clean up, then add eyelets when almost everything is done. Kydex trapped in the sheath is a pain in the rear once you cannot get it open to clean it out.

Good luck!
 
Was messing with my Amazon wish list today and clicked on a link at the bottom for a Bladetech Tek-Lok. On that page the links at the bottom now showed kydex sheets, rivets, presses...the whole works. So apparently I can get all the goods on Amazon. Haven't dug too deep yet to check for different thicknesses, colors, etc.
 
I just started up kydex making and i think the startup is very minimal

get a kydex press, it makes all the difference
then get a rivet press and eyelets.
Then all the tools you need is a drill and a dremel

then of course kydex. Easy as one two three.

Oh and wear safety glasses and a mask when you bend plastic, you only need a shard of kydex to get in your eye once and its a lesson you will never forget.
 
razorsdescent said:
Oh and wear safety glasses and a mask when you bend plastic, you only need a shard of kydex to get in your eye once and its a lesson you will never forget.
Click to expand...

[video=youtube;5BtVW88YpFc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BtVW88YpFc&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/video]
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top