Help with kydex sheath

[Crashnburk]

I just made my first kydex sheath. The problem I came across is that the knife fits in so tight that it is difficult to get out and I haven't even put any rivets in yet. Do I just heat it a little to loosen it up? If so, how do I keep from losing it's shape?

 

[Kiah]

I just made my first kydex sheath. The problem I came across is that the knife fits in so tight that it is difficult to get out and I haven't even put any rivets in yet. Do I just heat it a little to loosen it up? If so, how do I keep from losing it's shape?

Have you drilled it yet? Do you have enough room left to figure in error for reforming? If it's still unmodified from the press, I'd just reheat the whole thing and try again, but this time use masking or painter's tape on the blade. A few layers each side. If the sheath isn't reformable, then lightly reheat the blade area with the heat gun until it gives just enough to remove the friction.

 

[Justin King]

+1 on the masking tape, 2 layers per side works for me. This will keep the blade from binding, but they can still be a little stiff around the grip/guard area. This will loosen up some if you make this area narrower when you shape the edges, since it will flex easier, and how high up you place the top rivets has some effect on the stiffness of this area also. I sometimes leave this part out of the mold and just mold it by hand as it cools to avoid it being too snug.

You can tune everything up and even re-mold it entirely after it is riveted together if you are careful. I tune as necessary with a heat gun once the intitial molding and assembly are done. Nothing is final about the molding as long as you don't over-heat the material, I have tuned sheaths after months of service.
They tend to loosen some as they break in also so I would not read too much into how it feels at the stage you are at.

 

[Crashnburk]

Thanks for the help. Since I didn't drill the rivets or anything yet, I just reheated it up and did it again. Because it is for a folder and I didn't want to tape it all up I used aluminum foil to cover the handle and it work well. The handle stayed protected and gave it enough play to get it out.