Homemade kydex sheaths?

CrimsonTideShooter

CrimsonTideShooter

Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Messages
3,196
Does anyone here make their own sheaths out of kydex?

What's the process of making one? Can I make one with things I have at my house?

Also does anyone know a place to buy a kit or something to get me started? I've been interested in this for a while and I've been wanting to try it out.
 
i make my own, and depends on what you have at home to work with, there are alot of how too video's on youtube. i get my kydex and rivits from knifekits.com.

i made a press out of a couple pieces of plywood and some foam cut from a old camping pad and some clamps, heat the kydex in the oven put it around the knife and clamp it in the press usually sit on it for about 10 minutes to get it to take a good impression. then i take it out to my shop and cut out the shape i want measure and drill holes for the grommets sand the edges on my belt sander and blow it clean with my air compressor.

really not tough to do but does take some thought on retention and the final shape you want to achieve.

take it easy
cricket
 
Check out knifekits.com for one.
First, you'll need to cut the kydex to size. I use horticultural hand pruners but many tools will work.
Then, you'll need to heat either with a toaster oven, full size oven, heat gun etc.
Next, you'll need to drill and rivet it together with a drill press or hand drill, rivet press and rivets, or chicago screws, etc.
Last, you'll need a press like foam camping mat or folded up towels and some books or boards, then stand on them to press. You could probably mold the whole thing with gloves on although it would probably be crude.
Then it's a matter of finishing off with a grinder, belt sander, hand sanding, etc.

It's a lot more complicated than that but those are the basics. The rest is experimentation and experience.
Like Cricketdave said, a lot of it depends on what you have to work with. After many tries, you'll find out what works for you and what doesn't.
 
I own several kydex sheaths, and although I don't know how to make one on my own, I own several, and the best one as far as ergonomics, retention, and usability that I have is my Murray Carter. He uses a thinner kydex than some makers out there, which in my opinion makes a better sheath for smaller knives. Bigger knife, thicker kydex.

Here is Part 1 of 2 videos he did on making a kydex sheath.
[youtube]j7CsuKqRjeo?fs=1&amp[/youtube]
 
I know I started doing it out of my apartment, at first...

Here are a couple tutorials that might help.

http://www.knifeforums.com/forums/showtopic.php?tid/798562/
http://www.leatherpros.net/forums/showthread.php?849-Kydex-Sheath-Tutorial
http://www.usualsuspect.net/forums/showthread.php?t=463073

You will have register to see that last one...

And, I wrote a blog article about it, some time back, with some more links to tutorials... http://eyeoncutlery.blogspot.com/2009/02/how-tos-for-kydexboltaron-sheaths-link.html

Best,
Marion
 
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