Is Kydex Toxic?

flatgrinder

flatgrinder

Joined
Dec 20, 2005
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Just wondering if kydex is bad for your health?

I was making a sheath this evening and used a 120 grit belt on the grinder to refine the edges -the room still stinks like plastic!

Anyone know if it gives off fumes that are toxic? I know micarta's bad, but what's your opinion on kydex?

Thanks. :thumbup:
 
I believe it has PVC in it and PVC has chlorine in it.
Chlorine is pretty bad for you.
 
PVC=poly vinyl chloride.
I am a tool and die maker with a company that extrudes PVC.
If the smoke,ie PVC fumes, from the profile emerging from the extruder hits your lungs you choke! Some people get skin rashes from it and we have gas extractors above every extruder. PVC fumes/gas are also extremely corrosive, as is the material itself, our dies are made of stainless tool steel.
If Kydex does has PVC in it then I would think heating it excessively in a confined space should be avoided, rather use a coarse file. When it is cold it is pretty harmless.
Once again I say, I do not know if it does contain PVC, I do not want to be part of a Kydex bashing thing if I do not know facts.

I hope that someone who is a lot more knowledgable about Kydex will step in and inform us. Few things more annoying than an armchair critic (like me in this case) spreading panic.

Mike
 
Just did a bit of research on the net.
I just learned something again, there are many different of Kydex and they can in fact be extruded.;)
P45 and P84 do indeed contain PVC.
So what grade is used for sheaths and do they all contain PVC?

Mike
 
I don't think the kydex is giving off fumes unless the kydex melt. I don't know that for a fact. It is just my observation that I don't seem to smell much of anything when I work with kydex unless I heat it too much. But I think the dust the kydex produces is not going to be good for you. I keep imagining that stuff to stay in you lungs like asbestos. I started wearing a respirator when working with the stuff.
 
Kydex is PVC + acrylic .Use a file to rough it out , try not to melt it when using the belt.
 
Depends on how much you decide to sprinkle on your salad, I guess. ;) :D
 
Thanks for the replies.

I didn't notice the smell of chlorine. It just smells like plastic -I get the same smell when I use the heat gun on it as the grinder. I use a bandsaw to profile it, then the grinder to clean it up.

Not sure if it's the smell giving me headache or just lack of sleep trying to make a couple of sheaths at midnight. Anyone else have any ideas? Just wondering if any toxic chemicals or fumes are released when using the heat gun to soften it? :confused:
 
I think that if you're not burning it or melting it you should be fine (always do these thing in well-ventilated area anyway!)

The quesiton of Kydex dust, however is another matter. Haven't looked into it, but I would bet it's not as bad as asbestos, fiberglass or even some types of exotic woods, BUT IT IS A WHOLE LOT WORSE THAN BREATHING CLEAN AIR, so use a respirator!!! PLEASE!!

[a fellow knifemaker was beginning to really suffer from health troubles the last time I saw him a couple months ago (as have many I could mention in the regional club). I drove by his shop this week to find it suddenly gone, phone disconnected ... I haven't been able to contact him yet, so I don't know what happened, but the last time I saw him he wasn't looking too good. I think years of grinding in a closed room, ignoring fumes, etc. were taking their toll. I'm fearing the worst.
Making knives is a stupid thing to die for.]
 
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