Ivory handle and Kydex sheath ?

[Alain M-D]

I think to make some Kydex sheath but some of my knives
have mammoth ivory handle...
Is there danger for the ivory ? Ivory are reputed to
do not like too much heat...

Alain M-D

 

[Andrew Lynch]

If ivory does not like much heat, then it will hate kydex; it forms at over 300* F.

I don't mean to be rude, but I personally don't see kydex and mammoth as going together....but hey, surprise me

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

I'm with Andrew.Why would you put kydex on mammoth? It will be ruined by the heat (which answers your question).

 

[howiesatwork]

Make a dummy knife to do the kydex molding on.
Kydex and Ivory...Why?

 

[elvenbladesmith07]

kydex, ivory???? not my style but it you money, and your knife! i think a leather covered kydex sheath wouldnt look too bad. i dont think forming kydex over ivory would hurt it.
p.s. i keep seeing wild bill's pistols in a pair of kydex holsters!

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

elevenbladesmith07 - DON'T put ivory in an oven at 200-300 degrees or you will have a good sheath and a ruined handle!!Make a wooden copy of the knife to form the sheath on if you must use kydex.

 

[Alain M-D]

OK, I agree with you that that can appear a weird idea,
but for a small neck knife, I think that that would interesting...
(and original...). Leather covered Kydex is a option too...

elevenbladesmith07 - DON'T put ivory in an oven at 200-300 degrees or you will have a good sheath and a ruined handle!!Make a wooden copy of the knife to form the sheath on if you must use kydex.

To make a Kydex sheath, You should not put the knife in the oven
You have to eat (sorry :footinmou...to heat...) the Kydex and after, mold it on the knife...
It is at this moment when the warm kydex is in contact with yhe knife
handle but that does not last for a long time... The kydex cool fast...
I wonder if this quick contact can damage the ivory...

Alain

 

[elvenbladesmith07]

You have to eat the Kydex

mmm! fresh baked kydex!
alain m-d i dont think it will hurt the ivory, maybe even put the knife in the fridge while the kydex is heating. this would help to cool the kydex faster, and prevent any possible damage.

 

[Doug C]

Why not!I keep seeing Patton's pearl 45's in Kydex.

 

[Chiro75]

You may be able to wrap the ivory in aluminum foil. Shiny side out. On knives like the Spyderco Moran that have that soft rubber core, or the rubbery Cold Steel stuff, when I was making custom sheaths I would just wrap in two layers of foil. No problems, rubber was fine. Made the mistake of not wrapping a Spyderco Moran up once and the Kydex trashed the rubber insert, so it really repels heat very well. I've never made one for a knife like what you're doing, though, so try it at your own risk!

 

[R.W.Clark]

Kydex does not need to be above 300 to form. You can form it as low as 225 and lower depending on the thickness.

I have done many Ivory and Kydex combos and they turn out very nice.

Work the Kydex as cool as you can, use as little pressure on the mold as you can get away with and you should be fine.