Kydex colored Eyelets chipping

M

Maineiac1

Joined
May 3, 2017
Messages
339
Hello helpers! I'm not new to Kydex, but I am new to the colored eyelets! I figured recently its time for me to add some flare and variations to my work and ventured into the colored 1/4" eyelets for my Kydex sheaths. I did a handful of tests with some white eyelets and once I pressed them both sides of the eyelets were missing (chipping) some of the coating off... I recently bought a CKK press with their Master flaring dies so I cant say the equipment is a failure since I have no issues or scratches in the common black eyelets.. has anyone had this issue and/or come to a fix? maybe putting some cloth between the eyelet and dye to soften the surfaces being touched??
 
I have and have not figured out a fix. It looks to me like the coating simply can't handle the movement of the base metal. Following along to get any tips anyone might have.
 
i only use black ones, but a sheet of newspaper or cigarette rolling paper over the flaring dies helped the black from getting worn off. if the color is a paint, i would worry the paint will not stretch like the metal does no matter what you try.
 
hmm, I never have an issue with black.. colored ones seem to have a thick enamel or something coating and just tiny portions of it will chip but the rest is still very well attached like it "should".
 
Yeah I have a bunch of colors in eyelets and the only ones I use are black. The painted ones suck and are not even worth your time messing with them. I keep them becaus I use them as alinement tools as I’m shaping the kydex. After everything is done and ready to go I pill those out and press in black. Now I have been able to get the coloured eyelets to work by using a very thin cloth between them and the dies. But you still have the problem of the flared side loosing color. Plus this paint wears off quickly and your left with shiny brass showing through. So a policy in my shop is black ONLY.
 
JTknives said:
Yeah I have a bunch of colors in eyelets and the only ones I use are black. The painted ones suck and are not even worth your time messing with them. I keep them becaus I use them as alinement tools as I’m shaping the kydex. After everything is done and ready to go I pill those out and press in black. Now I have been able to get the coloured eyelets to work by using a very thin cloth between them and the dies. But you still have the problem of the flared side loosing color. Plus this paint wears off quickly and your left with shiny brass showing through. So a policy in my shop is black ONLY.
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Aaaah the truth hurts, not what I was looking for but thanks for the advice! Haha
 
I have the same problems. I spray Wd40 on the male side and that seems to help stop it. Since they are painted its going to happen. Black is the way to go, but the coyote brown ones looks so cool!!
 
haha al
JAGKNIFE said:
I have the same problems. I spray Wd40 on the male side and that seems to help stop it. Since they are painted its going to happen. Black is the way to go, but the coyote brown ones looks so cool!!
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haha a lot of them look cool with the right kydex, guess ill start trying some of that weird shit and see what helps what doesn't.. I messaged someone that has/sells a lot of sheaths with colored eyelets and from the pictures he posts they look great but he is yet to help me on this...
 
I’m not a Kydex worker except for using it for liners on full tang knives and the different colors work well there.—-//——- But when I have similar problems with really any other material, price dictates quality! Are the colored eyelets you are using top shelf quality or cheapo ones???
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
I’m not a Kydex worker except for using it for liners on full tang knives and the different colors work well there.—-//——- But when I have similar problems with really any other material, price dictates quality! Are the colored eyelets you are using top shelf quality or cheapo ones???
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I don’t think I’m being cheap, bought from KnifeKits.com a reputable company but I have yet tried other brands.. will have to try though before I can rule that out.

Ps: I thought about Kydex for spacers but never thought it would work well. Do you have pictures? Also what thickness do you use and do you sand the textured finish down flat?
 
All eyelets seam to be around the same price. I also get mine from knife kits. I once ordered from DIY holsters and will never order from them agian, worst company I have ever bought eyelets and kydex from. It ended up costing me a show. But enough said, yeah I think most eyelets are the same. Every once in a while you will get a batch that splits but a quick phone call and it’s replaced.
 
Maineiac1 said:
I don’t think I’m being cheap, bought from KnifeKits.com a reputable company but I have yet tried other brands.. will have to try though before I can rule that out.

Ps: I thought about Kydex for spacers but never thought it would work well. Do you have pictures? Also what thickness do you use and do you sand the textured finish down flat?
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Pics would be pretty much any knife on my site, .30 & .60 but any size you want would work and I don’t sand the textured finish, the Texturing gives a better hold than a flat. —————-/-//-/—-I have the Steel & Wood/handle materials no finer than 120 grit and butter it all up with G-Flex epoxy! Haven’t had any issues with any handles and they look great! The one thing to remember is the kydex will be the softest of the materials so sand with supported paper for any final hand sanding!! By the way, the pink is very popular with the ladies, also as a breast cancer awareness color on my Culinary knives...
 
I use Knifekits.com and Index fasteners both. The splitting on the back is mostly from using too long an eyelet for the thickness of Kydex. I did get a batch from one of them that seem to split worst than any others. You can stop it by sanding down about 1/16 of an inch off the back it will thicken up the eyelet and no cause it to split. I use pliers and my grinder on the flat platen.
 
Rhinoknives1 said:
Pics would be pretty much any knife on my site, .30 & .60 but any size you want would work and I don’t sand the textured finish, the Texturing gives a better hold than a flat. —————-/-//-/—-I have the Steel & Wood/handle materials no finer than 120 grit and butter it all up with G-Flex epoxy! Haven’t had any issues with any handles and they look great! The one thing to remember is the kydex will be the softest of the materials so sand with supported paper for any final hand sanding!! By the way, the pink is very popular with the ladies, also as a breast cancer awareness color on my Culinary knives...
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Aaah nice tips I’ll have to give it a try! Also need to get myself better epoxy. Been using gorilla epoxy in a syringe and need to figure out what West systems to get.. been looking at 105-207 but G flex seems to be a new go to for most.
 
JAGKNIFE said:
I use Knifekits.com and Index fasteners both. The splitting on the back is mostly from using too long an eyelet for the thickness of Kydex. I did get a batch from one of them that seem to split worst than any others. You can stop it by sanding down about 1/16 of an inch off the back it will thicken up the eyelet and no cause it to split. I use pliers and my grinder on the flat platen.
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Thanks for your input. I just purchased some 8-9 eyelets where I normally use 8/8 for .08 Kydex so if I run into issues I’ll try your sanding method!
 
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