kydex eyelets BEFORE molding?

[Kevin McGovern]

In Walter Sorrells' recent video on making a kydex sheath for a neck knife, he sets the eyelets on a pancake sheath BEFORE he heats and presses the sheath on the knife. I have never seen this before, and don't know if it will even work on what I do ( I usually make taco sheaths). Just wondering if anyone here has done this. I would be afraid of the eyelet holes stretching out, although is they are properly set, it may be a non-issue. The one benefit i can see is that it is easier to set the rivets on flat, obstruction free ( I make an integral belt loop and sometimes the upper rivet is obstructed somewhat by the belt loop). Your thoughts, as always, are appreciated. Thanks.

 

[kuraki]

I have done it. You have to be careful that you leave enough clearance between the eyes and the blade. If you get too close, and the blade stretches the kydex too much, it will begin to pull the eyelets through their holes. I don't know if the video you're referencing puts it into a press after forcing the knife in, but you'll want to do that to keep the edges from rolling apart between each eyelet.

I personally think it's harder to get a good sheath and mold doing it this way and have only done it when doing longer blades that don't really fit the minimal kydex equipment I have set up.

 

[Kevin McGovern]

He sets the eyelets through both flat pieces of kydex, heats it, pulls it from the oven, inserts the knife, then presses it. I think it works, since he has done this same knife before and knows where to set the rivets. Here is the video in question:

[youtube]-S8L2W1utvg[/youtube]

 

[AVigil]

I would not do it that way.

It is amazing how much kydex dust and trimming will get into the seam and hide there which could lead to it migrating into the sheath at a later day.

I insert my rivets tight, but do not set them, cut , sand and shape and then disassemble to clean out all the junk. Wash thoroughly and then set the rivets with the taped blade inserted.

Not taping the blade, sanding and shaping after setting the rivets is going to lead to the "Kydex scratches the blade" mantra.

 

[tump]

I set my rivets first, heat, insert knife, press. I put a dish towel in between the kydex and foam so the rivets don't melt it. Let cool, then shape drill drain hole and wash real good and dry.