Kydex Questions

[MW740]

I am going to try making a kydex sheath for myself, but first I have some questions. At what temperature and how long is it necessary to heat .08 kydex before it is ready to form? Does it give off a smell when heating? How long is it necessary to press the kydex while forming? Thanks in advance.

 

[txcwboy]

I have played with it some and can tell you this. It will mold to very small radiuses. You normally use a heat gun to heat it but a hairdryer can be used but it takes longer. I would recommend making your own press if you dont have one ALOT easier that way.It cools enough to release in 20 to 30 sec. usually.I dont recall much of a smell, other than the heat gun smell.

hope this helps,

Dave

 

[STUMP]

A toaster oven, two pieces of foam, and two boards are all that is needed. A heat gun REALLY helps to fine tune the mouth of the sheath though. It gets soft somewhere around 350, but don't rely on this and watch it very closely. Yes, it stinks.

 

[Bill Siegle]

I cook .090 kydex for 2.5 minutes at 350 and get good results. I read once that anything over 400 degrees and kydex starts burning off some nasty gasses. For a "press" you can get by with a nice fluffy towel. Wrap the hot kydex on the blade then fold over the towel on it and hold it down with presssure for about 3-4 minutes. Have fun

 

[RokJok]

Mark Boyer's knifemaking and kydex sheathmaking tutorial page: http://www.eskimo.com/~boyerbl/howtomakeknife.htm

Follow the links in the thread below (and the ones it points to) for kydex sheathmaking information and tutorials, especially the Jens Anso tutorials and the extensive Shop Talk Archive thread:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=268949