Kydex Rivet Presses

Sean O'Hare

Sean O'Hare

Joined
Jul 24, 2003
Messages
1,183
I've been looking at the kydex rivet press that knifekits.com sells for quite a while.

Does anyone have one and are they worth the money?

The press looks like a converted arbor press. I've never used an arbor press but how difficult would it be to convert one to accept the dies that knifekits sells?

Sean
 
Shouldn't be too hard. It looks like they've drilled a hole for the top of the die and a hole for a set screw to hold it in. Those 1/2 ton arbor presses can be had, new, for about $15 from Enco. With a drill press and a tiny bit of skill, you could probably modify one easily.

-Allin
 
I got a set of dies from knifekits, I use my milling machine as the press but a drill press would be fine. I drilled a hole in a piece of wood to fit the diameter of one of the dies and put the other one in the chuck and lined them up. The long steel spike locates the dies well and it works great and only cost me a piece of scrap wood.
 
I got one for x-mas and I wish I had gotten one before - perfectly-rolled eyelets everytime. It looks like it would be pretty simple to convert an arbor press though.
 
This is funny because I just bought a Palmgren #0 arbor press just for this reason (and to set detent balls). One end of the ram is flat and solid and the other end has a hole in it for dies. Lilke Allin said, any of these little guys can be converted and you don't need to spend the big bucks on the knifekits version - just buy their dies.
 
Four responses in a half an hour, wow!

Thanks guys, I'm thinking for the price I will get the dies and an arbor press.

How heavy duty of an arbor press do you think is needed to also do detent balls on folders? I've made a couple of folders and am planning to make more, you're right an arbor press would definitely make this a whole lot easier. Would a one ton press be sufficient?

Thanks,
Sean
 
At work we press 3/16" and 1/4" pins into undersize holes in cast iron with a 1-Ton press and it's slick as all get-out. For tiny little detent balls I would think a 1/2-Ton press would be plenty. I should probably defer to the folks who've actually done it.

-Allin
 
Sean....what kind of foam/shaping press do you have? What sort of foam did you use?
 
I was thinking of getting a 1 ton press but if a 1/2 ton press will do it all then I'll look at that. I think a 1 ton press still comes in cheaper than the kydex rivet press so maybe I'll go for that anyways, more versatile maybe??? Comments on which to get? Is there a certain type/make of arbor press that would be more useful for my needs than another?

My kydex sheath press is a home made jobby that works great. I started out with the 1" foam sold specifically for making kydex sheaths but it wore out fast. After that I opted for the blue foamy trick. I take the blue foamy (bought at any store with a camping section) and cut two pieces for each side of the press (so four pieces in total) and stacked two on each side glued together. This has worked out really well and gives me a tight fitting sheath. Maybe I will take some pics of my press and post them online, it's dead easy to make.

Sean
 
I made a sheath tonight. Its okay but I want to find screws to hold everything together. Any thoughts on where to get screws to hold .060 kydex together?

I did the foam thing to ;)
 
If you don't want to use rivets you could try using Chicago screws which any knife supply store will sell.

Sean
 
well...hell. Here is my first attempt. Needless to say my elets look like crap but I didnt have an anvil to keep them formed. Like I said...first one. ;)
kydextest2.jpg
 
Believe it or not, I used a folded sheet for my foam :eek:
I didn't want to spend the money on the foam, and the sheet did a pretty good job. You have to clamp it down a little more, but hey, it worked. You also have to be careful about wrinkles. The wrinkles in the sheet will make a harder spot, and may mis form the kydex. I made sure to get most of the wrinkles out before I used it.

~Brian
 
Hell guys !
I have a hand press (see picture below) but my dies split the back of the eyelets. I would like to wnow if I can use the Knifekits eyelets setting dies with my press ?

What is the size (diameter) of the shaft of the knifekits dies ?
In my press, the hole for dies is about 0.5" diameter.

Thank for your help !

Alain M-D
http://www.miville-deschenes.com/amd_anglais/index.html


handpress.jpg
 
Harbor Freight , $19.99 1/2 ton arbor press , and 20 minutes drilling a few holes and I had me a rivet press :cool:
 
scratch that, i'll probably just buy the arbor press they have as well...

anyone know where to get tubing for handles? like the flared tube fasteners busse uses
 
Ya I opted for the arbor press as well. I bought a 1 ton arbor press but am still waiting for it as it is on back order (bought from a company up here in Canada). Will have to drill a couple of holes but it'll work well I think.

Sean
 
Before I bought a kick press I set a lot of rivets with an arbor press and dies a friend turned for me on his lathe. You have to do a whole lot of riveting to need more.
 
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