Kydex sheath help--- Dan???

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I am going make a couple of sheaths for my new Beckers. The smaller BK10 will get leather, but the larger knife I want to do a kydex sheath for it. My question is about those rivets. Do you have to buy the damn rivet spreading dyes??? Maybe I should just go with Chicago Screws instead??? I don't wanna invest in a system. I'm not real big on kydex anyway, but Dan's sheath for the WSK has made me rethink it for large knives. Its light, secure and safe. So... the damn rivets. Do I have to invest in the spreader?
 
The little punch type setting tools are $5.95 for the 1/8" rivets and $6.95 for the 1/4". You don't need the $150 press for one sheath. You can get them at http://www.texasknife.com.

Steve

Edit: Part # is SNAPSET2 for the 1/4".
 
the hand-setter should work fine. FYI, the rivets in your sheath are 1/4".


You can get lots of kydex stuff at kitknives.com

I buy my stuff wholesale, in larger quantities...so I can't recommend my sources. But kitknives.com does have a good selection (as do many knifemaker shops).


One trick I learned is to do a "rapid cool" on the important areas after you are done "pressing" the kydex. You can use compressed air, or even an ice cube.

Mark and drill your holes with the knife still in the kydex (which you've hopefully covered with duct tape beforehand). Then split the pieces apart, clean each side, and rivet them back together. Shape it, finish it, and clean it with WD-40.

Best of luck!
 
Andy,
How's about shooting a couple of pics when ya get it done?? I pretty much suck at kydex soooo???

which leads to this question...

I read where ya got you some becker's at a good deal...how's about shooting me a pm on where ya got them??


I am out of cereal!!! :(
 
Thanks Dan. You use sixty mil stuff? We have 1/8" stuff at work, but I think its mega too thick. If it holds the knife any tighter than yours holds the WSK I won't be able to get it out. Plus you're looking at a 1/4" thickness when doubled, what rivet will go through???

No prob Dave PM coming.
 
I have some 1/8" stuff too...have used it before, but not with rivets.

I do have longer rivets for 0.090" kydex and do use it now and then. But most of my stuff is 0.060"...mostly because that's what I have available.



chicago screws aren't a bad way to go...except it does limit your carry options. kitknives.com has clips you can use too.
 
O:K: Here is the dumb question for this week . Can you weld/melt the kydex edges together thereby eliminating the need for fasteners ?
 
Hey Kevin....

You can chemically weld the edges together with certain glues,, however it's not something I would do as I don't believe it to be reliable, and could become a health hazard....

The only time I use glue is for ZMS (Zero Metallic Signature ) sheaths with plastic or synthetic knives, and Only under Very special circumstances.

I don't think any type of glue is a replacement for the proper fasteners and proper length of fastener.

Alot of factory sheaths I see being made are using too short of an eyelet,,which could result in blowing out an eyelet and sheath failure.

Stick with metal fasteners of some type....

ttyle

Eric
O/ST
 
I disagree about glues (as you all know I'm a big fan of modern adhesives), but I never just use glue either, so take that with a grain of salt. In furniture projects I always use a peg, or biscuit, tenon, or screw to backup a glue joint. I'm going to do the same with this kydex sheath, but I think its probably overkill and I doubt a proper glue joint would fail during my lifetime.

Interesting glue tidbit. I've been wanting to test out just how waterproof my favorite epoxy (Devcon 2 ton, 1.97 at Wal-Mart) actually is. I recently got two baby turtles. They needed an island, so I took the H-Bomb (Hannah) out to the Chatahochee and found a good flat river rock. I cut the walls out of a plastic candy dish leaving the corners for legs, coated it with D2T, and glued the rock and some dry sand all over it completely covering the dish. Its been a couple of months now, and still holding strong. Even the sand isn't coming off. Modern adhesives are a marvel.
 
aproy1101 said:
Interesting glue tidbit. I've been wanting to test out just how waterproof my favorite epoxy (Devcon 2 ton, 1.97 at Wal-Mart) actually is. I recently got two baby turtles. They needed an island, so I took the H-Bomb (Hannah) out to the Chatahochee and found a good flat river rock. I cut the walls out of a plastic candy dish leaving the corners for legs, coated it with D2T, and glued the rock and some dry sand all over it completely covering the dish. Its been a couple of months now, and still holding strong. Even the sand isn't coming off. Modern adhesives are a marvel.
Click to expand...

I'm going to do the same with this kydex sheath, but I think its probably overkill and I doubt a proper glue joint would fail during my lifetime. Quote

REPLY :
What ? So once you are dead you don,t mind if things fall apart ? L:O:L

When I first read this I thought you were going to glue the two turtle shells together and see how long it took for them to come apart . L:O:L

I am more of a fan of glues and solvent glues than I used to be . Something like Methylene chloride does an incredible job on plexi-glass .

I think it is the necessity for strict adherence (pun intended) to cleanliness and the risk of contamination that gives me pause . I hot-glue metal points to wood arrows and it can fail due to manufacturing oils on the heads . I literally have to boil my heads in water . ( Yes I know some of you are getting a very satisfying visual right now . ) L:O:L

I mostly use epoxies for that now with the drawback being the amount of heat it takes to get the joint to fail . I sometimes burn the wood inside the head doing it .
 
I guess you're right. I'm thinking of leather. Kydex could be around forever. Maybe thats why the ailies visit. Cocaine and kydex. LOL. I know they come for Cocaine. I'm just sure of that.
 
Ailies = Aliens ?
I,m pretty sure they get off on cosmic rays and Stardust . L:O:L

I think kydex would be good if only for the experience . Leather does have more life to it .
 
Normark, awesome website dude.
 
Hey Guys...

Aproy...

Thanks much...

I have no doubt that there are some glues that will do an excellent job...
I just don't and can't liability wise trust them under all circumstances...

As I said before,, I do use it under certain circumstances,, but I admit I don't use it alot.
The last one I did was for a cop that needed a carbon fiber knife and sheath to make it through metal detection. Note that I don't do this for just anyone.

Thanks

Eric....
O/ST
 
great discussion, guys. I like to hear about "experimentation"...

Here's one for ya...my first few uses of kydex were as lining in leather sheaths and I stitched it together. ;)
 
It is 8:42 in the p.m.and I am making belts!!!<~~GRRR non-unionleatherworker!!!

Andy,
I went to the link that ya sent..Thanks bro...I just got e-mailed by Justin at Ranger knives that my semi-custom is done so I am gonna have to wait until AFTER I get Honeybear's snake paid for..

Dan,
I started to do that very thing to a sheath I was working on...gave up in disgust and went back to just plain leather...

Now with some prompting by the local militia I am working on a leather wrapped Kydex sheath similar to the one you did on your website...ahh the pics just arent there anymore for me though...:(

SOOO if Andy doesnt mind...:)

When you form press the "top" of the sheath around the knife and press the top of the back do you THEN stitch the leather to it?? Did you have worries about getting the top stitches in or am I missing something??

There is a REASON i ask this...I just cant think of what it is<~~Loony!!

Awesome site Normark!
 
Daniel , I think that thin bull hide lacing would look good on a kydex sheath .
Black on black with the bull hide having a slightly shinier smooth oil finish so as to stand out over the matte kydex finish . The challenge would be to have the lacing in proportion to the sleek lines of the kydex .

The lacing could also be partially just decorative with a few of black grommet style fasteners at high stress points . As they are grommets the lacing could just go through them and continue on their merry way .
 
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