Kydex sheath questions

OK, here's a question that has probably been answered many, many times but since I can't seem to find the answer here it goes again.
How does one go about making a professional looking, form fitting kydex sheath? I made one once and sheeze...talk an ugly lump of plastic!
The thing worked but it didn't have that clean, precise imprint of the knife like the good sheathes have. Also because of my half assed pressure application the texture of the kydex was "smudged" and pretty funky.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Usual Suspect
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/arkhamdrifter/index.html
 
S

shoenberger

Joined
Jun 20, 2000
Messages
14
I went to local shoe repair guy and got two pieces of neoprene they use. I glued them to thick plywood. I duct tapped one long side to make a hinge. Sandwich hot kydex (I use an old toaster oven set at 400deg) and blade between neopreen and pop it all into a vice and crank it closed. Wait a minute or so before removing it from the vice.

Make sure you put an even - no seam layer of tape over blade or the fit ay be too tight.

The neoprene will bounce back pretty smooth if you hit the detented areas with a heat gun.

This method has wored pretty well for me.

David

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Shoenberger Custom Knives
Reply to: shoenberger_knives@yahoo.com
My Knives: http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=935202
 
Ark, email Allen Blade and buy his kydex sheath making video.

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Always think of your fellow knife makers as partners in the search for the perfect blade, not as people trying to compete with you and your work!http://www.nebsnow.com/L6steel
Buzzards gotta eat, same as worms!!!

[This message has been edited by L6STEEL (edited 08-04-2000).]
 
Shoenberger and L6steel,

Thanks guys!

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Usual Suspect
http://www.freeyellow.com/members8/arkhamdrifter/index.html
 
The only cure is experience. Once you've made a few sheaths you'll get the hang of it. I can make a professional looking sheath using a t-shirt as a pad, so materials are secondary to technique. Using the right padding helps immensely, though. Make sure you keep the pressure on long enough, or the material will lose its shape a bit while it cools.

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My Knife & Sheath Pages:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/frames.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
Sheath Makers Referral Directory
chiro75@yahoo.com
Madpoet (Mel Sorg, Jr.) Tribute page:
http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/madpoet/main.html
 
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