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Kydex sheats
- Thread starter maxegb
- Start date
When I made Kydex sheaths in the past, I used a PVC Thermo Foam. It was about 2.5" thick and I glued it to two pieces of 2" X 6" X 18".
I first use 2" wide masking tape (3 or 4 layers) on both sides of the knife blade. If you don't do this, you will really scratch up your blade.
I use my wife's oven to heat up my Kydex. You will need to experiment with the temperature. For 1/16" thick I used about 310 degrees, and I think I used 325 degrees for 3/32". If you get it too hot, it will stick together. And, if you don't get it hot enough, it will not form to the shape of the knife. Anyway, since that Kydex is really hot, I wear cotton gloves.
After the Kydex is limp from the heat, I lay it on the piece of foam. I then place the knife on the Kydex, and then I fold the Kydex over. You need to leave an ample amount of extra Kydex. Don't try to save material. I then take the other piece of Foam and place it on top of the Kydex, that I wrapped over my knife. I then stand on the top board and rock my feet. This makes the Kydex form to the knife blade and handle.
In about 5 minutes, the Kydex will be cooled enough for you to remove the blade. Don't rush it. If you don't like the way it looks, just pop it back into the oven and re-heat it. I then grind the Kydex down to the
shape I want. To make the belt loop, I just basically do the same thing I described above, but I use a 2-3" wide strip, that I double over (after being heated and limp) and lay on the bottom piece of the Thermo Foam.
I then place the sheath (with the knife inside) on top of the limp Kydex, place the other piece of Thermo Foam on top. I then stand on top and rock until the Kydex is cool.
I used the oven to fit the belt loop to the sheath. After I glued the belt loop to the sheath, I used a heat gun to open up the belt loop. I used either a 2" or 1 1/2" wide piece of 1/8" thick Micarta to shape the blade loop. After I opened up the belt loop, I would then finish the shaping of the sheath.
The glue I use is Oatey orange for CPVC. Just skuff up the inside of both parts of the Kydex with some 220 grit sandpaper. Apply the glue to both sides. Keep pressure on the two parts for a minimum of 4 hours. If you will check with your local Plastic Suppliers, you will be able to purchase Kydex fairly inexpensively.
Good Luck.
------------------
A.T.
http://www.customknives.com
AKTI #476
I first use 2" wide masking tape (3 or 4 layers) on both sides of the knife blade. If you don't do this, you will really scratch up your blade.
I use my wife's oven to heat up my Kydex. You will need to experiment with the temperature. For 1/16" thick I used about 310 degrees, and I think I used 325 degrees for 3/32". If you get it too hot, it will stick together. And, if you don't get it hot enough, it will not form to the shape of the knife. Anyway, since that Kydex is really hot, I wear cotton gloves.
After the Kydex is limp from the heat, I lay it on the piece of foam. I then place the knife on the Kydex, and then I fold the Kydex over. You need to leave an ample amount of extra Kydex. Don't try to save material. I then take the other piece of Foam and place it on top of the Kydex, that I wrapped over my knife. I then stand on the top board and rock my feet. This makes the Kydex form to the knife blade and handle.
In about 5 minutes, the Kydex will be cooled enough for you to remove the blade. Don't rush it. If you don't like the way it looks, just pop it back into the oven and re-heat it. I then grind the Kydex down to the
shape I want. To make the belt loop, I just basically do the same thing I described above, but I use a 2-3" wide strip, that I double over (after being heated and limp) and lay on the bottom piece of the Thermo Foam.
I then place the sheath (with the knife inside) on top of the limp Kydex, place the other piece of Thermo Foam on top. I then stand on top and rock until the Kydex is cool.
I used the oven to fit the belt loop to the sheath. After I glued the belt loop to the sheath, I used a heat gun to open up the belt loop. I used either a 2" or 1 1/2" wide piece of 1/8" thick Micarta to shape the blade loop. After I opened up the belt loop, I would then finish the shaping of the sheath.
The glue I use is Oatey orange for CPVC. Just skuff up the inside of both parts of the Kydex with some 220 grit sandpaper. Apply the glue to both sides. Keep pressure on the two parts for a minimum of 4 hours. If you will check with your local Plastic Suppliers, you will be able to purchase Kydex fairly inexpensively.
Good Luck.
------------------
A.T.
http://www.customknives.com
AKTI #476
- Joined
- Sep 8, 1999
- Messages
- 460
ATBarr,
Great post. Thanks for all the usefull information. I have the Tactical Knives issue where they tell you how to make a Kydwx sheath and what you posted looks easier and faster then what they wrote.
Shawn
Great post. Thanks for all the usefull information. I have the Tactical Knives issue where they tell you how to make a Kydwx sheath and what you posted looks easier and faster then what they wrote.
Shawn
Allen Blade made a Video on it. It is very well done and very helpfull.
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum36/HTML/000140.html
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum36/HTML/000140.html
More thoughts on kydex working:
I put together a couple of foam 'sandwiches', have a cpl. diff. ones but my favorite is bout 1" dense foam. I use a sheet of flat steel(1/8"?) and hot glue the foam to it. Total size of these 'sandwiches' bout 9x12. The reason I use these is when I want to do some kydex work it allows me put my work between two of these steel backed foam molders. I can stick it in a good sized vice, crank'er down to what I feel I need for the definition I want and get on with other work while it cools. I can get much better definition than any other way I've tried. Also use a $5 toaster oven in the shop, wife didn't like me stinkin up the kitchen couple years ago when I started playing with the stuff. btw I found stainless steel chain in the ceiling fan dept. of Home Depot. Doesn't discoler like the plated ones I had been using previous when making neckhangers.
hth
------------------
Only perfect practice makes perfect
[This message has been edited by Freemon (edited 04-30-2000).]
I put together a couple of foam 'sandwiches', have a cpl. diff. ones but my favorite is bout 1" dense foam. I use a sheet of flat steel(1/8"?) and hot glue the foam to it. Total size of these 'sandwiches' bout 9x12. The reason I use these is when I want to do some kydex work it allows me put my work between two of these steel backed foam molders. I can stick it in a good sized vice, crank'er down to what I feel I need for the definition I want and get on with other work while it cools. I can get much better definition than any other way I've tried. Also use a $5 toaster oven in the shop, wife didn't like me stinkin up the kitchen couple years ago when I started playing with the stuff. btw I found stainless steel chain in the ceiling fan dept. of Home Depot. Doesn't discoler like the plated ones I had been using previous when making neckhangers.
hth
------------------
Only perfect practice makes perfect
[This message has been edited by Freemon (edited 04-30-2000).]