Kydex?

W

wasteawaytoday

Joined
Dec 29, 2005
Messages
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Where can I get some of this? I need a new sheath (well 2 of them) and i can't find a place to buy this stuff. Do you think my local gun store will sell this stuff? I've heard nothing but good things about this material. ;)

Thanks again.

PS: dose anybody have any tips or tricks for when i am making my sheaths?
 
Is that a reliable site? I was looking there i want to order some stuff for my knife modifications and my home made plexsi and metal balisong.
 
Alright. I'll probably order my stuff tomorow are theire any other sites with a vaster selection of specialty parts?
 
Knifekits.com is your best place to get everything you need, unless you want to buy kydex in 4'x8' sheets.
 
wasteawaytoday said:
Alright what thickness do you recomend .6, .8, or .93?
Click to expand...

Thats sort of a personal preference thing. I think that the thicker material makes a nicer sheath, but the thinner stuff has more give which makes it easier to get a snap in fit without it being too tight. I would probaly go with the .8 or .93 unless you're making something really small, and be sure to buy fasteners that are sized for that material (rivets for .6 will not be long enough to go through 2 layers of .93)

Personally I have very few good things to say about kydex, but I suppose I can't say its all bad because I'm still using the stuff too:rolleyes: Maybe I just don't like making sheaths, but I always do more swearing then, than I do with any other part of knifemaking :D
 
Thanks for all the links guys. I also want to try my hand at making sheaths so this is like a ray of sunshine.

Matt, what exactly do you dislike about kydex?
I have heard it is a good material in that it is very durable and fairly easy to work with but then I know nothing about sheath making.

I was thinking of leather but I read a lot about the chemicals used to tan the leather do not like steel and the blade always loses the chemical battle.

Something I have also wondered about tho is the fact that you get a really snug fit on the blade with the kydex sheath so will this not mark the blade?

Matt or anybody else with experience with this, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike
 
miden said:
Thanks for all the links guys. I also want to try my hand at making sheaths so this is like a ray of sunshine.

Matt, what exactly do you dislike about kydex?
I have heard it is a good material in that it is very durable and fairly easy to work with but then I know nothing about sheath making.

I was thinking of leather but I read a lot about the chemicals used to tan the leather do not like steel and the blade always loses the chemical battle.

Something I have also wondered about tho is the fact that you get a really snug fit on the blade with the kydex sheath so will this not mark the blade?

Matt or anybody else with experience with this, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike
Click to expand...

Kydex is a quick way to make a durable sheath. I think most people will agree though that it can also be a frustrating material to work with, especially when just starting out. Also, because of the type of fasteners you have to use, rather than contact cement and stitching, there are limits on the designs you can use.
I guess in the end, I think that a well made leather sheath is nicer than a well made kydex sheath. Its probably easier to make a good kydex sheath though, I haven't gotten into leatherwork yet to really know.
 
Thanks Matt.

Yes, I have noticed that most kydex sheaths look fairly similar, there do seem to be more limitations than with leather. Leather, being natural also has a warmer look about it but I guess in the case of for instance, a combat knife, this is not a factor.:)

Any views on the blade getting marked by the tight fitting sheath or the leather/steel issue? You did say that you are not experienced with leather but I thought you may know.

Mike
 
I haven't had any trouble with leather sheaths marking up knife blades. If you get dirt or something stuck down in the sheath, this will be a problem but otherwise it doesn't really happen much. If you make the sheath with chrome tanned leather as opposed to vegetable tanned leather, it can be corrosive, but I think this is a slow process. It might damage the knife if you were to store it for a long time in the sheath, but if your using it and wiping it down fairly often its not a problem.
Kydex will scratch up a knife blade if you mold it too tightly. At least it will be more prone to. The trick is to wrap the blade in a few layers of masking tape before molding the sheath. This will let you go ahead and put a lot of pressure on it and get good definition when you mold the sheath. Then when you take the tape off the blade, you've got a little extra room around the blade.
 
Thanks Matt, clear and concise as usual.
Just one thing though, the wrapping of the blade in masking tape is an excellent idea, however, you form the kydex with a hot air gun, will it not set fire to the masking tape or sort of "weld" it to the knife blade?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, you have obviously done this and it works, I just wondered.

Mike
 
I think you heat the kydex up before you place it on the knife you want to make a sheath for. I think aslong as, as soon as your done molding, you get the knife outta there and pull the masking tape off, you'll be ok, and if you get some tape adhesive one the blade, just go to Wal-Mart and buy a product called "Goo-Gone" it works well.
 
Some places were mentioned right up near the top of the thread.;)

I got a piece 12" x 12" from Jeff Diotte of Downie Supplies in Ontario.

His tel # is (519) 9782764. Pleasant and helpful guy.

Mike
 
Knife Kits is a great company...

...and have excellent customer service...even when its your fault ...

Shane
 
Hey there Shane, long time no see.

How are the new little Justice and the wife doing?

Good to see so many positive thing being said about a knife supply company, does anybody have some feedback regarding their DVD about the kydex sheath making?

Mike.
 
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