Making Kydex Sheaths/Search Request

M

Midwest Ninja

Joined
Jun 26, 2007
Messages
906
(There's probably been a topic like this before, so perhaps one of you paying members can help find it for me:o)

I have a couple really simple question about the production of Kydex sheaths for knives.

1. How expensive is it to start?
2. How steep is the learning curve?
3. What materials do I need to start and where do I get them?
4. How much of a margin do you leave above production costs?

Thanks very much everyone!:)
 
I jst finished a kydex project as seen here http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=524449
The press cost me 2 dollars total. I bought 2 puzzle piece mats from the dolar stor and cut them in half and stuck the halves to 2 pieces of scrap wood using 2 sided carpet tape (so I can rotate and replace them). I heated the kydex in a toaster oven until the edges of the sheet started to curl up and kneeled on the press for a few minutes until the kydex was cool. Cleaned it up using some tools (hand or power work) and used chicago screws together. YOu just need to find a source for keydex which i'm sure someone more experienced can point you in the right direction.

-Chris
 
Look under "Plastics" in the yellow pages and make some calls to some suppliers in your area. I found a 4'X8' sheet for 100.00. Some places will cut it down for you. Hope this helps, good luck.
 
Buy it on line at Interstate Plastics. Way cheaper than any other place. They do not list .080 online for some reason but do have tons of it. Just place your order over the phone.
 
jll346 said:
Buy it on line at Interstate Plastics. Way cheaper than any other place. They do not list .080 online for some reason but do have tons of it. Just place your order over the phone.
Click to expand...
Cheaper than $4.85 per sqft? I'll have to give them a call...
 
Midwest Ninja said:
(There's probably been a topic like this before, so perhaps one of you paying members can help find it for me:o)

I have a couple really simple question about the production of Kydex sheaths for knives.

1. How expensive is it to start?
2. How steep is the learning curve?
3. What materials do I need to start and where do I get them?
4. How much of a margin do you leave above production costs?

Thanks very much everyone!:)
Click to expand...

It all depends on how intricate you want your sheath to look or perhaps how professional you want. Do you want rivets put in or not? Much cheaper if you don't as then it only requires a sharp drill to clealy drill the holes for the kydex. Stay away from dull drills!

On knifekits.com you'll notice they have a kydex rivet press. This is not necessary if you already have a drill press. To give it the professional flared look on the kydex rivet though, you'll need the flaring dies for sure, unless you're a wizard with a setter and a mallot. $35.00 for the flaring dies. You put the die with the point on top in the chuck of the drill press and the bottom die take a piece of thick wood and drill a hole in it so the base on the flaring die has somewhere to sit 90 degrees to the table on the drill press. Drill your hole into the kydex should you want to piece it together with rivets. Which are like 10-14 bucks I think for 100 from sites like knifekits.com. The kydex will run around 4-5 bucks a square foot unless you purchase it in bulk. You can use foam from wherever you can find it, or you can purchase the kydex making foam for like 11 bucks a side. you'll need 2 for your press. unless you're making really small sheaths, then you could cut that one side in half. Some foams will stick to the kydex and need some kind of release agent, so that is why I just recommend you buy the foam made for making sheaths.

You'll need a cheapo toaster oven and I recommend if you can find one, a cheap heat gun to use for adjusting the fit and tension after the initial molding.

Then you need either a hacksaw or bandsaw to cut the rough molded sheath to shape...then you can sand it with either a sander, grinder, by your hand...etc.

Kydex is very forgiving (so long as you don't melt it)...it can be heated and reheated a bagillion times till you get the right shape you want.

You can make your own belt loops as well for pretty cheap. I came up with a jig that I made for around 2 bucks of scrap wood. Any questions, please feel free to email me @ jack.76@cox.net

good luck!
 
This is why I love bladeforums! Thanks very much to everyone that responded. When making a sheath for a paticular knife, how exactly do you get that shape? I think I understand or could pick up the other bits, but some more info on that would be very helpful. Thanks!
 
To get your shape you could just press the kydex around the knife you are making it for, or you could carve a mold using various materials such as plexiglass.

-Chris
 
Okay thanks. I wasn't sure if the kydex would stick to the knife or not. I take it Kydex becomes "drippy" (like regular plastic when it melts) at a higher temp than other plastics.
 
I'm a rookie when it comes to kydex, but I have yet to see it get to the point of being drippy. It starts to curl up well before that point. When the edges start to curl up slightly it is really pliable. The material together holds together well so you can even work it around objects by hand (well with gloves anyway) without the use of a press. Good luck to you.

-Chris
 
how well the kydex takes shape to the blade, or handle or etc etc, is how hot you get the kydex when you wrap it around your blade and how much pressure you're applying. Getting as hot as you can before it melts will yield the best shape as far to taking to the knife shape.
 
I often wrap the blade with blue masking tape. This gives the blade some clearance. I also wipe some wd40 on the foam with a rag. It keeps the kydex from sticking.

ric
 
just make sure you don't cut the hell out of yourself like Chiro75 after making the tutorial! :D
 
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