Molding the opening issues

Fallbrook Forge

Fallbrook Forge

Joined
Jan 1, 2006
Messages
1,649
I've tried to make kydex sheaths a couple times and have wound up walking away frustrated each time.

How in the world do you guys get the opening of the sheath to stay open?

Each time the kydex just envelops the entire handle and the knife cannot be re inserted.

I used a heat gun to attempt to shape the mouth on one of them, but it just came out deformed and with poor retention.

So, what's the technique to molding the opening of kydex so that there is retention and it's easy to insert the knife?
 
The heat gun is the way. That or building the opening into the mold, but unless you're doing a lot of the same sheath it's unnecessary work. From what I'm reading you're heating too much material and probably using way too much heat. Turn the heat gun on low, keep it moving, and don't heat the area of retention at all. Heat above it. If the retention area is narrow, then you only need to heat the very top of the sheath enough to make an opening. If it's wider, then you'll have to get closer, but never directly on it unless it's unavoidable. You don't wanna get the material floppy. You can heat it to where it's just hot enough to bend. Heat just a little, try to bend, heat a little more, try to bend, repeat until it obeys your will.
 
Kiah, Has great advice.

And practice, practice, practice. :)
 
I will heat the first half inch trying to stay away from the narrowest part that creates the retention. Then partially reinsert the knife so the guard creates the opening.

Sometimes I will tape something to the knife to create the opening during the initial mold. I have found that stacked coins, sharpee marker caps and wooden dowels work well.
 
Kiah said:
The heat gun is the way. That or building the opening into the mold, but unless you're doing a lot of the same sheath it's unnecessary work. From what I'm reading you're heating too much material and probably using way too much heat. Turn the heat gun on low, keep it moving, and don't heat the area of retention at all. Heat above it. If the retention area is narrow, then you only need to heat the very top of the sheath enough to make an opening. If it's wider, then you'll have to get closer, but never directly on it unless it's unavoidable. You don't wanna get the material floppy. You can heat it to where it's just hot enough to bend. Heat just a little, try to bend, heat a little more, try to bend, repeat until it obeys your will.
Click to expand...


Sound wisdom here. Daves right too......practice
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top