My First Homemade Holster

[R.Kell628]

I've been waiting and wanting to start making kydex holster for a long time now. Well on Friday I got all the materials I needed to make my press and get started. My first attempt was pretty much a failure (but mildly). On the second attempt, it turned out great in my opinion for my first holster. My plan/goal is to make some for friends and family and hopefully start making some to sell for others. I'd like to do custom, unique work and eventually I'd like to try leather/kydex hybrid holsters. Anyway, here is my first one for my Glock 19 with a TLR-1s weapon light. I think it may be a little to big and I could have taken some extra material off but I'm happy with the turnout. Tell me what you guys think. Any suggestions or pointers?

Again, any suggestions, critics, or opinions?

Thanks, Ryan

 

[Scott Free]

It sure looks good to me. You could lightly sand the edges of the Kydex. Is it comfortable? I would think you'd want most of the indents used for retention to be on the outside—and not against the side that's against your body. I would think you'd want the Kydex that faces the wearer to be curved around the hip but as flat as possible with a minimum of pokey edges and protrusions. If it's comfortable as is, then I'm totally wrong. In any case, you're on the right track. :thumbup:

 

[theHobbyist]

Looks good for a first, nay, looks great for a first... the only 2 things I see are that the belt loops look a bit small, but that could be just because the holster is making them look that way.

The other is the bit that goes over your mag release looks like you may catch it and pop your mag while holstering.

The important question is hows well does it let you deploy your gun? and how's reholstering? If it works well for you the bang on!

You may also want to put a few drain holes in there too... believe me it sucks when your holster fills up with water and other crap and you stuff a hot gun back in there. That's actually been a big reason why I stay way from Kydex holster.

The other thing that I found is that I don't really like the feel of Kydex rubbing up against me, to solve that I used some moleskin from back in my bowhunting days... basically it's just some velvet like material with an adhesive backing...

 

[R.Kell628]

It sure looks good to me. You could lightly sand the edges of the Kydex. Is it comfortable? I would think you'd want most of the indents used for retention to be on the outside—and not against the side that's against your body. I would think you'd want the Kydex that faces the wearer to be curved around the hip but as flat as possible with a minimum of pokey edges and protrusions. If it's comfortable as is, then I'm totally wrong. In any case, you're on the right track. :thumbup:

Thanks for the pointers. I'm not sure how I would acheive a flatter surface for the body side when using the molding press. It is comfortable already, just a little big feeling maybe. I did sand the edges a little bit, granted I could have spent more time on that but after 6 hours of working on this one I decided I had enough. Now that I've done one and got it figured out, I should be able to make them faster.

Looks good for a first, nay, looks great for a first... the only 2 things I see are that the belt loops look a bit small, but that could be just because the holster is making them look that way.

The other is the bit that goes over your mag release looks like you may catch it and pop your mag while holstering.

The important question is hows well does it let you deploy your gun? and how's reholstering? If it works well for you the bang on!

You may also want to put a few drain holes in there too... believe me it sucks when your holster fills up with water and other crap and you stuff a hot gun back in there. That's actually been a big reason why I stay way from Kydex holster.

The other thing that I found is that I don't really like the feel of Kydex rubbing up against me, to solve that I used some moleskin from back in my bowhunting days... basically it's just some velvet like material with an adhesive backing...

The belt loops are a bit small because I moved the snap and cut them down to fit a 1.5" belt without any extra material sticking up. These werent the belt loops that I originally wanted since KnifeKits was out of the clips I want so I had to improvise a little. I'll probably end up changing them out to the clips eventually. As for the cover over the mag release, I guess I never thought of hitting it during reholstering but it hasnt been a problem so far (even though I've only had it over the weekend). My main reason for that was so that it doesnt get bumped when being carried and it does a great job with that. And with the drainage hole, I had meant to put on in but I just forgot about it when the time came. And I guess that just comes along with it being the first one.

And btw I plan on making some sheaths too. If anybody would like a sheath and to be the guiny pig for a sheath, I'd be willing to give that a try. I'd probably just charge enough to cover materials.

 

[theHobbyist]

Thanks for the pointers. I'm not sure how I would acheive a flatter surface for the body side when using the molding press.

Less heat and lighter pressure in the press would be my guess, not sure though what was meant by "flatter" in the first place

And btw I plan on making some sheaths too. If anybody would like a sheath and to be the guiny pig for a sheath, I'd be willing to give that a try. I'd probably just charge enough to cover materials.

If you're throwing hints you may want to upgrade your status plastic benders (and I mean that in the nicest of ways) have some rules to play by when it comes servicing others...

 

[R.Kell628]

If you're throwing hints you may want to upgrade your status plastic benders (and I mean that in the nicest of ways) have some rules to play by when it comes servicing others...

I understand there are rules for services. I guess I didn't mean to offer any, just looking for practice I guess. Sorry if I broke there rule with that statement. I want to one day turn this into a service/business/hobby and will follow the rules accordingly at that time. Thanks for the heads up.