My first try at kydex

[Charlie Mike]

I'm doing this one for Culprtish (sp?). I used my trusty propane torch to heat it. I don't have any tools at all for kydex so I improvised. I did all the forming by hand using leather I scrounged from the boots in my avatar before I chucked em. I don't have any grommets or kydex rivets so I drilled holes and hand stitched them. Final fit was tweaked using a Bic lighter an my calloused fingers. Excess material was trimmed off and then hit it on my belt grinder. Final step was coating the sheath in black Plasti-Dip.

 

[EricV]

If you torch the inside of the sheath, and use a diffuser tip you'll get much less burning. Looks functional though!

 

[Ken C.]

Use a heat gun NOT a blow torch!

 

[steelnut]

Your gonna get some wicked fumes doing it like that,
And overheated kydex turns brittle.

I bake on a cookie sheat at 350F until it goes floppy like a lassagna noodle,
About one and a half minutes for .093 thick:thumbup:

 

[culpritish]

You missed an "i" in the spelling, but no points off for trying, C.M.!
Looking good, BTW. The pics you sent to my phone made me think it was leather; I did'nt know what color you were using. I assumed it was going to be black kydex.
But it's black now!

 

[Kiah]

A few notes and I hope you take it as constructive.

Like Scott said, fumes are bad and you've probably got bubbles inside the Kydex in the burnt spots. When it gets cold, it's gonna snap. A direct flame on Kydex is not good.

With the flat back and the formed front, the edge is gonna rub and dull.

Plastidip doesn't really like Kydex. It'll hold due to form as long as there's no stress, but as soon as it gets a tear or an edge rubs it's gonna peel in that spot and work off completely in no time.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Good to know. Glad I just was making this as a freebie. I wouldn't feel right charging for it after what you said.

 

[hoopster]

Wow, it sounds like you're going about the heating and forming part the hard way CM. Surely you have an oven and some towels. If you can get away with heating in your oven (open the windows and run a fan) then try pressing with towels or a camping pad on the floor using a board or sturdy book. Leather gloves can come in handy also. I've had limited success with a hair dryer but heat guns work better for the fine tuning.
Every time you try you'll get better and better.

 

[Charlie Mike]

Here's the sheath I was originally paid to make. The one above is going with it as a freebie. This one is kydex lined and covered with the same boot leather.