My second sheath.

[Infi-del]

So this was my first attempt at kydex molding.

It was a learning experience and I learned a lot by all the mistakes I made. It still held the knife well though. I'll use it as a bag sheath or something.

Here is my second attempt. Again a learning experience. I wasted a good bit of kydex but that will get better as I learn how much to use. Did a better job spacing the eyelets. I can stick two large tek locks on this. I like my sheaths wide and pancake style so I can lash pouches to the sheath or lash the sheath to my bag. I was please with the end result. I gotta get better dies for my eyelets though. The one I got from Knife Kits eats the eyelets up pretty bad.

Here it is all lashed up with shock cord and molle pouches on my bag...

 

[Blackhat3]

I'm also just starting out working with Kydex, and I got my rivet dies from Knife Kits too. I've only made three sheaths and two holsters, so I'm no pro, but before you spend more money on dies, here's a couple helpful hints for you. 1) Lube your dies. I just use some Rem Oil I had on hand. 2) One or two hard to medium hits with the hammer on the dies is better than a lot of little taps. Hope that helps. I had a few chewed up rivets on my first couple attempts, but those two things seemed to've fixed the problem. Good luck!

 

[Diomedes Industries]

One of the best things I ever did was to buy Chuck Burrows video on making sheaths. I had been bending leather for a year or two at that time and I learned a ton. I wish I had started with the video.

My point is - there are a few Kydex benders on this forum who make excellent video's. You may want to look into them to shortcut your learning curve. This is not to say your current sheath isn't good - I just found that reinventing the wheel wasn't necessary with a good instructor.

TF

 

[Kiah]

I gotta get better dies for my eyelets though. The one I got from Knife Kits eats the eyelets up pretty bad.

I'll say that USA Knifemaker has superior dies. That said, I had no real issue with CKK's other than occasional splits. Are you hammering them or using them in a press? They shouldn't be doing that. If returning them isn't an option, you might try looking for rough spots or burrs and smoothing them out.

 

[dericdesmond]

Cool man, I remember my first, ahhh memories.

Something I wish I would of started doin long ago with sheaths I made for my busses, fill the choil. I use the tactical carboard sleeves, cut to size and wrap it around the choil with masking tape. Minimizes rubbing since the kydex wants to mold around the choil and in order to remove the knife it has to pass through that, cover it before you mold= less drag/blade rubs :thumbup:

 

[Infi-del]

I'm also just starting out working with Kydex, and I got my rivet dies from Knife Kits too. I've only made three sheaths and two holsters, so I'm no pro, but before you spend more money on dies, here's a couple helpful hints for you. 1) Lube your dies. I just use some Rem Oil I had on hand. 2) One or two hard to medium hits with the hammer on the dies is better than a lot of little taps. Hope that helps. I had a few chewed up rivets on my first couple attempts, but those two things seemed to've fixed the problem. Good luck!

I'll try that. The part that is chewing them up though is the base... not the part that flares it. It might be a bur or something like Kiah suggested. But it's almost like the hole in the center is too large and allows that shaft of the tube to pass back through the base just a hair. Like it's trying to turn the eyelet inside out.

One of the best things I ever did was to buy Chuck Burrows video on making sheaths. I had been bending leather for a year or two at that time and I learned a ton. I wish I had started with the video.

My point is - there are a few Kydex benders on this forum who make excellent video's. You may want to look into them to shortcut your learning curve. This is not to say your current sheath isn't good - I just found that reinventing the wheel wasn't necessary with a good instructor.

TF

Yeah I've been thinking about looking into a video. But I also have no illusions of doing this as a pro so I'm torn between getting better and just being good enough LOL.

I'll say that USA Knifemaker has superior dies. That said, I had no real issue with CKK's other than occasional splits. Are you hammering them or using them in a press? They shouldn't be doing that. If returning them isn't an option, you might try looking for rough spots or burrs and smoothing them out.

I may contact KK and see if I can return it. Just that little button base that is. Everything else works fine. But the base seems ill formed and is deforming the base of my eyelets if I don't strike them EXACTLY right with the EXACT right amount of force. The eyelets that aren't getting deformed either turn out fine if I'm lucky or under flared and are therefore loose. I might get a press too... to take the pressure guess work out of it.

Cool man, I remember my first, ahhh memories.

Something I wish I would of started doin long ago with sheaths I made for my busses, fill the choil. I use the tactical carboard sleeves, cut to size and wrap it around the choil with masking tape. Minimizes rubbing since the kydex wants to mold around the choil and in order to remove the knife it has to pass through that, cover it before you mold= less drag/blade rubs :thumbup:

Actually I did but I guess I didn't use thick enough cardboard because it still pressed in. How thick is the cardboard you use to mask it off? I was using old Walmart White Box ammo boxes lol. Might be too thin.

 

[sonil]

I agree with Kia too.When the subject of split eyelets comes up it`s always with the KK dies...i have never read anyone saying it has happened to them with the USA dies...i am so glad i waited for a month(were out of stock when i ordered them) to get mine instead of giving up on them LOL
To fill up the cut out at the choil i use "wood or plastic inserts" that i shape with the belt sander..and keep them in small ziplock bags with the name of the knife they are for...

 

[dericdesmond]

Actually I did but I guess I didn't use thick enough cardboard because it still pressed in. How thick is the cardboard you use to mask it off? I was using old Walmart White Box ammo boxes lol. Might be too thin.

I have an abundance of busse cardboard sleeves that are just laying around so I use them. I fold it over the front and wrap masking tape around the whole knife/choil area :thumbup:

 

[Kiah]

I may contact KK and see if I can return it. Just that little button base that is. Everything else works fine. But the base seems ill formed and is deforming the base of my eyelets if I don't strike them EXACTLY right with the EXACT right amount of force. The eyelets that aren't getting deformed either turn out fine if I'm lucky or under flared and are therefore loose. I might get a press too... to take the pressure guess work out of it.

If you have a drill press, you can chuck a die in it and stick the other in a vice or block of wood (as long as the head will stay put). An arbor press style is better though.

On the subject of filling choils (or holes or whatever), pick up some "Sculpey" polymer clay (WM should have it in the toy or crafts section).

 

[gunfixrjoe]

I'll say that USA Knifemaker has superior dies. That said, I had no real issue with CKK's other than occasional splits. Are you hammering them or using them in a press? They shouldn't be doing that. If returning them isn't an option, you might try looking for rough spots or burrs and smoothing them out.

The USA knifemaker dies are a MUST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gunfixrjoe]

For lining up the your eyelets, I mark with a metal straight edge, then set with a center punch, then drill with an appropriate brad point drill.