Need expert advice on making own kydex sheath.

[dduangrat]

Ok, laugh if you wanna. This is my 1st attempt and I realize kydex is not that pliable. How in the world do you guys get the detailed contouring? Am I not heating it long enough? I shaped it by hand and it just doesn't seem to wanna hold the shape. Making the indention on the handle took considerable force.

 

[Ban]

I am no expert. But it looks like you did not use enough heat. Also, a press with foam lining will help tremendously to retain some of the heat as the kydex slowly forms to the contours as it is very slowy cooling.

 

[Progunner]

Not enough heat combined with the lack of compression until the material is cool. I use foam padded blocks and squeeze clamps. It has been so long since I have made any kydex sheaths, I just realized I forgot how hot I used to get the stuff. 180-200 degrees maybe. You want to get it hot enough it acts like an al dente noodle, but you have to be careful because there is a few second between that and the edges curling up on the sheet and turning to molten liquid that sticks to the sheet. I use an oven and baking sheet to heat mine by the way.

 

[Bill Siegle]

I cook my Kydex at 300 for 3min(I use an old cookie sheet in an oven to lay the raw Kydex on) then press in foam between two boards in a vice with Vic Grip C clamps at the top of the boards to make sure everything gets pressed. I let it set up for at least ten minutes before removing from the inside the foam.

 

[Waldganger]

I have an old piece of mattress foam that I cut in half.
two bits of board and a glue gun then I stand on it for about three minutes.

this is how I learnt

http://www.chiro75knives.com/tutorials/plasticsheath/plasticsheathtutorial.html

good luck

 

[Gary007]

not sure if this video helps or not:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lczZWgN4Kg

 

[kdstrick]

Well... I am by no means an expert, but have been playing with kydex for a month or so. Here are some links... once you get the hang of it, it is pretty darn simple.

http://www.northcoastknives.com/nort...ydexsheath.htm

http://www.chiro75knives.com/tutoria...htutorial.html

 

[dduangrat]

I don't think I'm heating it long enough. Even when shaping it by hand before putting it into the press, it won't take a good form. I'll retry it by heating it longer.

 

[kdstrick]

The process I have found that works well for me, is to first heat the kydex in the oven (or toaster oven) and then do the detail work around the handle with a heat gun. You can see the pre-heat gun look on the GW at the bottom of the pic, and post heat gun on the AD in the middle. The heat gun works well to get the details to stand out, as well as improving the fit and security of the knife while in the sheath.