Pala- more info on Kydex

R

RadarMan

Joined
Oct 3, 1998
Messages
297
I hope you do not tire with my passion for kydex, and perhaps this would be better posted in another forum but...... who cares
smile.gif

I found the post by A.T. Barr on how he works kydex. It is a good discription of how it CAN be done most effectively. It is not the ONLY way but this will work, and I beleive he uses no rivets. Rivets are recommened for security and tie points though. Also, I would not worry about taping the blade as it can effect the fit. The following is taken from www.deja.com and I searched 'kydex foam heat' to find this post dated 1998/11/10.
When I made Kydex sheaths in the past, I used a PVC Thermo Foam. It was about 2.5" thick and I glued it to two pieces of 2" X 6" X 18"

I first use 2" wide masking tape (3 or 4 layers) on both sides of the knife blade. If you don't do this, you will really scratch up your blade.

I use my wife's oven to heat up my Kydex. You will need to experiment with the temperature. For 1/16" thick I used about 310 degrees, and I think I used 325 degrees for 3/32". If you get it too hot, it will stick together. And, if you don't get it hot enough, it will not form to the shape of the knife. Anyway, since that Kydex is really hot, I wear
cotton gloves.

After the Kydex is limp from the heat, I lay it on the piece of foam. I then place the knife on the Kydex, and then I fold the Kydex over. You need to leave an ample amount of extra Kydex. Don't try to save on material.

I then take the other piece of Foam and place it on top of the Kydex, that I wrapped over my knife. I then stand on the top board and rock my feet. This makes the Kydex form to the knife blade and handle.

In about 5 minutes, the Kydex will be cooled enough for you to remove the blade. Don't rush it. If you don't like the way it looks, just pop it back into the oven and re-heat it. I then grind the Kydex down to the shape I want. To make the belt loop, I just basically do the same thing I described above, but I use a 2-3" wide strip, that I double over (after
being heated and limp) and lay on the bottom piece of the Thermo Foam.

I then place the sheath (with the knife inside) on top of the limp Kydex, place the other piece of Thermo Foam on top. I then stand on top and rock until the Kydex is cool.

I used the oven to fit the belt loop to the sheath. After I glued the belt loop to the sheath, I used a heat gun to open up the belt loop. I used either a 2" or 1 1/2" wide piece of 1/8" thick Micarta to shape the blade loop. After I opened up the belt loop, I would then
finish the shaping of the sheath.

The glue I use is Oatey orange for CPVC. Just skuff up the inside of both parts of the Kydex with some 220 grit sandpaper. Apply the glue to both sides. Keep pressure on the two parts for a minimum of 4 hours.

If you will check with your local Plastic Suppliers, you will be able to purchase Kydex fairly inexpensively.

A.T. http://www.customknives.com
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I hope this helps you......


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>)-RadarMan-(<
age:38
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.... Vermont Proverb
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[This message has been edited by RadarMan (edited 12 September 1999).]
 
Just a personal note: my preference is to NOT do a hard kydex belt loop. By putting in multiple lace holes all up and down the edges you can tie it to your belt of any width, or tie it to just about anything else.

I use the multiple laceholes to make sure enough knife is poking out from under my jacket for legality. Different jackets, different laceholes. (Pala, in California a large knife MUST be "openly exposed" or it's several years in jail. It doesn't have to be *totally* exposed, but enough to make it clear it's a knife.)

Once you hard-form a beltloop, all that goes out the window.

Kydex can also free you from conventional "pull it out the hole in the top" thinking.

Jim March
 
Pala,
I just got off the phone with Edge Works and then Kleerdex.
1)Edge Works is sending a sample (12x12) of 060 and 090 as well as a sample mold of a knife. They are also sending some rivets, eyelets and webbing for you to tinker with.
***Kydex trick #123... after you inspect the mold and gee wiz it, throw it in the oven and reuse the kydex
smile.gif


2) I talked with Michelle in customer service. She said the manufacturing plant is in/near Reno and they would ship you a 4x8 sheet of Kydex 100, 090 this morning. She was very intrested in what you do so I gave here the Himalayan web info. The kydex should come rolled up in a box.

I hope this helps..........


------------------
>)-RadarMan-(<
age:38
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.... Vermont Proverb
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[This message has been edited by RadarMan (edited 13 September 1999).]
 
Oh...a magic scabbard? I'll make you one. Sound familiar?
wink.gif
I still think these guys are way overhating their Kydex, but to each his own. I don't take it over 250 and my sheaths turn out pretty nice. Also, I like the kydex belt loop better because it works better. The way I make my sheaths, too, the belt loop can be put on in a ton of configurations, so you still get a lot of versatility.

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
chiro75

I have to agree with your statements about forming kydex. I have made several small kydex projects with .040" and .060" thick kydex and I set my oven at 250F. For some of the .125" thick projects, I used 300-325F to give me a little more working time to free form the shapes. The Oatly Orange cpvc glue seems to hold kydex together pretty well in my experience.

Until now I have been just a "Lurker", but I thought I would share a few points on working with kydex, since I have gotten some good information on working with kydex from you.

As this is my first post, I hope it comes out ok. I'll start another thread on the kydex subject in the shop forum in the near future.

p1445
 
The kydex arrived. It was in a flat box, metal strapped to a pallet and weighed in at 90 pounds.

Pala will do some experimentation with some small swatches to get a feel for how it works.

Pala sends his utmost gratitude and seems very surprised we have such great customers.
And, thanks everybody for tips. He is very curious about this project but may not have time to play with it until weekend.



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Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
http://members.aol.com/himimp/index.html
 
Reminder:

Wear a good dust mask when sanding kydex, as the dust is not good for you.

p1445
 
Bill,
I am surprised at how the sheet arrived. Must be they stop rolling the singles after 080??? Glad it got there okay.

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&gt;)-RadarMan-(&lt;
age:38
Three can keep a secret if two of them are dead.... Vermont Proverb
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When I used 350F on .093" grade stuff, I seem to recall using very brief periods in the oven, maybe 10 minutes or so.

That's probably why I had good results. It's probably safer and smarter to stay closer to 250F on .090/.093, less on .060/.040.

I'm looking for a kydex source now, I've EMailed Chiro75 and Edgeworks for advice but if anybody else has a good source let me know in EMail.

Jim March
 
Jim, I don't know if I made this clear or not, but the best place (read: only place) to get the Kydex will be a local plastics distributor. Give them a call and see what they have. Also, you can get Kydex in tons of different colors from neon to marbelized colors (probably close to 50 different colors) and about 15 different textures, but most plastics warehouses only regularly order black and sometimes gray.

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My Custom Kydex Sheath pagehttp://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Lab/1298/knifehome.html
Palmer College of Chiropractic
On Two Wheels
 
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