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Playining around a bit. Opinions?
- Thread starter Kiah
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mtnfolk mike
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pretty cool...:thumbup: i like it..
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I like it. Looks "grippy". Should work well with gloves or wet hands without having to wrap your hand around it.
It does look that way, but it has the texture of regular kydex. Sort of an optical illusion.
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VERY, VERY COOL!:thumbup::thumbup:
I like traditional stuff but I also like Kydex and I LOVE Micarta. Micrcta, having been around for nearly a hundred years now, can almost be considered "traditional," as materials go and very often has a traditional look. Kydex, on the other hand, still looks "modern." The "effects" you have imparted break the hard edge of the modernistic look of "hot plastic wrapped around your knife." I am not one much for anything "just fer purty," but THAT is something that I think is really needed.
How do you find big enough stuff in your scrap box to make someting out of it?? I must be too stingy becasue I even have a hard time finding something big enough to use as a drilling backer.
THAT is really cool!:thumbup::thumbup:
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My thinking exactly. I love kydex, but sometimes it's a little boring in the looks department. I'm gonna be trying out a few more ideas in the next few days, and then maybe offering them as options to my sheaths.
Also gonna see about getting some WS&S logo templates cut and offering it is an option.
How do you find big enough stuff in your scrap box to make someting out of it?? I must be too stingy becasue I even have a hard time finding something big enough to use as a drilling backer.
Imperfect fit, overheated piece, just a little too much ground off the lip. The pile can get big pretty fast.
C Bryant
Gold Member
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I like both a lot, very nice textured look. It brings out some character that kydex sometimes lacks. :thumbup::thumbup:
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....Imperfect fit, overheated piece, just a little too much ground off the lip. The pile can get big pretty fast.
Oh, yeah.... I forgot about those pieces. I guess I differentiate between the "scrap" box and "lessons learned" box. My "lessons learned" box is a it of a museum of what not to do.While I am intrigued, curious and excited about this, I want to ask questions, but don't want to horn in on your new "thing." Keep it going and share. Kydex needs this "kick" and I think it will be popular with people sticking prized possessions in otherwise boring "plastic containers."
I have thought about ways to improve upon their looks but anything I have thought of is time-consuming and tedious and the benefit is not worth the effort.
mymindisamob
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I love synthetics and you have just kicked it up a notch. Keep us posted and thanks for sharing.
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I assure you there's no secret formula. It's just Krylon and templates. The "Fusion" stuff bonds really well to the Kydex. Should wear at least as well as the factory overlays. I started out trying it on Kydex because the selection of colors in .060 and .093 is lacking unless you buy a truckload. They make some textured paints, but I'm not sure how it would hold up. I'm gonna run and get some in a few minutes and give it a try. I think vinyl dye would work even better, but the color selection is lacking and it's not available locally to me.
Playing around with the scrap pile this morning, and kinda liked this one. Kind of a burlap kydex. Opinions?
VERY VERY COOL! some copper eyelets would really make it nice
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Kydex - Interstate Plastics
Eyelets - KnifeKits mostly
Screws - Mc2
Paint - Ace
Yeah, I have some antique brass that would look good with that finish.
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No kidding? That's someting else. Anything I have gotten on Kydex inadvertantly comes off easily and I just assumed... Hmmm...
I would love to see more. You definitely have an artistic touch because it sure doesn't look like "spray-painted plastic" to me. Looks great.
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My version of "antique brass" came from having to anneal the 1/4" black rivets, which always seem to split - unlike the plain brass. I string a dozen on a piece of music wire and get them to just glow red with a propane torch and douse them in water. They come out soft enough to roll properly and have a nice "aged appearance." Goes well with the OD Kydex, but some more "earthy" colors would sure be nice.
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It seems to hold up well. It's supposed to cure for a week or so, but it seems fairly tough after an hour or so. I tried to chip it, but it faired well. Running it over a metal edge would gouge it, but I wouldn't expect it to hold up to that. it takes the standard "little shiny lines" when scraped with a fingernail or whatever, but that's to be expected with unsealed paint.
I also tried some "vinyl coating" from AutoZone that seems to work the same. I didn't expect either of the paints to hold up well as I've used them on plastic toys in the past where they flaked off in a matter of hours. But kydex seems to love them.
I believe vinyl dye on white kydex would be best. I found a supplier with a large amount of colors, but not that great of a selection.
What are you setting with? I use CKK dies in my drill press and absolutely love them. I've only had one split with them, and thankfully that was on a personal sheath.