Please help! I messed up a kydex sheath with a hairdryer...

T

Trailing Point

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Jul 25, 2015
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94
Hi guys.

OK, I have a protech combat companion that has quickly become my go to fixed blade since I got it. I carry it horizontally but every now and then the knife would slip out and narrowly miss my feet when it dropped. I then searched some threads here on BF to find a solution to increase the sheath's retension and saw many positive suggestions regarding warming up the sheath wit a hairdryer and then squeezing it hard around the knife as it cools.

I may have overdone it somewhat...


The sheath has now lost most of its form and retension is non-existant. I live in South-Africa so ordering another one from protech would be too expensive to import and besides, I don't want this thing to beat me!

Any suggestions as to how I can get my beloved knife back on my belt without losing my toes in a sheath that resembles the way it looked when I got it?

Wes
 
I think there are videos on youtube regarding how to form kydex sheaths, as well as how to make a kydex press.

Here's what I would do if I were you and had limited resources on hand- I'd research those videos. Then I'm put together a makeshift press. They're not complicated (at least they don't have to be), basically it's a sandwich consisting of two pieces of wood, with two pieces of dense foam in between (yoga mat foam will work), with the sheath placed in between the two pieces of foam. Then you need a way to compress the whole thing together. Some people use c-clamps, and I know one heavy guy who sat on the entire thing to create pressure.

After getting the "press" together, I would wrap the blade of the knife with blue masking tape, I would heat the sheath in a toaster oven (I forget the temperature and heating time), after heating the kydex for the right amount of time I would quickly insert the knife, place the entire piece into the press, and apply pressure.

That's what I would do. I don'y know if you have any other effective options.
 
Works great as described above, and for future reference on adjusting a kydex sheath, don't heat the entire sheath lol only warm up the area around the handle where it's being gripped at, and only for maybe 30 seconds....then apply pressure and hold it until it dries.
 
Bobby3326 said:
Works great as described above, and for future reference on adjusting a kydex sheath, don't heat the entire sheath lol only warm up the area around the handle where it's being gripped at, and only for maybe 30 seconds....then apply pressure and hold it until it dries.
Click to expand...

I can't believe I was so stupid... It was fun while it lasted though!
 
I would use a hot air gun if you have one instead of a hair dryer. Wrap a wet rag around any areas you don't want to flex. Heat it up and just press it with a finger periodically, once it moves with a poke its probably soft enough to re-shape.

As you heat it up, it will want to expand and relax, so make sure you hold it good and tight with your knife in the sheath after it becomes pliable. Take a look at the contours on the knife that will mate with the kydex for a good grip and pay attention with an extra squeeze right there. Hold it for a good two or three minutes (wear gloves or use a rag if its too hot to hold), or immediately run the whole thing under cold water which will set it instantly.

Repeat as needed, err or the tight side as it will relax a bit with use, and as you already found out - is very easy to make it loosen up!
 
Yea a heat gun works faster, just be careful not to melt it...I speak from first time experience lol
 
Every thing above is great advice I make some sheaths on the side and really if you've have to you might try heating it back up with hair dryer and get any kind of foam (besides that packaging white foam it will melt). Squish it between to pieces of wood or metal or anything like that that's stiff and clamp it down or weigh it or put screws through the wood and tighten it up.
 
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