Putting Eyelets in Kydex

bquinlan

bquinlan

Joined
Jan 5, 2001
Messages
2,726
I'm hoping that someone can help me out. I have learned enough to make kydex do most of what I want, but I'm having a terrible time getting the rivets/eyelets to work properly. Often they don't really crimp over properly. Sometimes they end up deformed into ovals or stranger shapes.

I have a basic little anvil and punch combination that Texas Knifemakers Supply sells to form the size of eyelets I'm using. It looks to me like the eyelet goes through the kydex with the "unfinished" end against the anvil, then gets tapped a few times by using a hammer against the punch on the "finished" end. Do I have that much right?

Am I likely to be hitting too hard or too softly? Maybe I'm just getting something mis-aligned?

I feel silly asking about something that should be simple, but I have never seen it done by someone who knew how and I have not run across any specific instructions.

Can anyone help me out?

--Bob Q
 
If I'm picturing it right, you actually want the punch on the unformed side, the punch is most likely shaped to guide the eyelet into the proper rolled over round shape. You might want to put thin leather on the anvil to protect the finished side facing down.
 
have you tried the 2 part eyeletes? I found some at the local Michaels store that worked pretty good for the few kydex sheaths i made. the eyeletes already are formed, you just squish them together.
 
AwP: I think you're picturing it right, but my equipment is not quite what I've seen elsewhere...

The "anvil" my set came with has a groove in it that I thought was intended to guide the rim of the eyelet over and around, but I may be wrong. On the other hand, the "punch" on mine just has a rounded head, with no secondary rim to form the crimp, so if I just use it on the unformed side I get a flare but no fold.

Maybe what I need is a better, or at least different, punch/anvil set for making these things. Any idea where I should look for something like that?

Terry_Dodson: I initially looked at a local craft store, but the two-part eyelets they had seemed very thin, at least compared to what I ususally see on sheaths. I will check around and see if I can find something more substantial.

Thanks!

--Bob Q
 
What if you started with unfinished side up, got it to flare evenly, and then flipped it over for the groove to guide it into a roll? Donno if it'll work, but it might.
 
Reason #347 to just use screws! :D
chinsheath1.jpg
 
I solved my problem by picking up a new setting tool. :rolleyes:

I don't know if I was using the old one correctly or not, but I'm not having any trouble with the new one.

Thanks for all the help!

--Bob Q
 
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