Question about thicker or doubled Kydex

[s14sh3r]

This is my first attempt at making a drop attachment for a sheath. The one pictured below does the job, but I don't like how flexible it is in the bends. You can see I tried making a couple of ribs to strengthen it, but I don't have the setup or the know-how to make the ribs run completely through both bends. The one below is made from .080 Kydex. I've found .125 sheets but I've never worked with that thickness and don't know if it will give me what I"m wanting. I've also considered re-molding with a doubled over sheet. I'm still very much a noob at this and would appreciate any tips or criticism.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

I can't help, but I'm curious about why the flex bothers you. I like the rib idea unless it might induce a crack. Might ask Kiah or David Brown.

 

[leatherman]

Flex: When a "plastic" (note, not material plastic, but physical plastic) body does flex, each and every flex weakens the material exponentially. Metal, plastics, rubber and such all weaken with every flex. Note how metal heats up as it flexes. Take a bit of kydex and bend it over and over and you'll eventually have either two pieces or one with a very weak center.

Yep even natural materials have this same issue. leather is a good example of weakness from flexing.

 

[s14sh3r]

The main reason is what Leatherman said. I know it'll eventually break. Also, it flexes enough while walking that the knife handle hits against the piece. The click click click gets annoying pretty fast.

 

[Omega Leather Works]

With all due respect Dwayne, that's not entirely true. Elastic deformation shouldn't cause many problems. Plastic deformation (bending to the point where the material stays bent) will cause problems over time, but it depends on the material. Most materials have an atomic makeup that prevents damage from elastic deformation flexing.

As far as kydex goes, I'm just not sure. I do know that it handles impact under extremely cold temperatures pretty well. I can understand the thwack thumping getting old though.

 

[leatherman]

Just took a chunk o kydex out of the scrap bin and yep, the more its flexed the weaker it gets. Doesn't take all that much bending either.

The main reason is what Leatherman said. I know it'll eventually break. Also, it flexes enough while walking that the knife handle hits against the piece. The click click click gets annoying pretty fast.

Agreed, the kydex sheaths I do have are rather noisy. One cost me a nice buck, no more on hunts there on out.

 

[Kiah]

Yes, .125 will flex a lot less than .080. Enough to completely eliminate the possibility of cracking or the click? Don't know as I haven't made any that style out of it. Kydex clips have built in issues. Doing a low carry position just multiplies the problems.

My suggestion for what you're wanting might be to use a piece of .125 in the same way, but cut it off about an inch after the bend and attach a thick leather loop with snaps in place of the rest and the TL. The leather would take most of the flex and wouldn't make the clicky noise as it bumps the handle. If nothing else, you could just stick some leather on the back of what you've got to cut the noise down.

Just off the top of my head really and others may have better ideas. I think Kydex is a wonderful sheath material, but it sucks for attachments IMO.

 

[chiral.grolim]

A few years ago I developed this "Universal Kydex Extension":

[video=youtube;COKvk-AcNzk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COKvk-AcNzk[/video]

I've made and sold ~100 of these made from two layers of kydex (0.06 or 0.08) held together with eyelets in the 'head' and 'base'. I am working toward a revision made from single-layer 0.125 kydex later this year, just trying to determine alternative hole placements and manufacture improvements to increase versatility and lower the price. The double-layer design keeps the extension stiff while allowing for a lot of flex on demand, and I haven't had any issue with clicking nor with weakening plastic. I have a prototype in 0.125 kydex that also doesn't present an issue. If you have "clicking", look to the source of the problem - the extension arm needs to be sufficiently stiff but also needs to be properly positioned such that minimal flexing will not impact the handle of the knife. Straighten-out your "S" bend a little, and use thicker plastic :thumbup:

BTW, give away thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...quot-Universal-Kydex-Extension-quot-Give-Away!

 

[s14sh3r]

A few years ago I developed this "Universal Kydex Extension":

[video=youtube;COKvk-AcNzk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COKvk-AcNzk[/video]

I've made and sold ~100 of these made from two layers of kydex (0.06 or 0.08) held together with eyelets in the 'head' and 'base'. I am working toward a revision made from single-layer 0.125 kydex later this year, just trying to determine alternative hole placements and manufacture improvements to increase versatility and lower the price. The double-layer design keeps the extension stiff while allowing for a lot of flex on demand, and I haven't had any issue with clicking nor with weakening plastic. I have a prototype in 0.125 kydex that also doesn't present an issue. If you have "clicking", look to the source of the problem - the extension arm needs to be sufficiently stiff but also needs to be properly positioned such that minimal flexing will not impact the handle of the knife. Straighten-out your "S" bend a little, and use thicker plastic :thumbup:

BTW, give away thread: http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/s...quot-Universal-Kydex-Extension-quot-Give-Away!

Ingenious design! I was messing around in the shop the other day and decided to try a doubled piece. I had to reheat and press 4 times because I didn't like the way it kept turning out, but I was satisfied with attempt number 4.

(It looks like one of the screws mounting the tek lock is hitting the handle in the picture, but it isn't. It's just the angle of the pic.