The Plastic Pants Project

Bawanna said:
Sad part is I'm way way closer and I'll be the first to get it.

Bad idea Single, BAD, BAD, BAD!! Don't do it, don't be thinking bout doing it. Erase your mind and delete your history.
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Don't worry, you'd be last, got to give you a fair headstart...:D
 
If it were me I'd use my tried and true bungy cord system even on or especially on a horizontal so the knife can move some if it gets caught on something.
But as you mentioned before, a clip of some sort would be nice for no belt days, sweat pants, that sort of thing. Probably not the best platform for a horizontal carry knife anyhow.

I've burned a fair amount of kydex and that's probably the best description of it since I ain't too good but I get r dun.

Like you say, long as you don't burn it up too bad you can heat it up and start over, done a lot of that too.
 
I haven't ruled out the clip for the Bowie just yet, but I don't think its best for the Western. Worn horizontally, the clip would be wider than the sheath, and we don't want that. Bungy cord might work, I was thinking paracord though, similarly to how ESEE attaches sheaths to belt with para and a cord-lock; Don't know how many of you are familiar with that design. Can you get a pic of your bungy setup?

About the forming, I only use a heat gun, no oven. It takes a little longer, maybe, but it's pretty hard to overheat the kydex. If you heat too long in one place, you just get a little shiny spot on the textured side. You can't even tell if it happens on the smooth side. Plus you don't have to find or buy an old toaster oven :cool:

For those of you who are unaware, heating kydex, much less burning it, has a particularly bad smell that sticks to whatever is around it, like a toaster oven. It is generally not recommended to cook in a toaster used for kydex, due to the chemicals, not to mention the horrible plastic taste you would impart on the food..
 
Not a great shot and I can't find one of the loop side but here's what I got. It's like para cord but it's stretchy.






Stays close to the body.


Here's another one that shows the belt side, pretty simplistic but it works well for me.

 
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Yep, that's exactly like what I was planning on trying for the Bowie, but with paracord. I'll give bungy a try. I know that setup would be perfect for me if I always wore a belt.

Seems like you go for minimal rivets on your sheaths huh? I like lots of holes myself, better for lashing to things and attaching other things to the sheath. Then again, rivets are a pain if you don't have a press :)
 
Wish I had a press, I got a round head bolt and a ball pein hammer. I generally don't lash to nothing cept myself. A few I've done I added a few more.

Truth be told I have a deep affection for leather but kydex has it's place. Definite retention plus's if you don't want straps or snaps which I don't.

Pugs nailed a couple for me on my bowie, they fit snug and stay put. I use em for dress up, sunday go to meetin an such. Class A uniform days. Etc etc.
 
The one thing I hate about making sheaths for my HI blades, is that I don't have the wonderfully crafted scabbards to show off with the knife!

I always found the sheath on my BAS to fit perfectly, but after I used it hard for a couple hours, it had a hard time going back into place. To make matters worse, I was 20' up in a pine tree at the time and had only left a couple branches to scramble down on, but that's neither here nor there. I do believe that one will be getting some kydex too, but next on my (personal) list is the Dui Chirra. That blade has undergone quite a transformation, and it has already earned its own future thread, once transforming is complete.
 
Ive got a Kydex and some Pugs pants for my lil Bowie. Really cool having both. I can use the Kydex in the swamp and not have to worry bout messin up my Sunday go to meetin pants.

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Cool having both. I know Pugs pants will do the dirt and everything else but there is something to be said of the convenience of hosing off Kydex. Kydex is usually bulkier tho. I still prefer leather myself.

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My wife's KLVUK has a Kydex sheath from a CS KLO and it fits perfect. It works great for her because it dries out before it rust her blade.
 
I made a kydex sheath for my KLVUK, came out pretty great if I do say so myself. Waiting on some longer Chicago screws to come in so I can attach the clip plate. I use .093" kydex for most if my sheaths, and used .125" for the plate. The little screws I had will attach a .93" plate no problem, but just couldn't get this one. I'll see if I can't find/take a couple pics of that later.

Maybe Karda will let me post in the sheath maker sticky by the end of this whole thing :)
 
My order came in yesterday that included the screws for my KLVUK sheath and some more kydex and other supplies for cul's. I grabbed a few pics of the KLVUK when I'd finished. The handle is getting pretty dark from use; you can see a light spot in the last pic, where the sheath wears just a tiny bit.







 
Excellent job SG! I see you are definitely talented bending that stuff. The finish work is supurb:thumbup: I like the front loading sheaths like that. I like the clip plate as well. Its so much more convenient not having to mess with the belt.
 
Looks good SG...good job! You're getting good with that kydex. Wish I had the time and skill to learn how to mold kydex, alas, my 4yo daughter takes up all my free time...lol
 
I love the sheath, not totally sold on the clip myself. For a quick grab and go short term situation, probably fine and dandy, for all day maybe not so much. For a smaller knife probably has a lot of merit and good points.

I fear too much knife in this case but I could be totally wrong too. It happened once before, i think it was 1967 or maybe 66, can't remember for certain.
 
Thanks guys!! I appreciate the kind words. I consider myself a rookie at this kydex stuff, still takes a while to get those nicely finished pieces. But I say strive for perfection and speed will come in time.

Bawanna, I'm sure you won't be easily convinced, but trust me when I say those clips are STRONG. I can barely open the clips an inch using my fingers. One time I was unlucky enough to get my finger in one while I was putting it on its plate; hurt like a mother and left a little bruise on my finger. Some of the clips I get also have a little "J" on the bottom, and it's actually quite hard to get the sheath off of a belt, even using both hands. Takes some practice. And it's even harder for those clips to come off when attached directly to pants rather than belt.

I'm much more concerned with the clip plate itself breaking or bending, which is why I used thicker kydex for that on the bigger knife.

The clips are actually some of the hardest parts to do for these sheaths. I've done a ton where the angle of the clip just came out a little wrong and the knife didn't feel right when hanging from the belt. Not to mention trying to make it fit around the curves of the formed sheath when the clip itself is flat...lots of minor tweaks and stuff. I came up with a pretty interesting way of doing that clip plate forming though, I'll take pics when I get that far.

Cul, I'd say give it 10-11 years, then get into kydex forming. With some good timing, you could be making sheaths for different khuks every time your daughter brings a boy home. Whether he offers to help or gets scared off, you're in good shape! Haha :D
 
SingleGrind said:
Cul, I'd say give it 10-11 years, then get into kydex forming. With some good timing, you could be making sheaths for different khuks every time your daughter brings a boy home. Whether he offers to help or gets scared off, you're in good shape! Haha :D
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Hmmm...might need to give that idea some thought. It would probably be better than leaving a firearm out on the table, and cleaning it; to use as an excuse as to why its out on the night her date is picking her up...hehehehe.
 
I don't need a table, I wear it. I kind of feel like a traitor what with my love for scarin off boys since I r and was one myself but I do enjoys it.

I guess all my own squirming plants the seed of me enjoying watching them squirm and in some cases beg for their life.

Maybe I need counselling?
 
"Bawanna, I'm sure you won't be easily convinced, but trust me when I say those clips are STRONG."

That's the beauty of the world we live in, no need to convince me of nothing, actually especially me since I'm a full time sitter and wearing my favorite khuk on my belt just ain't an option.

I know them clips well and I too have been trapped in their jaws a time or two also. They have their place, no argument or disagreement from me attall.
 
Been very busy lately, but I was able to find scattered time this week to work on sheaths. I started on the Western, thinking it would be easier than the bowie. Took lots of pictures throughout, and those tell a good story by themselves. Keep in mind, I'm my own camera man, so not too many action shots here.

Here's what's happened so far:



Started by taping the blade with thermoform tape, and cutting a piece of kydex to size



Next I heat the kydex with the help of my trusty heat gun and hot glove. I put it on wood and let the corners overhang, to look for the coveted "cheeseburger effect" as I've seen it called. This is when the corners start to droop, like cheese on a good burger. I think y'all know what I'm talking bout.



Then the knife gets folded in and pressed for 10-15 min. This is the stressful part as you wait to see if it came out alright, or if you have to reheat and press again. I always hate that since heating with the heat gun takes 5-6 min for just a small piece..



The moment of truth...and OK! The fold isn't perfect, but it looks usable since that will be cut/ground off.



I change the order of the next couple steps sometimes, but this time I drilled holes next.



Rough cut with the coping saw



Then coarse grit on the belt to round/smooth edges



Next, I gently heated the kydex by the top, to make a lip for the gaurd. After this step, like every step, I put the knife in to test the fit. Much to my dismay, the blade wobbled significantly after the removal of some kydex by the handle. Not good. In a hail mary attempt to fix it, I heated one side of the sheath and pressed again.



And it's a no go. Holes didn't line up, as expected, but more importantly, the blade still wobbled. Unfortunately, this one is headed to the scrap pile.



I should have mire time this weekend to start anew. On my next go, I will do a sandwich design rather than foldover, and I will only tape the handle, not the blade.

As weird as it is to say, I'm glad you all get to see this side of kydex forming. It ain't always smooth sailing!!

Stay tuned for the next attempt :)
 
Now that was interesting. Thanks for the explanations and pics. Hmmm...I'll need to try it one day. After this tutoring, I may give it a go.

Truth to tell, it looked good to me, but then I'm not there to experience the wobble, good try nonetheless! I'm sure your "try" would be way better than any try I would undertake...lol
 
I never drill the holes until I have the perfect or best fit I can get. I have drilled like one hole and installed the grommet loosely to hold that position for the multiple trips back to the oven or under the heat gun.
It can be frustrating trying to get that perfect fit, the snap in, snap out fit.
Seems you get it right in one place and lose it in another, back and forth.
Probably could be saved with time and or certainly used for something smaller. Seems even the little scrap pieces can be used for something.
 
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