User fix for not-tight-enough kydex on CRKT Dogfish?

[peacefuljeffrey]

Hi, I just got delivery of four CRKT Dogfish neck knives, but the kydex sheaths... while they're well-made-ish, they DON'T GRIP THE KNIVES TIGHTLY ENOUGH.

If I could just soften the kydex near the choil, and reform it a bit closer together, I think that would do the trick.

ARE THERE WAYS TO REMOLD THE KYDEX AFTER IT'S BEEN DONE THE FIRST TIME?

I'm hopin'... I'm realllly hopin'!

 

[Emanuel]

It can be tightened up.

I would use my heat gun for a job like this. If you don't have one maybe even a hair drier but I'm not sure it's hot enough. It might be though especially for just a simple tightening job.

Lie the sheath flat on a table and slowly and very carefully heat up the part of the sheath you want tighter, Don't reheat the entire sheath. You mentioned the problem is at the choil area. That's where you aim the heat gun.
Before careful not to burn it though, many people, even too many knifemakers don't realize that burned kydex produces a coating that is very corrosive to steel. Burned kydex belongs in the trash.

Anyway, after you've heated that portion of the sheath up, and thus softened a bit the area of the kydex sheath, take a foam which is not too soft and press down hard on that part of the sheath. Now quickly run it under cold water before it cools on it's own. Kinda like quenching steel you want to do it quickly for best results.

Finding a foam, or other material which has the right consistency can be tricky. Not too hard, but certainly not too soft or it won't work.

I think I covered the bases but if you have any questions please ask.

Good luck.

 

[Cougar Allen]

 

[Salamander42]

If you don't have a heat gun and the hair drier ends up not being hot enough, you can heat the whole sheath in the oven. I forget the temp. that I used when I tried something similar, but you should be able to find a tutorial with a little searching on google. Make sure the oven is pre-heated!!!! I ruined one sheath by sticking it in the oven before it was done preheating. The other one turned out good.

I got one of those foam kneeling pads that they sell in the patio/garden section in the department stores and used it to make a small kydex press. I just glued two pieces of the foam to two boards. Once the kydex is heated up, slip the knife into the sheath and make a "sandwich" out of the foam covered boards with the knife in the middle. I use a large bench vice to clamp the boards together tightly. You can also just stand on top of it for a few minutes 'till the kydex hardens back up. I read a post somewhere where someone was putting their press on a floor jack and jacking it up under their truck until it lifted the wheel off the ground. That seems a little extreme to me, but whatever works for ya is all good.

 

[alejandrino]

If all you want is a tighter grip on the knife and want the tang area tighter, this is what I do. Place the knife in and get something to press the tang area( a tight clip ot rubber band it) so there is no gap around the tang area of the knife and place in the hot sun for acouple of days. Make sure that when the clip is on, the knife stays put. Try to wiggle it or pull it out with before putting it out in the sun. Usually it tightens the kydex enough. I have done this several times and it works. Also, where it is loose, press a clip and the heat from the sun should deform that area. I usually leave it by my window where the sun shines for a few days to be sure. If there is a gap at the choil, press that area also.