I am recently retired and want to give making kydex sheaths a try. I see many sites that supply the material, but I need a good "how to" source, or at least some initial guidence. Is a special heat source needed or can the old stove do the trick? Any info or advice would be appreciated. thanks
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want to give kydex a try
- Thread starter mike56
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PlaceKnives
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Texas Knifemaker's Supply has a tutorial on their website that walks you through the process of making a kydex sheath.
A heat gun is all you need to mold and shape the material.
This site has all you will need as far as eyelets and materials.
http://www.knifekits.com/store/s-pages/kk_store_1mainframe.htm?kk_products_parts_main.htm~smain
A heat gun is all you need to mold and shape the material.
This site has all you will need as far as eyelets and materials.
http://www.knifekits.com/store/s-pages/kk_store_1mainframe.htm?kk_products_parts_main.htm~smain
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Check this out...http://www.knifekits.com/store/s-pages/kk_store_1mainframe.htm?kk_products_parts_main.htm~smain
Mike K.
Mike K.
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Do a search on the Shop Talk forum here. There is LOTS of info there 
fitzo
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While I have not tried the stove, I have found that in the learning phase where I sit with this process, a heatgun is a godsend, allowing for the quick re-heat to correct errors. We made a press and all that, and found we weren't getting a good enough impression with the thicker Kydex, and it needed reheat and "tune-up" to get the form fitting we were seeking. The other suggestion I would make as you begin is to make sure and leave plenty of excess material to do a lot of trimming of the edges, or you may find out you ran out of border material to insert chicago screws without having them hanging over the sides of the plastic! A pair of good cotton gloves to do some hand-forming of the hot sheet sure did help us alot as beginners.
Some of you old farts like me may remember a Mattel toy many years ago that was nothing more than a heated vacuum table wherein you put objects on the table, placed a sheet of thin plastic over it and hit the switch, sucking the plastic down over the object and creating a plastic duplicate. I wonder if this idea could be made to work with Kydex sheathes? (At least, I think I remember that. Someone, please, tell me it isn't one of those "chemical" moment remnants from too much early 1970's.... )
Some of you old farts like me may remember a Mattel toy many years ago that was nothing more than a heated vacuum table wherein you put objects on the table, placed a sheet of thin plastic over it and hit the switch, sucking the plastic down over the object and creating a plastic duplicate. I wonder if this idea could be made to work with Kydex sheathes? (At least, I think I remember that. Someone, please, tell me it isn't one of those "chemical" moment remnants from too much early 1970's....
)
RokJok
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Howdy Mike,
Check the info & links in the following thread for info on kydex sheath making. The first link (the Shop Talk Archive one) in my posting of several links is well worth reading, if for no other reason than that it contains a LOT of info from various makers & points up the fact that there are often a couple ways of doing the various steps involved in making a kydex sheath. The tutorials by Jens Anso are also nice in that they give you both pictures & text descriptions.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=252970
As Andrew implied, the "search" button at the top of each page here at BFC is your friend when delving for information.
Check the info & links in the following thread for info on kydex sheath making. The first link (the Shop Talk Archive one) in my posting of several links is well worth reading, if for no other reason than that it contains a LOT of info from various makers & points up the fact that there are often a couple ways of doing the various steps involved in making a kydex sheath. The tutorials by Jens Anso are also nice in that they give you both pictures & text descriptions.
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=252970
As Andrew implied, the "search" button at the top of each page here at BFC is your friend when delving for information.
fitzo..... thanks for your input. I just bought a cheap heat gun and am waiting for material to arrive. I had one of those vacum form toys, but for the life of me, i can't remember what it was called .. vacuform? If you gave a kid a big heat plate now, you'd get arrested for abuse.