While waiting for HT, Saturday project got out of control!

[ERIK KNIVES]

Well, admittedly, this is a bit much. I wanted to make a kydex press while I was waiting for my first knives to come back from HT. I've read that some folks don't like the hinged on one side type and prefer a vice-type press, but speed seems to be a concern in a standard vice. I bought some scrap metal to see what I could come up with.

I determined I would probably not need bigger than a 11.5 X 6 inch bed, so I made it that size as the foam I had was 11.5 wide. I still need to cut and attach the foam.

I'm sure there's a better way to do this, but here's mine.

Stress test.

I need to add some type of locking mechanism, maybe a tie-down. This thing works pretty darn good and applies quite a bit of pressure. I'm not recommending this as a build, unless you want to play around and see what works. I haven't even made a sheath before, but like I said, my first knives are at HT and I needed something to do...

Erik

 

[Fellhoelter]

Awesome,

I love Rube Goldberg too !!!

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

Awesome,

I love Rube Goldberg too !!!

Thank you sir for the reply. I just fell on the floor laughing.

 

[Fellhoelter]

I just s*&t myself laughing.

My work here is done...

 

[Fellhoelter]

I take it back, my work ain't done.

Drill some holes in your vertical guide pins, and you can pin the plate down to lock it.

Or weld some eyes and hooks on the sides, that you can latch when compressed...

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

Thanks, Brian!

Funny and smart - I'll have to check out your work.

E.

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

Thanks, Brian!

Funny and smart - I'll have to check out your work.

E.

I just saw your website and remembered that I have looked at it before when I saw the knives - very nice, I was impressed both times I looked! Thanks for the help, it's clear you know how to build and your knives rock.

E.

 

[Fellhoelter]

Thanks for the compliments.

I really should update that site.

Everything there is Old.

Hell I don't even live in Cali anymore.

There's about half a dozen options come to mind for locking that thing.

You probably have more.

I have no doubt you have some ideas, since you are obviously a capable welder and contraption builder.

 

[tattooedfreak]

Drill some holes and use bolts, you could also use it to make micarta, I think.

 

[sunshadow]

Nice press!

-Page

 

[gixxer]

wholly crap batman! That press is pretty sweet!

 

[blindhogg]

That is a nice press,when I first looked at it thought it would not work. But then I noticed the main upright is hinged not fixed. If you could find a way for it to ratchet down when the handle was lowered ,that would be awesome.

 

[howiesatwork]

Nice plastic parts smusher! Yep, it should work better than a hinged type, and much faster, too.

 

[Alden Sherrodd]

Erik, very nice work!
For the locking mechanism, how about a hook hanging off each end of the top plate? As the press is pulled down the hooks would latch as it passes the bottom plate. To unlatch, just pull down and flip each hook up to lay on top of the top plate. No springs or difficult mechanisms, just a hinged hook.
Sorry no drawing programs to clarify my description. I hope it makes sense.
Thanks for sharing your project.
Alden

 

[tryppyr]

Looks like you could have a lucrative business making presses for knifemakers. Good on you.

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

Erik, very nice work!
For the locking mechanism, how about a hook hanging off each end of the top plate? As the press is pulled down the hooks would latch as it passes the bottom plate. To unlatch, just pull down and flip each hook up to lay on top of the top plate. No springs or difficult mechanisms, just a hinged hook.
Sorry no drawing programs to clarify my description. I hope it makes sense.
Thanks for sharing your project.
Alden

I really appreciate everyone's ideas and input. What a great site this is! Alden, you explained that very well, no drawings necessary. I think I can take your idea and modify it so instead of one hooking point there are steps to accommodate different sheath thicknesses or overall downward pressure. That would still be fast like you describe. Or, a threaded stud on each side on a hinge that has a nut adjustment which falls into a channel. Ideally, one would pull it down and it would be locked in one motion.

Once I mess with it some more, I will post some pictures or video. Thanks again to everyone for looking.

Erik

 

[JasonSCarter]

I need to add some type of locking mechanism, maybe a tie-down. This thing works pretty darn good and applies quite a bit of pressure. I'm not recommending this as a build, unless you want to play around and see what works. I haven't even made a sheath before, but like I said, my first knives are at HT and I needed something to do...

Erik

How about a cam lock vice set up, or a chain lever come along?

Jason

 

[daviscustom]

I haven't got a clear picture of how to do it, but you should be able to redesign the clamping arm so that it breaks over center and locks itself....then you would just have make the length of the connection to your top press plate adjustable to accommodate different thicknesses and clamping force...or you could make it for "extra thick" and slide spacers under the foam for thinner pieces. You could look at dry mounting presses for photography and see how they are designed...some of them lock that way.


All you would have to do is put a bend in that center arm so that when you pull the arm down, the pivot point closest to the handle can break past center between the other two pivot points.....clear as mud?

You will have to probably tweak the locations of the pivot points away from the center line of your flat stock to make this possible.

 

[David Sharp]

I couldn't keep that in the shop I would display it in the living room. Very impressive.

 

[ERIK KNIVES]

Thanks to everyone for looking and all of the great ideas.

I decided to go "low tech" and easy on the locking mechanism. I wanted to paint it before the welds rusted any more. I may still play with a self locking set up in the future, but for now I am happy it is good-to-go.

the next pic is a limiting stop which greatly improves the action when opening by not letting the upright bars lean too far back.

Take care, everyone.

Erik