CKK Sheath/Holster Molding Press - Bench Model - (8 x 12) | KnifeKits.com A kydex press is a great way to make some extra money as a skilled make-yourselfkydex sheaths. I went with it because it seemed to be a material I could work with easily. Then, mark where one side of the press meets one edge of the hollow space to create a guide for removing the press later. Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. You will love it! Building a Kydex press and making a Kydex Sheath Tutorial As you can see I drilled 3 holes and placed the tee . That is so you can get a screw driver in to tighten the chicago screw that mounts the clip to the sheath. First things first, you need to decide where to put the holes (teehee, puns). Tools to give you the advantage over any Imminent Threats that come your way. The Black and Decker Workmate is my workaroundnot a wood vise, per se; but it has the length, at least; and you can augment that with 2x4s for surface area. Kydex is not the only plastic compound that has this property. Official Simple Little Life video of a simple DIY Kydex Press. Contrast this to a 'taco" style sheath, which is made like a taco. This is one side repeat for the other side. If so, wed love to have you as a Crew Leader by joining our annual membership! Our KYDEX press foams are used in every level of holster making, from professional kydex presses all the the way to DIY kydex presses, and even homemade kydex press designs. I love the griddle idea. To form this stuff, use a paint remover heat gun, around $20. Aspiring chefs who are getting around to learning more about Japanese knives will appreciate how they can improve your overall culinary skills. How to make a Kydex Concealed Holster at Home? - Legionary While the back side with the belt loop is fairly flat. I see the idea of wood vise. What is a cheap wood vise? For this I used a belt sander, it removes the burs and can be used for final shaping of the KYDEX. I made my own press out of a few hunks of 3/4" plywood ,I purchased a couple of big hinges I attached the hinges to one end and I use a fast close clamp for woodworking. You need to be quick and precise when placing the pistol, Kydex, and spacer into the mold, it might take some experimenting, and don't be afraid to re-heat the Kydex in the oven if you didn't get it right the first time. Many offer free tutorials or just show you how to get started. We carry a full line of KYDEX presses and vacuum forming systems. First things first, do a dry run at the press, just to make sure everything fits properly. Instead, Im going to teach you how to make your very own Kydex sheath. Share it with us! If it doesnt, increase the heat to 275, wait 10 more minutes and try again. First, make sure the back of your first press is flush with the back of your new one. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Make sure you can center the knife in the piece of kydex, with a generous border around it as shown in the pictures. After 10ish or so minutes, the kydex should be cool and holding its shape, which should be the shape of the knife with a fair degree of detail. So cut two pieces a little bigger than the blade itself. I got mine from Tandy Leather. Attach the leather 7. The finished product!!! This was very helpful to do separately, as some people may not have used glue before this process. Did you make this project? The only thing I could add to this great tutorial is, For some of my smaller knives, I only have foam on the top half of the press. Using a knife is the best method for making a kydex press. If you are more advanced, you can switch to using the more advanced presses from above. Our Master Series press also comes with (2) Allen wrenches for making press adjustments and securing set screw in tool holder. I've taken all of the guesswork out of making these magazine / handcuff combo carriers yourself. I leave it there until it softens enough for me to bend it around. You made it so simple and that jsut cleared up all my questions. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'knifepulse_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_9',170,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-knifepulse_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');To make a Kydex sheath, you will need: With these, you are ready to start making your Kydex sheath. 8 Steps. Learn more about joining our Community as a Crew Leader. Before we get into the how, let me first answer the why. Kydex Rotating Knife Sheath : 17 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables Finally, Find some pressure-relief material such as leather or Kydex coverings and stack them up! Methods for Molding Kydex | eHow DIY Primer on How to Get Started Working with KYDEX Thanks a bunch for the tutorial, Tracy. Once your first layer is completely dry, it is time to add your second one. Do the gloves come free with purchase?,.. Now that you have 1 side drilled, use some squeezy clamps to clamp the 2 halves together with the knife inserted, to keep everything lined up. Once your Kydex is sealed, all theres left to do is trim it. Now, you should have one bun for the proverbial hamburger. Reply For one, every knife needs a sheath. Now, technically, if you work the saw right, this is your last step. My personal experience working with KYDEX is somewhat limited and there may be others here with more experience and knowledge on the subject, so feel free to add your thoughts. Make sure you can center the knife in the piece of kydex, with a generous border around it as shown in the pictures. This only takes 30 seconds. After that, it should be floppy. Most are quite expensive, coming around $80-$120. Whelp, its a short list: 1. Can a 7-Year-Old Vehicle Bag Stand Up to Texas Heat? Made right, your knife press will feel like a butter knife in your hand. Now you just need to get them in exactly the right place. But the original idea behind what we wanted it to be is this description below:Videos on our journey to homesteading. Often I use a goodwill toaster oven. Step 1: Heat the Kydex Until It Has the Consistency of Wet Leather, the Griddle Does a Great Job of Heating the Kydex Evenly. It's difficult to explain how hard you need to press the Kydex. 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Your sense of humor would be awesome to see. *saw/sander/grinder *drill *Kydex sheet *sharpie marker Ask Question Step 2: Preparation. Insert an eyelet in that hole, secure it (the eyelet setting tool should com with instructions, if not Tandy has an excellent video) then drill a second hole. I'd stopped doing them because of my press sucking, and my wife hating the smell in her oven. You can get a short length of steel rod, or you can buy extra long ones to make more presses. When it comes to multi-tools there are only two brands to seriously consider the Swiss Army knife (the original multi-tool) and the tools from Leatherman. Then use the hydraulic press to press down on the Kydex and blade. or do you have a kydex stater kit.. A rubber mallet may also prove useful! Rough-cut the leather 6. You must log in or register to reply here. Red shows up best on black kydex. The lid is clamped shut and the vacuum turned on. A little heat on the sheath lips after the sheath is assembled will allow you to open them slightly to make inserting the knife a little easier. Chosen for its high performance in the fabrication process; not only does it produce more detail in formed parts, it can be used on both sides but of its skin. You can buy the presses pre-assembled for a little under $100, or you can do what i did, get some heat-resistant foam and some plywood and make your own. We recommend starting with a KYDEX Molding Press. I want the special protective taped index finger and thumb vent kind . Use keywords to find the product you are looking for. Participated in the Knives and Blades Challenge. If you want to experiment with kydex you need a kydex press like all my projects, I wanted something cheap and simple to test out before I invested in quality tools this posts kydex press is just such a tool. Today, we arent going to buy a sheath. To start, you can preheat your oven to between 200-250 degrees. If you are using a smooth, soft leather such as peau dorange, then it is recommended that you choose a texture that has some line-work or lining. No issues, heat it back up and try again, kydex is awesome like that! going to build that tomorrow. Be careful if you do, too much force on the buff will melt the kydex. Foam Layer. At ITS, our goal is to foster a community dedicated to learning methods, ideas and knowledge that could save your life. General Knife Safety How to Make a Kydex Knife Sheath - IN YOUR KITCHEN Bend the wings 9. I had a few knives that I really liked but loathed the sheaths they were supplied with, so I decided to make my own from KYDEX. Place your leather in the hollow space and wrap it securely in place with more leather. Step 1 Heat the Kydex. The two Kydex sheets are now stuck together, but they need to be sealed. I'm starting to make my own kydex sheaths but standing on the kydex to form it onto the blade isn't producing the results I want. You can find this stuff on amazon, ebay, knifemaking supply places, even tandy leather has it. Im using a bandsaw, but for those of us who are power-tool challenged, a coping saw would work just as well. Experiment. -------------- Most Kydex sheets are quite big, bigger than youll need. This to say, the outside of the sheath will have all the curves. Then take your eyelet, eyelet setter, and hammer, and get to work. Also, before you press, make sure the shiny sides of your Kydex sheets are on the inside of the sandwich. What I do is cut two pieces of Kydex sheet, then attach them together to form the sheath. Again, making a Kydex sheath is a lot easier than you may think. I apologize for the poor video quality, this was done with m. Make your own Adjustable Kydex Magazine / Handcuff Combo Carrier. Seriously though, kydex is a great choice if youve never made a sheath before because of how easy it is to work with. Because i said so. Doing the first 2 holes like this helps to keep everything lined up like it should be. [flickrset id=72157625796975779 thumbnail=square overlay=true size=large]. I'm building one this week. Usually grips over a larger surface area than a regular viseyou want that to put as even pressure as possible over the length of the sheath. This is reasonably low compared to average cooking and is intended to make the Kydex easier to handle sooner post-heating. Click the Learn More button below for details. These materials will protect your hard work from accidental presses and releases. The kydex really fits this knife's style quite well! An avid outdoorsman, shooter, fly fisherman and fellow connoisseur of BOSS Coffee! Use a couple squeezy clamps to hold the 2 halves together, then move them to different spots on the sheath until you find the ideal point for blade retention. Being a DIY enthusiast, it did not take me long to want to try my hand at molding Kydex. That way, you can stop walking around with it in your hands constantly, you creep. Alrighty, now that everything's stuck together, time to bring the sheath down to size. Leave it in the press for 3 or 4 minutes. Anyway, now that the kydex is nice and malleable, move it to the press the exact same way as before. Step 2: The Base I first started out by cutting my 1X3 boards and making a frame. This rod will be the base of your press. Hybrid Holster Making Kit w/Cowhide Leather Backer - (KYDEX) - (Black) - (Medium) - (RH), QLH - Holster Molding Prop - for Glock 19/23/32 (Butterfly). Enough food, back to business. Hammer. It could affect the molding of the kydex. All you need is some curved, beveled kydex tubing and you are ready to go. I really recommend this one in particular, it works better than the others ive tried, 4. 6104 W Pioneer Pkwy Ste 212Arlington, TX 76013[emailprotected]. Whaddup denizens of the internet, its ya boy guz- wait, wrong intro. 5. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. At this point, yours should still be considerably oversized, like mine is. I also countersunk the screw heads so they are flush with the plywood. Im sure most of the people here know of KYDEX and many of you probably own a KYDEX sheath or holster that was either sold with a blade or purchased for a hand gun. However, it leaves less material available for mounting hardware. I like doing this one half at a time, just to make sure everything lines up properly. Youll also need a 1/4 drill bit, preferably a brad point bit. One hole is quite a bit larger. Its possible the reason your moulds were not coming out well is that you waited a little too long and it wasn't flexible enough. There are some sites that list these colors so that you can find ones that work for you. What im planning on doing is the following: the problem you may have with putting weight on the mould, or that I've had using clamps is that you only have several seconds before the kydex cools to the point which it will not form well. Many people use YouTube or Youtube videos to help guide them into the world of making them. A hacksaw could do in a pinch. 1 year ago. Amazon.com : 2 Sheets of Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform I bet that works great! Tips on staying active, fueled and ready to overcome all obstacles. Its a lot easier than most people think. Ditto with the eyelets. 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All of my measurements are precise and designed to fit your Peerless Chain, Peerless 801 Hinge, ASP Hinged, or Smith & Wesson chain cuffs perfectly. Yours doesnt look that way, did the kydex not properly take the shape of the knife? You can use any heat source to soften your Kydex sheet. Skills we advocate to get you through anything life throws at you. They also supply tools, instructional books and all the hardware needed to complete just about any KYDEX related DIY project. A hand drill would work just as well. When the KYDEX is sufficiently pliable, lay your knife on the surface with the spine of the blade in the center then fold the KYDEX over the blade. i need to buy all the tools from you to do the rivots you need to make a kit. So take scissors or a cutter and remove all the excess Kydex. For Sale: Custom & Semi Production Knives (Dealer), KnifeMaker's Market: Knives & More for Sale, Wanted: Knifemaker / Craftsman / Related Services, Busse / Swamprat / Scrapyard Knives For Sale, For Sale: Traditionals, Slipjoints, "Old Timey", International (Non-US) For Sale & Trade Forums, http://www.blackanddecker.com/ProductGuide/CategoryOverview.aspx?cPath=1496.1506, http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42494. Standing head and shoulders above all Im James, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. Pushing it down or squeezing it likely wouldnt work, it takes some force. The flaring dies and sheath making foam can be found at knifekits.com, but all other tools (and hardware below) can be found at a hardware store. Voting on the iOS app is a little weird. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. CKK KYDEX Eyelet Flaring Press - Master Series - For KYDEX Sheath It will continue to soften up to about 390 degrees, but it will burn at 400 degrees. This is to show proper assembly. Once you press, keep it that way for about 10 minutes. I hope this article is of some help to those who might be interested in making their own KYDEX sheaths. Photo Gallery #2 I made mine to follow the profile of the knife, pretty easy to do. If you want you can substitute the Aluminum for another sheet of plywood 3/4". Now that youve got that line laid out, cut to it. Use keywords to find the product you are looking for. Here is the back of the sheath with the clip mounted. I will sometimes lay down a 3/16" thick piece of felt to slightly conforum the back. This only takes 30 seconds. The order is - 1. Wrap it and press in another piece of metal to form the bend. Click here to view the full KYDEX photo set on Flickr. Make sure you space these holes evenly. Adding the rivets and using the flaring die is pretty self explanatory just remember when setting the rivets one good tap with the hammer on the flaring die is better than a lot of little taps. Kydex. Normally I find the oven works best to begin the project, and I use a heat gun to spot heat for adjustments. Im always trying to improve my cleaning and sharpening process, and always on the hunt for the next best knife. Just make sure you dont burn your Kydex in the process! You should make a YouTube video. Once the Kydex is formed, you can add your patterns or decorations! You are using an out of date browser. Kydex layer numero dos. When it comes to creating custom holsters and sheaths, finding the best foam for your kydex press is essential. This may seem overly generous, but the materials cheap and while you can always cut some off later, you cant add it. The secret is to heat it up first. The disk must also be folded over in order for the pressure to apply. I have bought most of my supplies from Tracy and he got them to me quick and everything was right. Great info by the way i like your gloveslol. For those interested in just making a sheath or two, theres no need to purchase an expensive arbor press and other specialty tools, a lot of the work can be done with some tools that you probably already own. Do you sell Tek-Lok belt clips? These two suggestions may not apply to all wallets, but we will discuss them here! (no stitching required, I suck at that.) Simply glue the two pieces of sheath making foam to the two pieces of plywood, allow to dry and there you have it. Instead, find another way to make custom kydex sheaths! Seal the Kydex. How To Make A Kydex Press? - Homey Gears I should mention here, if you dont have my patented Heat-Proof Hands, wear some thin cotton gloves to protect yourself. Kinda like spagetti, but, you know, not. All you need is some Kydex and youre good to go! Get the stack assembled and get some pressure on it. Knife. Cut the template 2. As a completely optional step, use a felt wheel or loose cotton wheel with some white compound to give a little polish to the edges. I am using 2ea 1" thick pieces of neoprene for the mold foam.