What You Need To Craft Your Own Kydex Sheath, link to Nakiri Vs Santoku Knife: The Battle of the Japanese Knives, link to Swiss Army Vs Leatherman: 6 Astonishing Differences. The order is - 1. Sometimes referred to as a "fold-over" or "1-piece" holster, the taco-style holster and/or taco knife sheath is one of the simplest and most versatile holster designs in the business. Disclaimer As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Why DIY Kydex Holsters Don't Work - Rounded by Concealment Express This is a short how to article for anyone interested in working with KYDEX. It only takes 5 easy steps to do this. Thanks to the generosity of our supporting members and occasionally earning money from qualifying purchases as an Amazon Associate, (when you click our Amazon links) weve eliminated annoying ads and content. 8 Steps. I bet that works great! I use a $20 Walmart griddle to heat the kydex, its easy and cheap. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Now that youve got that line laid out, cut to it. Step 2: The Base I first started out by cutting my 1X3 boards and making a frame. The right foam will be durable enough to withstand the pressure of the press, as well as flexible enough to mold to the shape of your project. The kydex press is a pretty basic tool that most people make use of. What kind of foam for kydex press? | Candle Power Flashlight Forum I leave it there until it softens enough for me to bend it around. I ran 2 Screws in each end. 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. Making a $21 Kydex Press (And my first kydex sheath) - YouTube Duh. While the Kydex is still hot, place it in your Kydex press . 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. In addition to this you will need a drill and a few drill bits. Use keywords to find the product you are looking for. Assuming all went well in the dry run, now for the wet run, which involves no water. They offer KYDEX in various colors and thicknesses. 6 years ago, 1) Probably. 9. Start with the half you did the layout on, and make the holes using a 1/4" brad point drill bit. The two Kydex sheets are now stuck together, but they need to be sealed. 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. This is one side repeat for the other side. Subscribe to Simple Little Life: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSz. The first step is to draw out a line to cut to. 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. 6104 W Pioneer Pkwy Ste 212Arlington, TX 76013[emailprotected]. Dont trim it to the exact size yet. And there you have it! Instead, find another way to make custom kydex sheaths! Im using a toaster oven, but a regular over or a heat gun would work as well, 7. If you are using an armored leather such as Kydex or a more rugged leather such as tup Olive Dras then it is recommended that the leather is thicker to provide more support. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. First things first, do a dry run at the press, just to make sure everything fits properly. How to make a kydex holster/sheath press - B+C Guides Sandwich your knife in between the two hot pieces of Kydex and press! So, what do we need for this, youre probably asking. All you need is some curved, beveled kydex tubing and you are ready to go. You are using an out of date browser. When you press the tip of the knife into the kydex, it should be grinded to a point. I see the idea of wood vise. (Top 10) Best Foam For Kydex Press in 2023 Based On Customer Feedback 3. You should make a YouTube video. Dont skip this part, its a lot easier to find out a piece is undersize now, rather than when its hot and floppy. Drill the holes far enough away from the edge of the blade so that when you add the rivets they will not pinch the cutting edge of your knife. Today, we arent going to buy a sheath. But before you do this, make sure you tape your blade with masking tape first. Kydex Holster Making Molds | DIY Tactical Gear | Oxcreek Tactical I've taken all of the guesswork out of making these magazine / handcuff combo carriers yourself. Because Kydex does not have a lot of directions, this process can be tricky. Most Kydex sheets are quite big, bigger than youll need. Amazon.com : 2 Sheets of Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform A hand drill would work just as well. A kydex press is a great way to make some extra money as a skilled make-yourselfkydex sheaths. Make sure to get the 8-8 eyelets, as those are just the right length for a double layer of .080 kydex, 3. Building a Kydex press and making a Kydex Sheath Tutorial As you can see I drilled 3 holes and placed the tee nuts and screwed the pieces together tightly. You must log in or register to reply here. A hacksaw could do in a pinch. For the wrap around style of sheath first lay your knife flat on the KYDEX about one inch from the edge and roll the knife over once then add another inch, this will give you the proper width of KYDEX to fully wrap around the blade and should leave you with some extra screw up material. Because i said so. Im using a drill press because, hey, burn em if youve got em. Aug 30, 2004 #2 chrisse242 Enlightened Joined Dec 12, 2003 Messages 899 Location Germany It is low cost and easy to learn. Either way, you need some way to squish the kydex to shape, 6. Wrap it and press in another piece of metal to form the bend. Its cheap, rugged, non-marring of your guns finish, moldable for good retention, smooth for a consistent draw, and does not react to normal temperatures or gun solvents or oils. These can be paper, yarn, fabric, and/or materials such as wood or ceramic. Now you just need to get them in exactly the right place. As you can see I drilled 3 holes and placed the tee . The 2x4's will act as feet for the bottom. There are some sites that list these colors so that you can find ones that work for you. Total investment? If you're not careful, you might end up scorching more than just the plastic. 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. You may want to move to a higher grit paper to smooth off the edge, you can also buff the edge just by rubbing it on your jeans. So, why kydex? It also comes with a 3-piece hardened ram set that will assist with pin flaring and other shop chores (see image). To do this, bore holes around the blade. General Knife Safety This will morph the flat sheets into the shape of the knife. Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. Im using a bandsaw, but for those of us who are power-tool challenged, a coping saw would work just as well. i can hear a few of you screaming at your monitor. If you have to use an edge, make sure it is a sharp one! Im Ahmed, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. One of the few specialized tools you need, but well worth the $10. Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. Drilling the belt clip. That is so you can get a screw driver in to tighten the chicago screw that mounts the clip to the sheath. After 10 minutes, check and see if its nice and floppy. Kydex is not the only plastic compound that has this property. That way, you can stop walking around with it in your hands constantly, you creep. Tip But the original idea behind what we wanted it to be is this description below:Videos on our journey to homesteading. 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. Keep the rougher sides on the outside. To begin, start by measuring and cutting your sheet. Did you make this project? Alright, youve got 2 halves now, time to stick em together to make a whole! Skills we advocate to get you through anything life throws at you. This only takes 30 seconds. These are what hold the 2 parts of the sheath together. 2) Can I sit/push down, or set books on top of the foam setup, instead of clamping it while it cools? 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. Here is the bottom. 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It consists of a hard, disk-like material that you place inside your hand and where the pressure is applied against. Place your Kydex sheets in at 250 degrees for ten minutes. Im always trying to improve my cleaning and sharpening process, and always on the hunt for the next best knife. For longer knives, add a few more. Photo Gallery #2 If you were to drill all the holes at once, you run the risk of mis-drilling a hole and messing everything up. If your knife is short, 5-6 should be enough. It works, just not that great. (DIY) How to Make a Kydex Sheath - 5 Easy Steps | Knife Pulse I don't have any foam to sell you today. Methods for Molding Kydex | eHow 5. Just make sure you dont burn your Kydex in the process! Lay your knife onto your kydex, then trace a line around the profile, leaving about 1.25" between the line and the knife. Here they are: I do not. The KYDEX Taco Holster press is similar in design to a book press. To make the decoration sheets, I used leftover hot glue and cuttings from plants. You have almost everything you need to make this in your house! Heat Source. These two suggestions may not apply to all wallets, but we will discuss them here! 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. A sheath will give you so much convenience, and also prolong the life of your knife. Once your Kydex is sealed, all theres left to do is trim it. It's difficult to explain how hard you need to press the Kydex. Before we get into the how, let me first answer the why. Here are the parts needed. First, cut a small piece of leather about one inch long and about half an inch wide. If you stop here, youll have quite an ugly sheath. Enough food, back to business. You can put weights on top to do this, or use clamps to hold it shut. There are many ways to use the press, and only a little woodworking experience is needed to make one yourself. Scribe a line around the outline of the knife, with about a 1/4" offset, like the picture. This is to show proper assembly. Luckily, we have a few tips to make your second press perfect! Remember, the shiny side of the kydex should be touching the knife, the rough side should be facing outward. It is a hard material, one that you cant bend easily. However, what makes Kydex so useful is that unlike plastics, Kydex doesnt off gas toxic fumes at forming temperatures. Step 1 Heat the Kydex. At 320-degrees Fahrenheit, the Kydex will soften and you will be able to work with it effectively. I have bought most of my supplies from Tracy and he got them to me quick and everything was right. A quick how-to on building your own press for making Kydex holsters, sheaths, and mag carriers. DIY Primer on How to Get Started Working with KYDEX Anyway, move over to your toaster oven and set it to 250 degrees, then pop both kydex pieces in for about 10 minutes. Does it make my butt look big? Kydex Rotating Knife Sheath : 17 Steps (with Pictures) - Instructables I wouldnt say that Kydex is better than leather. Then use the hydraulic press to press down on the Kydex and blade. going to build that tomorrow. The heated Kydex is wrapped around whatever it will sheathe, and then sandwiched between the two pieces and then clamped or weighted heavily until the plastic cools. First, make sure the back of your first press is flush with the back of your new one. Voting on the iOS app is a little weird. (For a taco sheath: do the same thing, but put the Kydex on the press, place the blade on the Kydex, and fold the Kydex over the knife so that the crease very closely follows the spine of the blade.) DIY - How To Make Kydex Holsters - Triangle Tactical I'd stopped doing them because of my press sucking, and my wife hating the smell in her oven. Seriously though, kydex is a great choice if youve never made a sheath before because of how easy it is to work with. Also, before you press, make sure the shiny sides of your Kydex sheets are on the inside of the sandwich. Bit selection is important, the brad point bit will make a nice, clean hole in the kydex, a twist drill tends to tear it up. The hardest thing to come by was the foam ,I found some knealing pads at a farm co-op near my work they sell them for milking cows they were $2 each but you could get some at any store with a garden center at a higher cost. Alrighty, now that everything's stuck together, time to bring the sheath down to size. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. What the devil is that?!" 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. Hold the heat gun about four to six inches away from the KYDEX and fan it over the surface. Step 1: Tools and Materials. Being a carry permit holder I have a thing for gun holsters, being a big guy, I spend a lot of time baking sure that my holsters are comfortable and work well with the clothing I wear. Yes, this is necessary. This time around, im going to show you how to make a basic sheath from a material called kydex, so you actually have a place to store your stabby new toy. I will sometimes lay down a 3/16" thick piece of felt to slightly conforum the back. I like doing this one half at a time, just to make sure everything lines up properly. First off, stop screaming, youre freaking out the neighbors. It may not display this or other websites correctly. But when Im not spending time with my hobby, Im here, writing about Knives and Sharpeners on KnifePulse to share with you what I learn along the way. Sandwich your knife in between the two hot pieces of Kydex and press! They also supply tools, instructional books and all the hardware needed to complete just about any KYDEX related DIY project. It really depends on the thickness of the Kydex your working with. But for those who are unsure about which knife will be Swiss Army Vs Leatherman: 6 Astonishing Differences. What I do is cut two pieces of Kydex sheet, then attach them together to form the sheath. Knife. Using one piece wrapped around the blade is the easiest way to go and it creates a more narrow, lower profile sheath. Now you need to decide if you want to make your sheath from two pieces of KYDEX (a front and back) or from one piece wrapped around the blade. Awesome Instructable! The order is -. Rounded over the corners, beveled the edges, got rid of anything that could snag, made sure the knife slid securely. DIY Primer on How to Get Started Working with KYDEX - ITS Tactical The Kepler Cardigan from PDW: Versatile Adventurer Insulation What to Keep in Your Aid Bag Can a 7-Year-Old Vehicle Bag Stand Up to Texas Heat? Using a knife is the best method for making a kydex press. or do you have a kydex stater kit.. How to Build a Homemade Kydex Press | Tennessee Gun