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You dont need to invest in special machines to build one of these. I love the griddle idea. If so, wed love to have you as a Crew Leader by joining our annual membership! 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. How To Mold Kydex Holster - MoldProTips.com That is no surprise when you look at the benefits of Kydex. If you were to drill all the holes at once, you run the risk of mis-drilling a hole and messing everything up. If you do, theres a chance your cut will end up too small. However, it is a lot cheaper and easier to make a sheath with. Here they are: I do not. Often I use a goodwill toaster oven. Experiment. It really depends on the thickness of the Kydex your working with. I pre-drilled the holes in the ends so the wood did not split. DIY Kydex Press - YouTube Im Ahmed, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. Once youve got that all attached, meet me at the saw! They range from $75 to $150 or so, depending on the model. The top is assembled in the same fashion but with only one 2x4 centered for a clamping point. The disk must also be folded over in order for the pressure to apply. To do this, I place my Kydex sheets on my electric grill. General Knife Safety What I do is cut two pieces of Kydex sheet, then attach them together to form the sheath. So cut two pieces a little bigger than the blade itself. Pinch Forming Press Forming Vacuum Forming Molding Foams New Products For April Thermoform Molding Foam For KYDEX Holster Making - (Xtreme Form) - (8x12x1) $19.95 View Buy These are what hold the 2 parts of the sheath together. Standing head and shoulders above all Im James, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. Step 2: The Base I first started out by cutting my 1X3 boards and making a frame. At its simplest a Kydex press is a rigid board with a thick piece of foam glued to it as a base, with top made the same way. Now, with the exception of the first 2 by the throat, the eyelet position really doesnt matter, just make it look good. Bend the wings 9. I bet that works great! 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. Over the last 20 years, we have developed the number one selling steel design KYDEX molding press systems in the 12"- and 24"-inch KYDEX press. There are many ways to use the press, and only a little woodworking experience is needed to make one yourself. I went with it because it seemed to be a material I could work with easily. An avid outdoorsman, shooter, fly fisherman and fellow connoisseur of BOSS Coffee! Cut the template 2. Duh. With bare hands, it could be too hot to handle. You can find this stuff on amazon, ebay, knifemaking supply places, even tandy leather has it. Medical Bag Updates: Repacking & Maintaining Over the Counter Medications, Go-To Preparedness Bags and Food Selections, Consider the Three Ps Before Packing for Your Next Trip, Hack Saw or Coping Saw, a band saw would be ideal, Vice or other type of clamps that you can tighten down, Two pieces of plywood, 12 x 12 square should be sufficient for most knife sheath projects, KYDEX sheeting, different sizes and thicknesses are available, Rivets get the proper size for the KYDEX you intend to use. 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. Now, mark out the spots for the rest of the eyelets. While the Kydex is still hot, place it in your Kydex press . The best part? This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. 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. Nor do you have to leave your knife out in the open, exposed to all the elements. Step 1: Tools and Materials. I made mine to follow the profile of the knife, pretty easy to do. Kydex. Don't worry these are 3" screws I later went back and put in 2 1/2" screws and the no longer stick out. I don't have any foam to sell you today. The 2x4's will act as feet for the bottom. Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. Now, im making what im going to call a 'hamburger' style sheath, theres a layer of kydex (bun), the knife (patty), then another layer of kydex (other bun). First, cut a small piece of leather about one inch long and about half an inch wide. Methods for Molding Kydex | eHow It also comes with a 3-piece hardened ram set that will assist with pin flaring and other shop chores (see image). 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. 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. One hole is quite a bit larger. 7. A quick how-to on building your own press for making Kydex holsters, sheaths, and mag carriers. Then take your eyelet, eyelet setter, and hammer, and get to work. This way, its easy to slip your knife in and out of the sheath. Do you sell Tek-Lok belt clips? 9. You can put weights on top to do this, or use clamps to hold it shut. So take scissors or a cutter and remove all the excess Kydex. Im using a bandsaw, but for those of us who are power-tool challenged, a coping saw would work just as well. Now, you should have one bun for the proverbial hamburger. Now you have the location for 2 holes in the right general place. To begin, start by measuring and cutting your sheet. Here again, amazon, ebay, etc. You should also have your Vice/C-Clamps and Foam Press within arms reach. I'm building one this week. i need to buy all the tools from you to do the rivots you need to make a kit. I went a little more complicated, as I put a set of hinges to connect the top and bottom pieces. Once youve found a good spot, mark it. Finally, Find some pressure-relief material such as leather or Kydex coverings and stack them up! I hope this article is of some help to those who might be interested in making their own KYDEX sheaths. First, cut a small piece of leather about one inch long and about half an inch wide. You dont need a lot in the way of specialized tools, odds are you already have most of what you need laying around the house. Wrap it and press in another piece of metal to form the bend. Whaddup denizens of the internet, its ya boy guz- wait, wrong intro. Because i said so. 6 years ago, 1) Probably. Learn more about joining our Community as a Crew Leader. Sandwich your knife in between the two hot pieces of Kydex and press! 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? Make sure you add some space for the eyelets as well. Make sure to get the 8-8 eyelets, as those are just the right length for a double layer of .080 kydex, 3. This prevents large pieces of kydex from being pressed down and preventing a sharp knife hole through the material. They also supply tools, instructional books and all the hardware needed to complete just about any KYDEX related DIY project. i can hear a few of you screaming at your monitor. One of the few specialized tools you need, but well worth the $10. 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. It's difficult to explain how hard you need to press the Kydex. The finished product!!! For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. We carry a full line of KYDEX presses and vacuum forming systems. Using a knife is the best method for making a kydex press. 3. Contrast this to a 'taco" style sheath, which is made like a taco. Be careful if you do, too much force on the buff will melt the kydex. Homemade Kydex Press? | BladeForums.com Move quick, if you let the kydex cool too much it wont form like it should. At the very least i recommend using some sandpaper to smooth the rough edges, they can be a little rough from the saw cut. Pinch Forming Press Forming Vacuum Forming Molding Foams New Products For April Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (8x12x1.5) $29.95 View Buy Kydex is a thermoforming plastic made for use in gun holsters and knife sheaths. glad you enjoyed it mate! First things first, do a dry run at the press, just to make sure everything fits properly. Knowledge and tips to give you the mental edge and prevail in any situation. Wrap it and press in another piece of metal to form the bend. Im always trying to improve my cleaning and sharpening process, and always on the hunt for the next best knife. I want the special protective taped index finger and thumb vent kind . Ive seen that. And it isnt easy to buy a sheath that fits either since every blade is different. Today, we arent going to buy a sheath. Now is the time to add your decorations! Just simply slide your foam in between the top and bottom and your done! Here are the materials youll need: First you will need to make the molding blocks that you will use to form the KYDEX around your knife. 6104 W Pioneer Pkwy Ste 212Arlington, TX 76013[emailprotected]. Red shows up best on black kydex. If your knife is short, 5-6 should be enough. The lid is clamped shut and the vacuum turned on. If you're not careful, you might end up scorching more than just the plastic. I really recommend this one in particular, it works better than the others ive tried, 4. Bottom press board. However, it leaves less material available for mounting hardware. Make sure you give the eyelets some room to the edge, 1/8 to 1/4 should do. going to build that tomorrow. Using one piece wrapped around the blade is the easiest way to go and it creates a more narrow, lower profile sheath. In addition to this you will need a drill and a few drill bits. These substances could damage the Kydex and cause it to collapse upon itself. I used my bandsaw to make short work of it, here again a coping saw would do. In my case, the piece of kydex i was working off was small enough all i really needed to do was cut it in half at the bandsaw. Knife. Knife Terminology A kydex press is a great way to make some extra money as a skilled make-yourselfkydex sheaths. The secret is to heat it up first. It's what you use under your sleeping bag. For one, every knife needs a sheath. Eyelet Setter. You will want to make sure that you keep pressure on the mold long enough for it to form correctly. 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. Not only will this look better, but it will also make your Kydex sheath stronger. You are using an out of date browser. Gallery 481530.jpg 98.2 KB Views: 119 481531.jpg 116.3 KB Views: 64 481532.jpg Homemade Vacuum Press Table | LumberJocks Woodworking Forum If its a large knife I would recommend using two pieces of KYDEX riveted together on each side of the blade to allow for more stable mounting options, but for medium and small knives one piece of KYDEX wrapped around the blade is sufficient. So cut two pieces a little bigger than the blade itself. How to make a kydex holster/sheath press - B+C Guides Personally, i wanted a smoother look, so i turned to my 2x72 belt grinder and refined the shape a little. This is one side repeat for the other side. Once your first layer is completely dry, it is time to add your second one. Official Simple Little Life video of a simple DIY Kydex Press. Kydex does not have a memory, so that once it has cooled; it retains the shape it was molded to fit. A rubber mallet may also prove useful! Press the Kydex. Nicely done 'ible, very detailed in the process.I have two questions for you:1) Can this be done effectively to a 10 inch blade on the same budget? Heat it on high setting moving the heat gun constantly. Moving up to a 10 inch blade doesn't really require extra materials, just a little extra work, 2) Sitting on it would work, if you had 10 or 15 minutes to kill. Tools to give you the advantage over any Imminent Threats that come your way. Having a sheath to hold your knife and keep it safe is a wonderful thing. I chose to go with about a 1" spacing along that guideline. What I do is cut two pieces of Kydex sheet, then attach them together to form the sheath. Oh My Hell!!!!!! I like doing this one half at a time, just to make sure everything lines up properly. There are several options for MOLLE or belt mounting hardware including making your own out of another piece of KYDEX, this is where the Chicago screws can come in handy. You can use any heat source to soften your Kydex sheet. (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.) very cool press i will have to make me one. How to Make a Kydex Sheath - Knife Life - Blade HQ 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.