MEMBER ITEMS FOR SALE
Custom Knives | Other Knives | General Items
-------------------------------------------
New Posts | New PhotosAll Photos



Go Back   The Knife Network Forums : Knife Making Discussions > Custom Knife Discussion Boards > The Sheath/Holster Makers Forum

The Sheath/Holster Makers Forum This is the place to discuss all forms of sheath and holster making.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 02-28-2008, 05:16 PM
NJStricker's Avatar
NJStricker NJStricker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,193
Kydex press

This question should probably go in the sheath making forum, but I thought I'd get more input over here. . .

Anyway, I am finishing up a tactical style knife for my brother in law who is about to deploy to the sandbox. I'm getting ready to fit a Kydex sheath, using 0.093" stock.

So, I am looking for advice from any of you that have built your own Kydex press. I've seen some of the tutorials out there, including Chiro75's. My plan is to use a woodworking vice I have, and mount 2 plywood plates to it. The plywood is 5/8" thick, and to that I will add some closed-cell foam (el cheapo camping pad from Wal-Mart) that is about 5/8-3/4" thick.

One question I have is, how many layers of the closed-cell foam should I use on each side? 1 or 2? The knife I've made is about 7.5 inches, with about a 3.5 inch blade and handle that is 3/4 inch at it's widest, and that part would actually sit up above the top of the sheath.

Eventually I'd also like to form some holsters and magazine carriers, and I'm guessing I would need the extra padding for the wider objects, like a semi-auto handgun.

Any suggestions?

Thanks guys!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 02-28-2008, 06:42 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
I bought about a square foot of 1" thick closed cell foam from Sheffield's Knife Supply. Cut it into two 6 x 12" pieces and glued each piece to a stiff board. I haven't felt the need for an official press yet. Instead I lay one piece on the floor, put the other piece next to it with the kydex halves on each section. Heat them both with a paint peeling heat gun, lay the knife on one and put the other on top, align them carefully, there's plenty of time. Then, I stand on it for about a minute. That's all it takes. The pieces are still hot after a minute but they have stiffened considerably. Take it out and let it cool.

The kydex pieces I use are not precisely cut to the size of the desired sheath, they are rectangles that are more than large enough. That way, if the positioning isn't perfect it usually won't matter. Most of the time, the heat has made the two halves stick together. If you are careful you can drill two holes in the sheath without having the pieces separate. Put in two fasteners to hold the relative positions of the kydex pieces, remove the knife and finish the sheath. After I've secured everything I just cut and grind off any extra material.

It's fast, easy and it works pretty darned well. You can get fancier with the whole process, and there's nothing wrong with that, but try it this way and get a few under your belt so that you have a better idea of what you like and what you might need. For me, this has been all I needed for the last 10 years........


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 02-28-2008, 06:54 PM
NJStricker's Avatar
NJStricker NJStricker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,193
Ray,

Thanks for your comments, it's been a big help. How well does your process work with a folded-over kydex piece, taco style? Or is working with 2 pieces simpler to handle? Do you use any kind of release agent between the foam and Kydex?
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 02-28-2008, 09:16 PM
Craig B. Craig B. is offline
Steel Addict
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Missouri
Posts: 154
Quote:
Originally Posted by Armory414
Ray,

Thanks for your comments, it's been a big help. How well does your process work with a folded-over kydex piece, taco style? Or is working with 2 pieces simpler to handle? Do you use any kind of release agent between the foam and Kydex?
Believe it or not I have just used the foam and put pressure on it with my hands for a couple of minutes for some smaller sheaths I've made in the past. These were folded over type like you are asking about for 3 finger knives. Hope this helps!


__________________
God Bless!
Craig Blankenship
Booger County Outfitters LLC.
D.B.A Craig's Outdoor Sports
Knifemaker and Gunsmith
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 02-29-2008, 09:22 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
I make lots of taco sheaths, same process, no problem. No release agent is needed. Like I said, you could get fancier with the whole thing but the drop dead simple method seems to do about all thats needed. Like Craig, I also sometimes form small pieces like the mouth of the sheath in my bare hands.

You've got nothing to lose by trying these methods since the kydex can be heated and shaped as many times as necessary. Just be careful not to overheat the kydex. About 400 F is maximum and it doesn't have to be as soft as wet noodle to be shaped. Experiment a little, it won't take you long to get the hang of it ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 02-29-2008, 10:56 AM
NJStricker's Avatar
NJStricker NJStricker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,193
Thanks again Ray, and Craig.

I'll give it a try this weekend. Just found out last night that this could be my brother-in-law's last weekend stateside, so I'll let you know how it comes out.

Nathan
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 02-29-2008, 02:15 PM
Andrew Garrett's Avatar
Andrew Garrett Andrew Garrett is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Nampa, Idaho
Posts: 3,584
I got away from Kydex after a few not-so-actractive efforts.

If I make more--I will because I have more Kydex--I'll probably go with the welted style that takes less hot-forming effort (nod to Jay Fisher's work) He uses aluminum for a 'frame' or welt. I might just use Kydex here as well.

I'm hoping for a thinner, more tailored look.


__________________
Andy Garrett
https://www.facebook.com/GarrettKnives?ref=hl
Charter Member - Kansas Custom Knifemaker's Association
www.kansasknives.org

"Drawing your knife from its sheath and using it in the presence of others should be an event complete with oos, ahhs, and questions."
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 02-29-2008, 06:29 PM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
No doubt about it, most kydex sheaths just are not all that attractive. Still, not everything has to be beautiful and the material is better suited to some types of knives than leather. I don't make many kydex sheaths either but I expect I'll always make some because the need for the utility of it sometimes out weighs the plainness of it's appearance ...


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-29-2008, 08:30 PM
george tichbour george tichbour is offline
Skilled
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Mississauga, Ontario,Canada
Posts: 478
Well the dumpster fairies were good to me last week, I went out to throw out a handful of worn out belts and found a nearly new toaster oven in there. Plugged it in and son of a gun it worked just fine.

This is going to make kydex sheath making a lot easier than using a torch to heat the material.

George


__________________
george tichbourne
www.tichbourneknives.com
sales@tichbourneknives.com
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-29-2008, 08:58 PM
NJStricker's Avatar
NJStricker NJStricker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,193
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray Rogers
No doubt about it, most kydex sheaths just are not all that attractive. Still, not everything has to be beautiful and the material is better suited to some types of knives than leather. I don't make many kydex sheaths either but I expect I'll always make some because the need for the utility of it sometimes out weighs the plainness of it's appearance ...
This knife and sheath will be going where attractiveness won't mean much, so as long as it looks like a sheath that belongs with the knife I've made, I'll be happy.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 02-29-2008, 09:15 PM
Chris Daigle's Avatar
Chris Daigle Chris Daigle is offline
Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 814
Quote:
Originally Posted by Armory414
This knife and sheath will be going where attractiveness won't mean much, so as long as it looks like a sheath that belongs with the knife I've made, I'll be happy.
Placement of the grommets will be far more important than overall looks in terms of how tight you want the sheath to be. Experiment with it and don't be surprised if you have to make a second one. I've made many where my first was either sloppy in terms of retention or to the point where you couldn't draw the knife. Both bad.

Good news is, Kydex is relatively cheap.

Good luck and God bless your brother in law in his service.

Chris
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-01-2008, 08:11 AM
Bob Warner's Avatar
Bob Warner Bob Warner is offline
Living Legend
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Royse City, Texas
Posts: 1,820
I have not worked with Kydex but wonder if a press I have would work. I have a pneumatic press that heats up. You put your stuff in it and press two buttons to make it squeeze. While squeezing the plates get hot.

Not sure if it could be used for Kydex or not but am planning on selling it (I have five different style pneumatic presses I am going to use for something) and wonder if I should think twice.

Could the heated plates help? I know the press itself would be great for the squeeze.


__________________



Tumbling down the road at 35 MPH is no fun, TRUST ME!
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 03-01-2008, 08:58 AM
NJStricker's Avatar
NJStricker NJStricker is offline
Hall of Famer
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 2,193
I don't think it would take a lot of pressure to form the Kydex to the shape of the knife or whatever object you are trying to fit. A 200 pound person standing on a 6x12 plate works out to between 2 and 3 pounds per square inch, I think. (Not guessing at your weight Ray, just throwing out an example ).

The plates would have to get warm enough to soften the plastic. But they would also have to have some give to allow the material to wrap around the knife. If the heating plates are hard, I don't know how that would work.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 03-01-2008, 10:00 AM
Ray Rogers's Avatar
Ray Rogers Ray Rogers is offline
Founding Member / Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Wauconda, WA
Posts: 9,840
Bob,

Nathan is right, I think. That press sounds like it would be just the ticket if the plates can conform to the knife shapes. If not, then the other option would be to line the press with closed cell foam but I doubt that would work well. The foam is such a good insulator that the heat from the plates might not reach the kydex in a reasonable amount of time. The heat soak necessary might also mean that the press would be very slow to cool which would slow the whole process down.

The kydex will be wet noodle soft at 400 F but doesn't have to be that warm to be molded. As Nathan surmised, the pressure doesn't have to be all that much either as I weigh about 185 ....


__________________

Your question may already have been answered - try the Search button first!






Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 04-05-2008, 08:21 PM
Phydeaux Phydeaux is offline
Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: California
Posts: 59
I use a two ton arbor press that I got when my last company got bought out. I have two 3/4" pieces of ply wood with the foam glued to it. When I compress the Kydex around the knife, I jamb a piece of coat hanger wire (its soft and cheap) in the rack to hold it down.

At first I was hesitant about trying Kydex, but I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Ed at a knife show. He gave me some tips and encouagement that got me going. I usually make the taco style sheaths and lace them with paracord. If you play with it you can make some decent looking sheaths.

You may want to put it together with screw posts so that the sheath can be taken apart and cleaned if necessary.

Ric Lee


__________________
"Coffee: we can get it anywhere,
and get as loaded as we like on
it, until such teeth-chattering,
eye-bulging,
nonsense-gibbering time as we
may be classified unable to
operate heavy machinery."
Joan Frank, 1991
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
blade, knife, knives


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:16 AM.




KNIFENETWORK.COM
Copyright © 2000
? CKK Industries, Inc. ? All Rights Reserved
Powered by ...

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
The Knife Network : All Rights Reserved