Start with the half you did the layout on, and make the holes using a 1/4" brad point drill bit. And great sense of humor. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'knifepulse_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_15',172,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-knifepulse_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0');The concept is the same for whatever you have. Layer of Kydex. Can a 7-Year-Old Vehicle Bag Stand Up to Texas Heat? Then, mark where one side of the press meets one edge of the hollow space to create a guide for removing the press later. Make sure you can center the knife in the piece of kydex, with a generous border around it as shown in the pictures. 5. In addition to this you will need a drill and a few drill bits. Seriously though, kydex is a great choice if youve never made a sheath before because of how easy it is to work with. Kydex is usually sold in 8x12 sheets, so the price for the kydex would be the same on a longer blade. This may seem overly generous, but the materials cheap and while you can always cut some off later, you cant add it. So cut two pieces a little bigger than the blade itself. Whelp, its a short list: 1. Step 2: The Base I first started out by cutting my 1X3 boards and making a frame. This was very helpful to do separately, as some people may not have used glue before this process. I leave it there until it softens enough for me to bend it around. Once the Kydex is formed, you can add your patterns or decorations! Now that the sheath is roughed out you can sand down the burs. For those of you that do not know, Kydex is the trade name for a propriety thermoplastic sheet. All you need is some curved, beveled kydex tubing and you are ready to go. Now you just need to get them in exactly the right place. To begin, start by measuring and cutting your sheet. If you stop here, youll have quite an ugly sheath. Official Simple Little Life video of a simple DIY Kydex Press.Subscribe to Simple Little Life: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSzWatch More Simple Little Life: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSzFollow Simple Little Life:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/simplelittleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/simplelittlFollow Homestead Knives:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hsknives/Official Website: www.simplelittlelife.caKnife Store: www.homesteadknives.comWatch More Simple Little Life:Latest Uploads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwPJJPopular Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwPJJKnife Making: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aXywDIY: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_2eyAbout Simple Little Life:This channel has sort of turned (inadvertently) into a knife making channel. Most Kydex sheets are quite big, bigger than youll need. This to say, the outside of the sheath will have all the curves. I use a $20 Walmart griddle to heat the kydex, its easy and cheap. Attach these boards to a cheap wood vise and you have your Kydex press for under $30. These not only allow you to carry your knife wherever you go, but they also protect the steel from the elements.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'knifepulse_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_4',165,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-knifepulse_com-medrectangle-3-0'); Unfortunately, not all knives come with sheaths. Place your Kydex sheets in at 250 degrees for ten minutes. Too much sharpening can lead to stuck knives and off cuts. Use keywords to find the product you are looking for. At the very least i recommend using some sandpaper to smooth the rough edges, they can be a little rough from the saw cut. Amateur Bladesmith, hobbiest woodworker, and a bloody good cook, Mobile Workshop Sink With Easy DIY Parts Washer. Ditto with the eyelets. Without it, your Kydex may get deformed. Editor-in-Chiefs Note:Please join us in welcoming Justin Spindler as a contributing author on ITS Tactical! Either I would not add a hinge, or I would make the hinge adjustable. Wrap it and press in another piece of metal to form the bend. Nor do you have to leave your knife out in the open, exposed to all the elements. Form the kydex 4. "Thermowhatsit? I have bought most of my supplies from Tracy and he got them to me quick and everything was right. Instead, find another way to make custom kydex sheaths! I connected them this way because I plan on making knife sheaths. Make sure the neck and mouth of your first press are closed so that nothing gets leaked out. It could affect the molding of the kydex. (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.) First, cut a small piece of leather about one inch long and about half an inch wide. Im always trying to improve my cleaning and sharpening process, and always on the hunt for the next best knife. Consult the pictures for more detail on how it should look. Today, we arent going to buy a sheath. 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. 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. This way, its easy to slip your knife in and out of the sheath. Techniques to help you prepare your transportation and enhance your travels. Photo Gallery #2 The hot glue kept it in place well! You can use either a patterned paste or liquid adhesive to place your decorations on the Kydex. Kydex is a thermoforming plastic made for use in gun holsters and knife sheaths. Assuming both halfs of your sheath look good, lets get them stuck together! I have had the wood cut the foam bought and have been going to make one of these for months now but have been kinda stuck on how to put it all togethor. You can put weights on top to do this, or use clamps to hold it shut. 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. A hand drill would work just as well. Its rigid and strong, but when heated it becomes pliable. Whats kydex you ask? These are what hold the 2 parts of the sheath together. So take scissors or a cutter and remove all the excess Kydex. Rough-cut the leather 6. Be careful if you do, too much force on the buff will melt the kydex. Click here to view the full KYDEX photo set on Flickr. Once youve got that all attached, meet me at the saw! Normally I find the oven works best to begin the project, and I use a heat gun to spot heat for adjustments. Whaddup denizens of the internet, its ya boy guz- wait, wrong intro. A good kydex sheath will be every bit as functional as a hand-tooled leather sheath, if not as good looking. You can go up to about 300 degrees, but best to start low. 2.0 1" neoprene foam 11.5 x 11.5 usaknifemaker.com. Thanks a bunch for the tutorial, Tracy. Now, mark out the spots for the rest of the eyelets. First things first, do a dry run at the press, just to make sure everything fits properly. Hows it going lads and lasses, in a previous instructable i walked you through how to make a simple cord-wrapped tactical knife. 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. Also, before you press, make sure the shiny sides of your Kydex sheets are on the inside of the sandwich. Why not something like leather? For this I used a belt sander, it removes the burs and can be used for final shaping of the KYDEX. Aspiring chefs who are getting around to learning more about Japanese knives will appreciate how they can improve your overall culinary skills. There are many different ones, so let your creativity take you! Make sure it is the same size and thickness as the first one! Specifications Master Series Flaring Press 22 LBS Pre-Tapped Set Screw = Yes (for holding top die) Not only will this look better, but it will also make your Kydex sheath stronger. You are using an out of date browser. Skills we advocate to get you through anything life throws at you. You'll see our clamps will now be used to apply pressure when using the press. Gallery 481530.jpg 98.2 KB Views: 119 481531.jpg 116.3 KB Views: 64 481532.jpg So, why kydex? But for those who are unsure about which knife will be Swiss Army Vs Leatherman: 6 Astonishing Differences. So, what do we need for this, youre probably asking. If you don't have any, Harbor Freight is an excellent source, 3 inch C clamps are only a few bucks and are extremely useful, Sorry, that should read "doesn't require buying extra materials than what's listed". Hold the heat gun about four to six inches away from the KYDEX and fan it over the surface. Ive seen that. Yeah, I know! Kinda like spagetti, but, you know, not. When choosing leather for the mold, two main things must be considered. Ive owned several types of knives and sharpeners over the last few years and have become obsessed with everything to do with knives. 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. It only takes 5 easy steps to do this. I need to make a simple kydex press out of 2 sheets of MDF hinge and a handle and need to apply foam to one side. 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. Anyway, move over to your toaster oven and set it to 250 degrees, then pop both kydex pieces in for about 10 minutes. At this point, yours should still be considerably oversized, like mine is. The two Kydex sheets are now stuck together, but they need to be sealed. Experiment. I pre-drilled the holes in the ends so the wood did not split. I used my bandsaw to make short work of it, here again a coping saw would do. You must take care of your new investment to keep it working, so do not purchase one if you do not intend to use it regularly! Yes, this is necessary. It consists of a hard, disk-like material that you place inside your hand and where the pressure is applied against. This impression wasn't all that crisp. If you were to drill all the holes at once, you run the risk of mis-drilling a hole and messing everything up. Aug 30, 2004 #2 chrisse242 Enlightened Joined Dec 12, 2003 Messages 899 Location Germany Molding the belt clip is simple. Takes some time for the kydex to cool, the foam is a good insulator. I should mention here, if you dont have my patented Heat-Proof Hands, wear some thin cotton gloves to protect yourself. In addition to this you will need a drill and a few drill bits. Knowledge Base. 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. Our Master Series press also comes with (2) Allen wrenches for making press adjustments and securing set screw in tool holder. I went with it because it seemed to be a material I could work with easily. 2. Made right, your knife press will feel like a butter knife in your hand. Enough food, back to business. If you pick up the KYDEX and its floppy, then its ready to mold. Instead, Im going to teach you how to make your very own Kydex sheath. I ran 2 Screws in each end. 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. Anyway, now that the kydex is nice and malleable, move it to the press the exact same way as before. 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. 9. Im Ahmed, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. They offer KYDEX in various colors and thicknesses. Using a knife is the best method for making a kydex press. 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. 6 years ago, 1) Probably. Built your press, and bought a griddle. Here is the bottom. That way, you can stop walking around with it in your hands constantly, you creep. Place your leather in the hollow space and wrap it securely in place with more leather. You will use this wood to brace your kydex sheet against when pressing the release button on your wallet or card. 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 To start, you can preheat your oven to between 200-250 degrees. Im using a toaster oven, but a regular over or a heat gun would work as well, 7. You must log in or register to reply here. The kydex press is a pretty basic tool that most people make use of. *saw/sander/grinder *drill *Kydex sheet *sharpie marker Ask Question Step 2: Preparation. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. Not too shabby, eh? glad you enjoyed it mate! 4. To do this, I place my Kydex sheets on my electric grill. This will morph the flat sheets into the shape of the knife. Using a knife is the best method for making a kydex press. 7. 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. As you can see I drilled 3 holes and placed the tee . Pressing is a great way to make money as a beginner maker. 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? However, it leaves less material available for mounting hardware. Doing the first 2 holes like this helps to keep everything lined up like it should be. Again, making a Kydex sheath is a lot easier than you may think. All Rights Reserved. All you need is some Kydex and youre good to go! 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. 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. To form this stuff, use a paint remover heat gun, around $20. Here are the parts needed. No issues, heat it back up and try again, kydex is awesome like that! Kydex press (from knifekits.com) Rivet Press (I prefer the hand set tools) The steps to make this holster are: 1. You can now use a saw to remove the excess KYDEX and shape the sheath to your liking. With the KYDEX still hot, sandwich the knife between the two foam molds and clamp the entire unit down tight. Luckily, we have a few tips to make your second press perfect! Make sure you can center the knife in the piece of kydex, with a generous border around it as shown in the pictures. JavaScript is disabled. One hole is quite a bit larger. If you're not careful, you might end up scorching more than just the plastic. It may not display this or other websites correctly. With a recent purchase of a little piece of the Alberta prairie, we're looking to sell our nice suburban home in search of a more meaningful life beyond chasing the \"American dream\" working for some big company and making someone else rich. Cut off a piece of Kydex 3. They range from $75 to $150 or so, depending on the model. They also supply tools, instructional books and all the hardware needed to complete just about any KYDEX related DIY project. The suction will force the material to mold itself around the gun mold. Its so cheap and easy, anyone can make their own Kydex sheath. If you have to use an edge, make sure it is a sharp one! I really recommend this one in particular, it works better than the others ive tried, 4. Leave it in the press for 3 or 4 minutes. Most are quite expensive, coming around $80-$120. Oh My Hell!!!!!! 3. You should make a YouTube video. The materials are pretty simple for this kydex press. Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. You do not need special presses or machines to press your material. Kydex. Here again, amazon, ebay, etc. During the molding process, you'll use your hands and fingers to manipulate the hot Kydex. I used a hack saw for this but a band saw would be ideal. (in order to get one formed side and one flat side) Is there a common type of foam or rubber heat resistant that I can pick up at a store? Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Besides a heat source, gloves, and trimming tools, one of the most basic tools to mold Kydex is a press. I see the idea of wood vise. Cut the template 2. Show more Show more Shop the Simple Little Life store 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. Knife Terminology Check that the blade is secure but not overly difficult to remove from the sheath, remember that the sheath will tighten up when you add the rivets. Once your Kydex is sealed, all theres left to do is trim it. Kydex is especially pliable while heated. Best damn advice I've gotten for kydex. Also, by being connected, it gives me more leverage for clamping. That is no surprise when you look at the benefits of Kydex. Official Simple Little Life video of a simple DIY Kydex Press. What do you think? If you are more advanced, you can switch to using the more advanced presses from above. Here they are: I do not. Theres a lot of reasons why making your own Kydex sheath is a great idea. All of my measurements are precise and designed to fit your Peerless Chain, Peerless 801 Hinge, ASP Hinged, or Smith & Wesson chain cuffs perfectly. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. You want the .080 thick stuff, 2. But I don't seem to find any cheap ones like the article says. Here are the parts needed. I had lost some heat taking pictures but it will work just fine. 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. Once youve found a good spot, mark it. (no stitching required, I suck at that.) Dont skip this part, its a lot easier to find out a piece is undersize now, rather than when its hot and floppy. It's what you use under your sleeping bag. Making a $21 Kydex Press (And my first kydex sheath) - YouTube 0:00 / 6:22 Making a $21 Kydex Press (And my first kydex sheath) The Bolt and the Beautiful 7.72K subscribers Subscribe 13K. Now that youve got that line laid out, cut to it. Learn more about joining our Community as a Crew Leader. Pushing it down or squeezing it likely wouldnt work, it takes some force. Subscribe to Simple Little Life: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUSz. So cut two pieces a little bigger than the blade itself. 6. But before you do this, make sure you tape your blade with masking tape first. Time to mold! Scribe a line around the outline of the knife, with about a 1/4" offset, like the picture. There are some sites that list these colors so that you can find ones that work for you. Equipment you need for wherever your adventures in life take you. Color wise, there are some colors that do not work with each other. Its a lot easier than most people think. If your knife is short, 5-6 should be enough. The tape will give a little breathing room for your knife in the finished product. It is a hard material, one that you cant bend easily. It also comes with a 3-piece hardened ram set that will assist with pin flaring and other shop chores (see image). The disk must also be folded over in order for the pressure to apply. That is so you can get a screw driver in to tighten the chicago screw that mounts the clip to the sheath. It is low cost and easy to learn. Put an eyelet in the second hole, then proceed to drill the rest. And it isnt easy to buy a sheath that fits either since every blade is different. Dont let any of that fool you though, just because its cheap doesnt mean its crap. After about ten minutes you can remove the sheath from the mold. This is to show proper assembly. Hammer. And there you have it! After 10 minutes, check and see if its nice and floppy. 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.