how to make a kydex press

Remember, the shiny side of the kydex should be touching the knife, the rough side should be facing outward. Once your first layer is completely dry, it is time to add your second one. I wouldnt say that Kydex is better than leather. How do you know where to put the eyelets? Dont let any of that fool you though, just because its cheap doesnt mean its crap. The hot glue kept it in place well! Once the Kydex is formed, you can add your patterns or decorations! The materials are pretty simple for this kydex press. Make the mold using the knife and leather, Use your press to make custom kydex sheaths. While the back side with the belt loop is fairly flat. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. Bottom press board. You are using an out of date browser. The tape will give a little breathing room for your knife in the finished product. 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. 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There are many different ones, so let your creativity take you! This is reasonably low compared to average cooking and is intended to make the Kydex easier to handle sooner post-heating. The color and texture. What is a cheap wood vise? Put an eyelet in the second hole, then proceed to drill the rest. 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? Once you press, keep it that way for about 10 minutes. Attach the leather 7. You will love it! These substances could damage the Kydex and cause it to collapse upon itself. Assuming all went well in the dry run, now for the wet run, which involves no water. Make sure you give the eyelets some room to the edge, 1/8 to 1/4 should do. Remember that the knife should be in the sheath as you do this. I will sometimes lay down a 3/16" thick piece of felt to slightly conforum the back. Best practices involving up to date medical information and life saving equipment. Technology for understanding the digital world and mitigating electronic threats. Start with the half you did the layout on, and make the holes using a 1/4" brad point drill bit. Whats kydex you ask? For longer knives, add a few more. Specifications Master Series Flaring Press 22 LBS Pre-Tapped Set Screw = Yes (for holding top die) 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. If you have to use an edge, make sure it is a sharp one! Voodoo Resins - Handle Scale Set - Absinthe - Luminescent - (6.0 x 2.0 x .250), Elite Survival Systems - Belt Slide Holster - Size 8 - Left Hand. That way, you can stop walking around with it in your hands constantly, you creep. Now to use them. -------------- The pressing force is created by the two press wings and fixed in position by an optional 12 . boy you made that look easy. Red shows up best on black kydex. Aug 30, 2004 #2 chrisse242 Enlightened Joined Dec 12, 2003 Messages 899 Location Germany 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. You can now use a saw to remove the excess KYDEX and shape the sheath to your liking. First things first, do a dry run at the press, just to make sure everything fits properly. Pushing it down or squeezing it likely wouldnt work, it takes some force. As you can see I drilled 3 holes and placed the tee nuts and screwed the pieces together tightly. Yes, this is necessary. If so, wed love to have you as a Crew Leader by joining our annual membership! But I don't seem to find any cheap ones like the article says. Make sure you add some space for the eyelets as well. 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. Most Kydex sheets are quite big, bigger than youll need. Since the padding touching the hot kydex has "give", you want as large a surface area of pressure that you can get so that you have as much force against the entire area of the sheath without crushing anything. Use keywords to find the product you are looking for. 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). Did you make this project? 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. Participated in the Knives and Blades Challenge. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'knifepulse_com-banner-1','ezslot_5',169,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-knifepulse_com-banner-1-0');But why Kydex? Something I have noticed gun guys is that we all have a box of old holsters. Top press board. Gallery 481530.jpg 98.2 KB Views: 119 481531.jpg 116.3 KB Views: 64 481532.jpg 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. When youre ready to make your first kydex press, the first thing to do is find a steel rod. Reply For example, red and black does not go well, nor does green and black. The two Kydex sheets are now stuck together, but they need to be sealed. I love the griddle idea. But the original idea behind what we wanted it to be is this description below:Videos on our journey to homesteading. A quick how-to on building your own press for making Kydex holsters, sheaths, and mag carriers. Its a lot easier than most people think. Many offer free tutorials or just show you how to get started. For making a sheath by using two pieces of KYDEX the process is pretty much the same as above, you just need to be careful during the molding process because the two pieces will want to shift while you are clamping them together. Make your own Adjustable Kydex Magazine / Handcuff Combo Carrier. At the very least i recommend using some sandpaper to smooth the rough edges, they can be a little rough from the saw cut. General Knife Safety So, what do we need for this, youre probably asking. If you would like to make your own, there are many places to find help online and in DIY shops. Work on one eyelet at a time. Now, you should have one bun for the proverbial hamburger. 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. Kydex press (from knifekits.com) Rivet Press (I prefer the hand set tools) The steps to make this holster are: 1. These can be paper, yarn, fabric, and/or materials such as wood or ceramic. For this I used a belt sander, it removes the burs and can be used for final shaping of the KYDEX. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. Now, use your cutting implement of choice and cut along that line you traced. Hows it going lads and lasses, in a previous instructable i walked you through how to make a simple cord-wrapped tactical knife. Im always trying to improve my cleaning and sharpening process, and always on the hunt for the next best knife. 2) Can I sit/push down, or set books on top of the foam setup, instead of clamping it while it cools? The order is - 1. Either way, they must be the same length! This rod will be the base of your press. Second off, thermoforming means you get it hot, it gets flexible and you can bend it to shape. The material itself is available for $3-4 a sheet, the fasterners are about the same for a bag of 100, you get the point. Instead, find another way to make custom kydex sheaths! 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. Rounded over the corners, beveled the edges, got rid of anything that could snag, made sure the knife slid securely. Move quick, if you let the kydex cool too much it wont form like it should. This is one side repeat for the other side. i need to buy all the tools from you to do the rivots you need to make a kit. 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. To do this, bore holes around the blade. So, why kydex? Normally I find the oven works best to begin the project, and I use a heat gun to spot heat for adjustments. The order is -. That is a gorgeous blade with a really cool handle! The top is assembled in the same fashion but with only one 2x4 centered for a clamping point. Take your leather puncher and put holes where you need it. 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. These two suggestions may not apply to all wallets, but we will discuss them here! Not too shabby, eh? Thanks Tracy for the tutorial. This is a short how to article for anyone interested in working with KYDEX. Ive owned several types of knives and sharpeners over the last few years and have become obsessed with everything to do with knives. 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