Thread: Going to try to make some kydex holsters

Ok..as if I don't have enough projects, and while listening to my fiance tell me that I have too much junk laying around the house, I had a great idea to order some crap to try making my own holsters. Got bored Saturday and figured I'd play with the shops cnc plasma cutter and burn out a few plates to make me a quick DIY kydex press. Made the hinges adjustable to give me a little thicker opening just in case, seeing this will be my first time figured I'd give myself a little room to experiment. Started with a 2" opening between the top and bottom seeing how the foam I ordered is 12" x 12" x 1", and slotted the hinges so I could open it on up to 3" if I need too. Placed my order with knifekits.com tonight, so hopefully I'll have my foam to finish the press and all my kydex/eyelets/chicago screws by the weekend. Here's a few pics of the press as-is without the foam and the G19 for a size comparison.

Interesting. I'll be watching this thread...

TAG!


Oh, and I want one of those presses.

Wonder how it would work out with sliding hinges like the one from knife kits?

So.....

How much for a kydex sheath for my tomahawk with a molle attachment?

Originally Posted by Strycnine

Wonder how it would work out with sliding hinges like the one from knife kits?

Honestly I haven't seen the hinges on the one from knife kits, can't find a picture of the back. Pretty sure I know how they are made, but seemed like a cheap way out to me. It would have been much easier just to draw up a couple square slots and just burn them out on the plasma though. Wish I could see one of the presses in person or atleast a good picture of the back of one. Hell, they might work better for all I know. I made my press out of 7ga HRPO instead of the 1/4" the 1/4" just seemed like a little overkill, If I am able to bend the 3/16" then I'm probably doing something wrong, I can jump on it without it flexing.

Originally Posted by LaRue

So.....

How much for a kydex sheath for my tomahawk with a molle attachment?

lol, I might just end up with a bunch of scrap kydex instead of a holster. Going to ride out to my machine shop tonight or tomorrow and grab a couple more tools, one of my belt/disk grinders and maybe one of my smaller horizontal saws, think I have a couple table top drill presses somewhere, never had a use for the little table top stuff till now, so I would normally just throw them all in a corner somewhere or behind one of my lathes....really gotta clean my shop up. Really just wanna see my Fiance's face when she walks into the newly converted mini shop that she once called a kitchen

wow! I wish I had a plasma cutter and lathe just laying around!

your kydex press scares mine....I just used some 3/4" plywood and some door hinges. has worked great everytime for me.

couple comments though. if you go to walmart get one of those roll up blue sleeping pads for $8 in the camping section. cut 4 layers for your press. it worked great as the foam to help form the kydex.

also get a heat gun. mine makes quick work of the kydex.

a thick pair of welding gloves are a must...kydex gets super hot, and it will only melt once to your skin....ask me how I know.

last commend is kydex is really cheap on ebay. also lots of different colors and designs too. after 2 or 3 sheet from knifekits you will be a pro and wanna order it in bulk...

Originally Posted by GaJeep94YJ

wow! I wish I had a plasma cutter and lathe just laying around!

your kydex press scares mine....I just used some 3/4" plywood and some door hinges. has worked great everytime for me.

couple comments though. if you go to walmart get one of those roll up blue sleeping pads for $8 in the camping section. cut 4 layers for your press. it worked great as the foam to help form the kydex.

also get a heat gun. mine makes quick work of the kydex.

a thick pair of welding gloves are a must...kydex gets super hot, and it will only melt once to your skin....ask me how I know.

last commend is kydex is really cheap on ebay. also lots of different colors and designs too. after 2 or 3 sheet from knifekits you will be a pro and wanna order it in bulk...

well the cnc plasma isn't mine, it belongs to the company I work for, but I have pretty much open access to it. As for the lathe and mills, I grew up with a machine shop in my back yard so I've gotten used to them being there. I got the foam coming from Knifekits.com, but if it doesn't work I'll for sure get one of those sleeping pads. I should have a couple extra pair of tig welding gloves in my box, so I'll have to remember to bring a pair home and I should have a few heat guns laying around somewhere. Thanks for the advice, as soon as I get some stuff I'll post...even if I mess it up I'll include some pics so everyone knows what not to do...

most of the mistakes I made was from getting the heat gun too close and it melts the kydex too much. you can tell when you are doing it b/c it makes the kydex really shiny.

I have a small table top bandsaw that is great but making the kydexcuts, but if you don't have one of those you can score it with a razor blade and it snaps. easy for straight cuts but a little more difficult for rounds and fillets.

also after you cut it to get a really nice clean edge sand it with a very high count sand paper, but finish it off with a piece of leather. not only smooths it but since it's very flexible it rounds those edges really nice and puts a "shine" on it.

very fun tool to have around, you will be suprised how much kydex is actually needed!