Aspiring chefs who are getting around to learning more about Japanese knives will appreciate how they can improve your overall culinary skills. During the molding process, you'll use your hands and fingers to manipulate the hot Kydex. Skills we advocate to get you through anything life throws at you. Instead, find another way to make custom kydex sheaths! The color and texture. First things first, do a dry run at the press, just to make sure everything fits properly. I voted for you I think. Here are the parts needed. Top press board. If you were to drill all the holes at once, you run the risk of mis-drilling a hole and messing everything up. It only takes 5 easy steps to do this. 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. You'll see our clamps will now be used to apply pressure when using the press. Aug 30, 2004 #2 chrisse242 Enlightened Joined Dec 12, 2003 Messages 899 Location Germany I used a hack saw for this but a band saw would be ideal. Many offer free tutorials or just show you how to get started. While the back side with the belt loop is fairly flat. Heat it on high setting moving the heat gun constantly. Remember that the knife should be in the sheath as you do this. Once you open your Kydex press, youll find that the Kydex has shapeshifted into a sheath. Something I have noticed gun guys is that we all have a box of old holsters. Your sense of humor would be awesome to see. I don't have any foam to sell you today. Second off, thermoforming means you get it hot, it gets flexible and you can bend it to shape. When Kydex is heated, it becomes soft and moldable. *saw/sander/grinder *drill *Kydex sheet *sharpie marker Ask Question Step 2: Preparation. 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. Then use the hydraulic press to press down on the Kydex and blade. Before we get into the how, let me first answer the why. The top is assembled in the same fashion but with only one 2x4 centered for a clamping point. Consult the pictures for more detail on how it should look. Using one piece wrapped around the blade is the easiest way to go and it creates a more narrow, lower profile sheath. Takes some time for the kydex to cool, the foam is a good insulator. Get the stack assembled and get some pressure on it. All you need is some curved, beveled kydex tubing and you are ready to go. 8. Make sure you give the eyelets some room to the edge, 1/8 to 1/4 should do. You made it so simple and that jsut cleared up all my questions. Click here to view the full KYDEX photo set on Flickr. Specifications Master Series Flaring Press 22 LBS Pre-Tapped Set Screw = Yes (for holding top die) Hold the heat gun about four to six inches away from the KYDEX and fan it over the surface. Place your Kydex sheets in at 250 degrees for ten minutes. The way to do this is to make the mold half-way through the process of shaping your leather. The secret is to heat it up first. 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. I went a little more complicated, as I put a set of hinges to connect the top and bottom pieces. Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (8x12x1.5), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (8x12x1), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (8x12x.5), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Mega Form) - (8x12x1), *CKK Sheath/Holster Molding Press (w/Mega Foam) - Bench Model - (8 x 12), *CKK Sheath/Holster Molding Press (w/Mega Foam) - Bench Model - (8 x 24), *CKK Sheath/Holster Molding Press (w/Xtreme Foam) - Bench Model - (8 x 12), *CKK Sheath/Holster Molding Press (w/Xtreme Foam) - Bench Model - (8 x 24), HolsterMolds - Curved Jig - Large Radius - (w/Xtreme Foam), HolsterMolds - Curved Jig - Medium Radius - (w/Xtreme Foam), KYDEX Taco Press - (6 x 12) - Press Only, KYDEX Taco Press - (6 x 12) - w/Maxx Center Foam, KYDEX Taco Press - (6 x 12) - w/Xtreme Center Foam, Scissortail Custom - Bender Angled Jig (w/Xtreme Foam), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Maxx Form) - (12x11.5x1), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Maxx Form) - (8x12x1), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Mega Form) - (12x11.5x1), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Mega Form) - (24x3.75x1), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (12x11.5x.5), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (12x11.5x1.5), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (12x11.5x1), Sheath/Holster Making Foam - Thermoform Molding - (Xtreme Form) - (24x3.75x 1), Vacuum Forming Membrane - Commercial Grade Silicone - (49" Width), Photo Gallery #1 Ive seen that. Move quick, if you let the kydex cool too much it wont form like it should. Now, with the exception of the first 2 by the throat, the eyelet position really doesnt matter, just make it look good. Trim the leather 8. Reply You will want to make sure that you keep pressure on the mold long enough for it to form correctly. Anyway, now that the kydex is nice and malleable, move it to the press the exact same way as before. If you stop here, youll have quite an ugly sheath. Kydex layer numero dos. Thanks for posting. Now to use them. Now walk away and let it cool. Hammer. The next step is to drill the holes for the rivets and mounting hardware. If you want to experiment with kydex you need a kydex press like all my projects, I wanted something cheap and simple to test out before I invested in quality tools this posts kydex press is just such a tool. Sharpie, preferably red. This is to show proper assembly. So take scissors or a cutter and remove all the excess Kydex. Contrast this to a 'taco" style sheath, which is made like a taco. Made right, your knife press will feel like a butter knife in your hand. Enough food, back to business. 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. When it comes to creating custom holsters and sheaths, finding the best foam for your kydex press is essential. 3. All Rights Reserved. Kydex is usually sold in 8x12 sheets, so the price for the kydex would be the same on a longer blade. I have bought most of my supplies from Tracy and he got them to me quick and everything was right. Disclaimer As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Use your clamps to hold the frame together while drilling the holes. To use this tool, simply heat your thermoplastic material to 300-375 degrees (depending on heating time and oven used). In addition to this you will need a drill and a few drill bits. Simply glue the two pieces of sheath making foam to the two pieces of plywood, allow to dry and there you have it. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'knifepulse_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_6',167,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-knifepulse_com-medrectangle-4-0');But theres no need to worry. Double up a couple layers and glue them to some boards. Not only will this look better, but it will also make your Kydex sheath stronger. It is low cost and easy to learn. Make sure there is plenty of pressure since you are molding the Kydex. Foam Layer. Also the size of the piece your molding will impact on your heat source. Be sure to check out his great photos on Flickr! To do this, I place my Kydex sheets on my electric grill. What You Need To Craft Your Own Kydex Sheath, link to Nakiri Vs Santoku Knife: The Battle of the Japanese Knives, link to Swiss Army Vs Leatherman: 6 Astonishing Differences. I went with it because it seemed to be a material I could work with easily. These are what hold the 2 parts of the sheath together. I ran 2 Screws in each end. Either way, you need some way to squish the kydex to shape, 6. Seal the Kydex. Remember, the shiny side of the kydex should be touching the knife, the rough side should be facing outward. For those of you that do not know, Kydex is the trade name for a propriety thermoplastic sheet. Notice the Aluminum is sandwiched between for rigidity. Can a 7-Year-Old Vehicle Bag Stand Up to Texas Heat? This impression wasn't all that crisp. This is a short how to article for anyone interested in working with KYDEX. Drilling the belt clip. No issues, heat it back up and try again, kydex is awesome like that! Use keywords to find the product you are looking for. Editor-in-Chiefs Note:Please join us in welcoming Justin Spindler as a contributing author on ITS Tactical! Press the Kydex. While the Kydex is still hot, place it in your Kydex press (or makeshift press). 7. Alright, youve got 2 halves now, time to stick em together to make a whole! When it comes to multi-tools there are only two brands to seriously consider the Swiss Army knife (the original multi-tool) and the tools from Leatherman. What is a cheap wood vise? Make your own Adjustable Kydex Magazine / Handcuff Combo Carrier. A sheath will give you so much convenience, and also prolong the life of your knife. However, what makes Kydex so useful is that unlike plastics, Kydex doesnt off gas toxic fumes at forming temperatures. 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. With the KYDEX still hot, sandwich the knife between the two foam molds and clamp the entire unit down tight. It's what you use under your sleeping bag. But the original idea behind what we wanted it to be is this description below:Videos on our journey to homesteading. Rough-cut the leather 6. An avid outdoorsman, shooter, fly fisherman and fellow connoisseur of BOSS Coffee! I used my bandsaw to make short work of it, here again a coping saw would do. Nakiri Vs Santoku Knife: The Battle of the Japanese Knives. JavaScript is disabled. 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 Dont trim it to the exact size yet. 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. 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. You can use any heat source to soften your Kydex sheet. Our KYDEX press foams are used in every level of holster making, from professional kydex presses all the the way to DIY kydex presses, and even homemade kydex press designs. But before you do this, make sure you tape your blade with masking tape first. If it doesnt, increase the heat to 275, wait 10 more minutes and try again. Click the Learn More button below for details. I put rubber screw on chair feet to prevent sliding. i can hear a few of you screaming at your monitor. For the wrap around style of sheath first lay your knife flat on the KYDEX about one inch from the edge and roll the knife over once then add another inch, this will give you the proper width of KYDEX to fully wrap around the blade and should leave you with some extra screw up material. Im Ahmed, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. First things first, you need to decide where to put the holes (teehee, puns). It also comes with a 3-piece hardened ram set that will assist with pin flaring and other shop chores (see image). A kydex press is a great way to make some extra money as a skilled make-yourselfkydex sheaths. And great sense of humor. 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. 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. *razor knife *oven/heat gun *foam padding (medium stiff) *large, flat, stiff object (book, board, etc.) General Knife Safety Color wise, there are some colors that do not work with each other. When you first get ahold of Kydex, you might wonder how you are supposed to shape this. Medical Bag Updates: Repacking & Maintaining Over the Counter Medications Go-To Preparedness Bags and Food Selections I chose to go with about a 1" spacing along that guideline. I love the griddle idea. A Kydex press normally costs from $80 to $180 depending on size, but it is a simple tool that I decided to make one myself. Yes, this is necessary. Step 2: The Base I first started out by cutting my 1X3 boards and making a frame. Personally, i wanted a smoother look, so i turned to my 2x72 belt grinder and refined the shape a little. Put an eyelet in the second hole, then proceed to drill the rest. Kydex is a thermoforming plastic made for use in gun holsters and knife sheaths. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Kydex is not the only plastic compound that has this property. Dont skip this part, its a lot easier to find out a piece is undersize now, rather than when its hot and floppy. Its so cheap and easy, anyone can make their own Kydex sheath. Now is the time to add your decorations! And there you have it! At ITS, our goal is to foster a community dedicated to learning methods, ideas and knowledge that could save your life. Information on news, history and events both inside ITS and throughout the world. How do you know where to put the eyelets? Make sure you add some space for the eyelets as well. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Ask Question Download Step 2: I Try to Place Everything Correctly and Close the Press Within 15 Seconds. Official Simple Little Life video of a simple DIY Kydex Press. Please do not put any dangerous materials in your Kydex due to the risk of fire or burn formation. 5. It could affect the molding of the kydex. There are many different ones, so let your creativity take you! I like doing this one half at a time, just to make sure everything lines up properly. Does it make my butt look big? Built your press, and bought a griddle. 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. You will love it! The disk must also be folded over in order for the pressure to apply. This is reasonably low compared to average cooking and is intended to make the Kydex easier to handle sooner post-heating. 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 Once the Kydex is formed, you can add your patterns or decorations! Insert an eyelet in that hole, secure it (the eyelet setting tool should com with instructions, if not Tandy has an excellent video) then drill a second hole. If you are using an armored leather such as Kydex or a more rugged leather such as tup Olive Dras then it is recommended that the leather is thicker to provide more support. Youll also need a 1/4 drill bit, preferably a brad point bit. If it is wider or thinner, add more material to make it match. Im always trying to improve my cleaning and sharpening process, and always on the hunt for the next best knife. They also supply tools, instructional books and all the hardware needed to complete just about any KYDEX related DIY project. And it isnt easy to buy a sheath that fits either since every blade is different. Then take your eyelet, eyelet setter, and hammer, and get to work. I should mention here, if you dont have my patented Heat-Proof Hands, wear some thin cotton gloves to protect yourself. Put the eyelets too far down the blade and the knife falls right out, put them too far up the handle and youll never get the knife out. Heat Source. The flaring dies and sheath making foam can be found at knifekits.com, but all other tools (and hardware below) can be found at a hardware store. One of the few specialized tools you need, but well worth the $10. This may seem overly generous, but the materials cheap and while you can always cut some off later, you cant add it. This is one side repeat for the other side. Bit selection is important, the brad point bit will make a nice, clean hole in the kydex, a twist drill tends to tear it up. So, what do we need for this, youre probably asking. Many people use YouTube or Youtube videos to help guide them into the world of making them. Cutting tool (not pictured). For one, every knife needs a sheath. Now you have the location for 2 holes in the right general place. 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. 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? First, make sure the back of your first press is flush with the back of your new one. Kit Instructions I'm building one this week. Now you need to decide if you want to make your sheath from two pieces of KYDEX (a front and back) or from one piece wrapped around the blade. If you would like to make your own, there are many places to find help online and in DIY shops. Start with the half you did the layout on, and make the holes using a 1/4" brad point drill bit. Alrighty, now that everything's stuck together, time to bring the sheath down to size. These two suggestions may not apply to all wallets, but we will discuss them here! You can buy the presses pre-assembled for a little under $100, or you can do what i did, get some heat-resistant foam and some plywood and make your own. Awesome Instructable! Nor do you have to leave your knife out in the open, exposed to all the elements. Participated in the Knives and Blades Challenge. I hope this article is of some help to those who might be interested in making their own KYDEX sheaths. Tip 6104 W Pioneer Pkwy Ste 212Arlington, TX 76013, Proudly managed inthe great state of Texas. Standing head and shoulders above all Im James, the guy behind Knifepulse.com. But for those who are unsure about which knife will be Swiss Army Vs Leatherman: 6 Astonishing Differences. 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.
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