how to make sheath with kydex?

[Nico]

Hallo all you experts

Know that my problem to getting Kydex is almost solved My next is starting : :yikes: How do you make kydex sheaths? what equipment do you use? how are you forming it? Any thing would be helpful!

:thanks:

Nicolai

[Colin KC]

Peeettteeeerrrrrrrrrr;)


Usually works:D

[PS_Bond]

Tada!

http://www.ckdforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4237

You may notice a slight geographic similarity, Nico...

[Nico]

hey peter!

I now jens! I have seen him on some danish fairs! one of my friends have one of his knives! Super work! I just have some more questions; If I want to make both sides with shape how am I doing that? shut both playwood plades be whith foam on? or how?

Nico

[shing]

Peter's the man, he also sells Kydex and sheaths

[Ophidian]

I made a start on a couple of Kydex sheaths last night, will let you know how the turn out. Done the moulding and pressing stage.

[Nico]

hey ophidian

sounds exciting. can! you take some pics of the proces?

Nico

[Ophidian]

Yes, later. I'm going out now.

[Ophidian]

Well here are a few pictures of my home made Kydex press and my first ever try at making a sheath (so don’t laugh too hard)! I did tape up the handle before moulding and pressing the sheath around the knife.

I was short on eyelets so have used ones larger than I would have liked. The sheath is not finished yet. I still have too trim the edges to shape and heat and profile the top edge so that the hilt will push into the sheath easily. I will not be fitting a belt loop, rather I have designed this sheath for use with a JSP rig, so the large eyelets will be handy for securing the sheath. I will post more pictures when I have finished it.

[Nico]

hey ophidian!

It looks cool! I just have one question. you only have foam on the "top" right? I think I'am starting too have an idea how to make one :D

Nico

[Ophidian]

Hi Nico, No there are two layers of foam top and bottom. It is from an old camp mat. I cooked the kydex in the oven (gas mark 5) for several minutes.... wore leather gloves because the kydex isthen very hot.

[Nico]

Hi opidian
Did you do both sides in one time?

Nico

[PS_Bond]

Can't see any pictures... But it wouldn't be for a Junglee Hattori by any chance, would it?

Nico - I use 25mm thick PVC foam top and bottom (depending on the style of sheath), and press for about 1 minute in a 2 ton press, after heating with a heat gun to about 190C. Gives fantastic definition. The rivets make use of the dies from KnifeKits (and the press again), which rolls the edges and gives an end result I prefer to the more readily available splayed rivets.

Jens' tutorial uses a flat back to the sheath, which is nice to do if the style of knife works with it. The KITH knife I did I made one of those for it.

[Nico]

hi peter

I don't have acces to a press. Do you have any suggestion how to do it whithout? will an press like jens work if I heat whith an heat gun?

Nico

[PS_Bond]

Oh, it works - a couple of G cramps will work. The press makes things easier and gives me more consistency when I'm working the stuff. You'll have to move quickly after heating the Kydex to get the pressure on.

[Ophidian]

Hi yes it was for the Hattori. Don't know what happened to the pictures so here are a couple again.

I placed the hot kydex in the press, knife on top then another layer on top, so yes both moulded at the same time.

I am only just learning how to work with kydex, there are others on this forum with far more skillthan me. I just like to try my hand at new things.

[soa]

I will not be fitting a belt loop, rather I have designed this sheath for use with a JSP rig...

Interesting - which one?
The Crocodile Dundee (http://www.bladerigger.com/spinalbu3.html) ?
The Highlander (http://www.bladerigger.com/swordsling.html) ?

[Ophidian]

Spinal backup actually! I have used it overseas to carry a machete several times. I find that carrying a machete on the belt can get in the way when trying to catch snakes because you often find yourself working close to the ground (kneeling / crouching).

When I imported it I had a phone call from H.M. Customs wanting to know why I wanted such an item. I told them about carrying the machete and they were fine about it.

When working in places like West African Rainforests I always carry a fixed blade, Machetes are fine, everyone carries one….problems is they then want to do a swap for my US Machetes. Often I have the use of a privately owned 4x4, but not always, in which case I’ll travel in local bush taxis in order to get out to the area I want to work in so I don’t like to have a big blade on display (not least for the chance of having it stolen). With the JSP I can carry a decent fixed blade without everyone seeing it. Then again people tend to forget about blades when your tooled up with pistols + SLR’s, which in some areas you do need.