Anyone ever create/know how to create Kydex Holsters?

[jerseytactical]

Hi, all. I just saw an add for a DVD called kitchen Kydex. I'm interested in learning how to create my own holsters, and was wondering if anyone on the forum had any experience in doing so. Your input will be greatly appreciated.


J.T.

[unloved]

I've done a lot of knife sheaths, pouches for multitools, and that kind of thing. I've sold a fair amount of gear. I'm currently experimenting with holsters. I'm actually putting together a custom Kydex business right now, I'll be forming a LLC as soon as I come up with a name. I'm taking a break from setting up my shop.

It's not all that difficult, especially if you're a handy, mechanically inclined, creative type. You can do good stuff with just some basic hand tools, and a heat gun and/or toaster oven. Mike Sastre's Kitchen Kydex DVD is a good resource if you don't know how to get started.

[aubie515]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.htm...&f=17&t=628104

All you need to make your own Kydex products.

[CHEMICAL]

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.htm...&f=17&t=628104

All you need to make your own Kydex products.

awesome!....thanks!
http://www.steyrclub.com/vb/showthread.php?t=2602

[Pagoda240]

Very interesting may have to check out this DVD, thx..

[unloved]

Good source for materials, hardware, and some tools.
www.knifekits.com

I say some tools because you can get a lot of what they sell elsewhere for less. Don't bother with their forming press. Way overpriced, and doesn't work all that well.

[Steelblitz]

I do thermoforming at home and use kydex for vacuumforming, that is the 'proper' way to make them. I take 2'x2' sheets that sit under a heater, Iwait until they get pliable, hit a switch, turn on the vacuum, and the sheets gets pulled down over what is called a 'buck'. The buck is your mold or model you want the plastic to form around. I don't make anything firearm related yet though. To make a top notch plastic holster, I would end up making a mold of a real firearm. From that mold, cast a 3/4 thick left and right side copy of that firearm. After some cleanup and modiyfing of those copies to make them easier to vacuum form off, they are ready to be vacced over.

I've been meaning to get started into making firearm related accesories. Maybe I'll take a few things and throw them on the vac table platen in the next day and see what happens. Only thing is, I'm likley to stick with metal objects as the heat from the hot plastic may damage things like pmags or my glock. If I make some molds of some pmags or glock mags, I could probably knock out some awesome fitting and looking holster type parts to hold those items.

[Kaos]

Kydex corner:



Here's my very first full kydex piece, not too bad for my first time...at least I don't think so.



The picatinny rail is just taped on until I can find the right screw that fits int he hole but wont chew my belt. I'm going to use the nut off of a chicago screw for it...just need to find a bolt that fits in the slots on the rail the right way....trip to the hardware store tomorrow:



Mag has good retention...easy to get out but fully loaded wont come out when shaken upside down or swung on a piece of cord.

[normanvin]

Not bad.

I picked up a sheet a while ago. i should do something with it.

[ckayjen]

I knew an oldtimer knifesmith and he used kydex for a lot of his sheaths- he had asecret solvent- never used a rivit- he roughed up the sufaces to be mated with rough sandpaper put on his solvent- and voila- you couldn't get it apart- I looked for a solvent on line and came up with this link-http://www.kydex.com/briefs/103A.pdf hope this helps Ckayjen