DIY Kydex Work - Sheaths, Holsters, and Such

DAVE_M · Dec 18, 2014

I used to document my kydex work on Bayoushooter, buy somehow lost a ton of pictures on Flickr. This will be a continuation of a previous thread, that I no longer feel is fit for the OT discussion forum. I don't intend this to be a business, nor do I intend to make profits from any of this, it's just another money pit hobby :rofl:

Click here for previous thread!

12/17/14

Decided to make my own sheath for the Little Folsom, when I realized that I was out of rivets. So I improvised.

12/18/14

Placed an order for a bunch of parts and material:
Glock 17/22/31 Blue Gun for molding
Multiple sheets of 0.080" thick Kydex in subdued colors
(200) 8-8 1/4" eyelets
(200) 8-32 machine screws
(100) 8-32 x 3/16" threaded/slotted posts
(050) Rubber spacers
(100) Finishing washers
4x IWB soft loops - Different material than the Bladetech loops pictured above.

Came out to $200 shipped, so that ought to keep me busy for a while.

I should have a new belt sander, scroll saw, and shop vac by early January.

cbr900son · Dec 18, 2014

where did you order from?

rcm192 · Dec 18, 2014

Subscribed as i am interested in kydex bending myself.

DAVE_M · Dec 19, 2014

cbr900son said:
where did you order from?

Index Fasteners - http://www.indexfasteners.com/ - This will bring you to the main page.
http://www.ifithermoplastics.com/ - will take you to the holster/sheath section.

I used to order through Knifekits, but they are a hassle to deal with. I watched a video on YouTube and found out about Index Fasteners. I believe they make the majority of the parts/pieces on their website. Kydex bending has become awfully popular lately. I would assume, because it really can be done with minimal tools at home.

I went ahead and ordered the "Kydex® Military Color Kit," to try out the different colors.

Kit Includes:
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Black 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Coyote 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Olive Drab 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Flat Dark Earth 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 MAS Grey 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Coyote Grey 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Foliage Green 1' x 2'
-1 Sheet Kydex® T .080 Army Green 1' x 2'

LouisianaGunny · Dec 19, 2014

The Leather Factory/Tandy Leather has been carrying Kydex for a while now. They have all the rivets and clips also. They also have instructional material. I don't use it, but have seen it when picking up leather supplies. There is one in Metarie.

DAVE_M · Dec 19, 2014

LouisianaGunny said:
The Leather Factory/Tandy Leather has been carrying Kydex for a while now. They have all the rivets and clips also. They also have instructional material. I don't use it, but have seen it when picking up leather supplies. There is one in Metarie.

Tandy Leather is double the price of IFI.

cbr900son · Dec 20, 2014

Thanks for info I also had prob with knifekits and others never had everything I wanted in one spot.

DAVE_M · Dec 23, 2014

My package from IFI came in today!

Leftover tackle boxes make good hardware storage.

Here you can see the different hardware I ordered. I prefer hex head machine screws over phillips head.

And here you can see the difference between a Bladetech IWB Loop from Knifekits (left) and the webbing IWB Loop from IFI (right). IMO, IFI did a good job.

I made a trip today to pick up some doodads. While I was out, I checked to see if the saw and sander were on sale. Both were, but some lady had just bought up the last of them 15 minutes before I got there :mad:

Anyhoo, doesn't matter, I can order them online cheaper.

I have to make a trip to my fathers shop and clean up the El Cheapo Harbor Freight arbor press that I picked up a few weeks ago. The long square rod that actually does the pressing, is not square on the face, so I'm going to have to mill that down and drill the hole for the flaring dies to fit snug.

AK shooter · Dec 23, 2014

That's some nice work. I have been looking into getting started. I want to make some holsters.

DAVE_M · Dec 27, 2014

Had some free time this morning, before my buddy showed up, so I made a small sheath for a Leatherman Brewzer to keep on his new daypack. It's highly impractical, but considering the craft beer enthusiasts were are, it was pretty amusing!

Jasarii · Dec 27, 2014

Looks good!
I may try a knife sheath one day when i have some free time(I only build holsters and mag carriers right now).

DAVE_M · Dec 27, 2014

Jasarii said:
Looks good!
I may try a knife sheath one day when i have some free time(I only build holsters and mag carriers right now).

I haven't made a holster in a while, but should be getting too it soon. I'm going to build a bigger press and have my arbor press drilled and tapped for the dies tomorrow.

I'll take a bunch of pictures of the process to rig up the arbor press. Buying a ready made setup from KK or IFI is insanely overpriced and ridiculous for shipping.

DAVE_M · Dec 28, 2014

Modified Arbor Press and Drill Press

Took the arbor press to my father's shop. He drilled out a hole for the male die and a hole for the male die set screw. Then drilled a hole in the cast iron block for the female die. Finally brought it back home and tested it out. The eyelets that I have are for 0.080 material and I grabbed two pieces of 0.060 scrap like a dumdum, so the eyelet rolled a little funny on the ugly side. It's functional, but everything is in the details :cool:

Nice clean workbench. I'm still shopping for a nice bandsaw or scrollsaw, but until then, the dremel will have to do. While I was spending some time with my father, I mentioned that I was looking at drill presses. He told me that he doesn't use the benchtop drill press anymore and I could have it Thanks Pops!

DAVE_M · Jan 1, 2015

I made a crude press for smaller items, such as my neck knife. It works fairly well for what it is, but I'd like to clean it up.

AK shooter · Jan 1, 2015

Nice work!

DAVE_M · Jan 2, 2015

AK shooter said:
Nice work!

Thank you!

Working with hand tools is time consuming. Especially with an older single speed dremel! I'll be investing in a scroll saw very soon.

First attempt at a Glock 17 holster with my new press. The press works very well, but I need to figure out the temperatures. I had a little problem with the foam sticking.

AK shooter · Jan 2, 2015

I want to see the finished product.

Jasarii · Jan 3, 2015

Looks good Dave

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

calcagno45 · Jan 3, 2015

AK shooter said:
I want to see the finished product.

+1. I need an OWB for my G17 and TLR1

cbr900son · Jan 4, 2015

WHat are you using for foam? I made my press out of scrap wood and the mat you can buy at walmart for camping just doubled up. Never had a problem with kydex at 325ish.

DIY Kydex Work - Sheaths, Holsters, and Such

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