Table of Contents
What Is Kydex?
Made in America by Sekisui-SPI http://sekisui-spi.com/ in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania it has expanded to a worldwide concern with offices almost anywhere in the world where thermoplastics are needed for virtually any need imaginable.
Kydex is an acrylic-polyvinyl chloride composite that is ideal for use with knife and gun sheaths and holsters with a thickness of .028 to .500 inches.
It has a hardness of 90 on the Rockwell Scale and wouldn’t shrink or stretch after it is shaped into its final form via vacuum forming. It was created to be a replacement for leather in most applications.
The Benefits Of Kydex
Kydex is everywhere today both for guns as well as knives. In fact, tactical gear has flooded the market replacing leather, canvas, and other materials’ hands down.
It is scuff resistant and waterproof. Blood, mildew, and rot have no effect on it. Along with that, the acids and oil from your skin have no effect on it as well.
It is flexible, and you can create the perfect customized sheath that molds itself to your contours like silk and is a great deal more rugged.
Most importantly is that it hugs your blade tighter than the mother bear holding onto her cub. That means it will stay sheathed until you decide to draw it out without that hampering strap that comes unsnapped when you don’t want it too.
Make The Maker First
There are various ways to shape Kydex with the use of vacuum forming being one of the simplest to use. So, the first thing you need to build a machine that makes this possible. The first DIY method shows you how to build an inexpensive Kydex shaper that is cheaper and easier to make than you thought possible.
At $21 dollars, you can build your own Kydex shaping machine for making knife/gun sheaths or holsters.
If you need any additional inspiration, you can also look at the following devices as well:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcNQrpd_1k8
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMbX3bqfzsk
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAmeUj0xDec
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvMZuB_zQf4
Making A Sheath With Kydex
Whether you decide to do it from a kit or by DIY by using the cutting your own shape and vacuum forming route here is one of the best step-by-step ways to get the job done.
Here is the whole process from start to finish that gets you your first Kydex Sheath.
In addition to the way, we’ve linked you to. There are some alternatives ways you can go about it as well:
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pR3mu9_8xU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGj5a3B01m8
Hybrid Sheaths
Some Kydex sheath makers combine the endurance of Kydex with the suppleness of leather and that makes for some interesting combinations or hybrid creations using both Kydex and leather. Learning a bit about this expands your repertoire of sheath making skills:
Final Thoughts
Flexibility, ruggedness, and proof against the elements are what you will get when you encase your knife in Kydex, whether you choose to go with a pure Kydex approach or combining traditional leather with Kydex as well. You can also use vacuum forming or another method. You will end up with a sheath customized to your needs and desires.
Lefties no longer have to feel left out as now they can have a sheath that lets you draw your knife with either hand you use. So, you see using Kydex is cleaner and easier to use than with leather and can be customized in almost as many ways as you can imagine.
So, the next time your favorite knife’s sheath is looking like it is going to fall apart. Turn the Kydex and make your own that looks good, lasts longer, and is easy to DIY. If you need any further inspiration, just click to this site to see what is available.
From there you only have to use some of the techniques we have highlighted for you, and soon you will have a Kydex sheath that is better than the original.
Who knows you might turn this from a hobby to a moneymaking business as well.