kydex holster making

[hvychev77]

alright guys, i'm gonna attempt my first kydex holster and have a few questions, or mainly one question....after i heat the kydex and insert my glock26 to it, will the heat of the kydex damage my gun? i've seen several videos on folks using presses with foam, and some also where they vaccuum form the kydex. which one is best? they are always using their gun so, of course, my main concern is not to damage my gun:banghead:. any advice is welcome.......i'm all ears!! thanks, hvychev77

 

[Jac]

You only heat the plastic to about 250 or 300 degrees, and it cools quick, so it probably wouldn't be an issues, but I've only done it on metal guns. As far as I'm concerned, a foam press is better, 'cause it's cheaper.

 

[possum]

alright guys, i'm gonna attempt my first kydex holster and have a few questions, or mainly one question....after i heat the kydex and insert my glock26 to it, will the heat of the kydex damage my gun? i've seen several videos on folks using presses with foam, and some also where they vaccuum form the kydex. which one is best? they are always using their gun so, of course, my main concern is not to damage my gun. any advice is welcome.......i'm all ears!! thanks, hvychev77

Hello, I am a professional custom kydex gear maker, so I think I may be able to help you here. If at all possible I prefer to use a blue gun, however when I got started I did not have any, and from reading your post I assume that you do not as well. No fear though it can be done with a real gun no worries. Before I had blue guns, I probally made about 20 holsters with my "real guns" mostly my g-19 I would say about 15 of them. No ill effects whatsoever.

Remember these rules when making holsters with real guns.
1) make sure they are unloaded, and clear ( I am sure you knew that)
2) If it is a polymer frame gun, glock, xd, m&P etc, make sure that you leave an empty magazine in the mag well for the duration of the molding process.

I use a press, 2 pieces of wood, on each piece is a piece of foam, you can get the wood from lowes, and you can get the foam and all the kydex supplies that you need from www.knifekits.com I have been doing business with them for a long while now.


youtube vidoes and knifekit video: they do a good job of showing you the how too, however their "looks" of the finished product is not that good generally. The designs are lacking a little, but that is something that you can play with over time. It is not going to be perfect at the beginning. Also you must know that the holster, mag pouch whatever it is is going to look like crap and you might think that you have ruined it from the beginning to th very end until it is sanded and buffed, and finally complete. You have to keep your eye on the prize, be able to have a vision of what you want it to be, want it too look like, and work to get it there. If you came into my shop and saw my "in progress" stuff only, you would never believe that I make money making holsters, you would not believe that people actually pay for my gear. However if you see the end product and use it you will know why. Stay focused on the end, and don't get too wrapped around the hinges about what it looks like "in progress".

anyone can make stuff out of kydex, however making something that is functional, good size, and looks good enough to want to be seen wearing it is tough until you get the hang of it.

good luck and happy molding, if there is anything I can do to help or any questions that you have, just let me know.

 

[Mudinyeri]

I'm no pro, but I think you've seen some of my work posted, hvychev. I've made Kydex holsters using a number of polymer-framed weapons for moulding with no ill effects on the weapons.

I use a press from www.knifekits.com. I never heat the Kydex to more than 275°. I can see where possum's tip of leaving a magazine in the magwell might be a good safeguard, but I rarely make holsters where the Kydex is in contact with the gun's grip so the risk of "melting" the grip is slim to none.

One tip about making "one-sided" Kydex holsters ... do not use a metal backing plate. Use wood or a similar material that won't potentially scratch or damage the gun.

 

[possum]

but I rarely make holsters where the Kydex is in contact with the gun's grip so the risk of "melting" the grip is slim to none.

warm kydex being in contact with the grip only occurs when you are doing holsters with body shields for the most part.

and not "melting" but warping is the potential issue.

 

[Mudinyeri]

and not "melting" but warping is the potential issue.

That's why I put "melting" in quotes.

 

[possum]

That's why I put "melting" in quotes.

gotcha