Post by backeru on Sept 25, 2012 18:40:56 GMT -8
So my black .06" Kydex came from Amazon today ($18 plus about $10 shipping for a 12"x24" sheet), and I went ahead and tried my hand at molding Kydex.
First, I cut my Kydex to size (two pieces, each about 7.75" by 7.75") and marked where the pistol would go-in my case, I wanted a slight cant.
When inserting the pistol into the press with the hot Kydex, I made sure to have a full magazine (of empties) so the grip would not change shape. I also used masking tape to make the sight channel a bit less pronounced in order to keep the sights from sticking while I draw.
I preheated my oven to 170 degrees F, and immediately put the Kydex sheet on a pan and in the oven so it could warm up gradually. After the oven hit 170F, I increased the temperature by about 25 degrees every three or four minutes until I got to about 330F.
After a few minutes at that temperature, I pulled out the Kydex and placed it on the pistol in my homemade press, basically some fairly dense foam sheets which are large enough to hold the pistol + Kydex sandwiched between some plywood.
It's important to note that the shiny, smooth side of the Kydex goes in, or toward the pistol, while the more rough side faces out.
I immediately placed the top of the press on and stepped on it, though I abandoned that idea and managed to set the leg of my heavy dinner table on top in order to maintain compression while the Kydex cooled.
It probably does not matter if you do the back or front first, and in this case I did the front piece first.
I repeated the process with the second piece, making sure to line up the two pieces in the press before removing the first one.
After the second piece cooled, I removed it and made sure the pistol fit well in between the Kydex.
In order to cut away the extra pieces I did not want, I used a utility knife again, scoring where I needed to and breaking off the pieces. This method leaves very little rough edges and is fast and easy.
I'll update this thread once I attach the pieces and construct the belt loops.
First, I cut my Kydex to size (two pieces, each about 7.75" by 7.75") and marked where the pistol would go-in my case, I wanted a slight cant.
When inserting the pistol into the press with the hot Kydex, I made sure to have a full magazine (of empties) so the grip would not change shape. I also used masking tape to make the sight channel a bit less pronounced in order to keep the sights from sticking while I draw.
I preheated my oven to 170 degrees F, and immediately put the Kydex sheet on a pan and in the oven so it could warm up gradually. After the oven hit 170F, I increased the temperature by about 25 degrees every three or four minutes until I got to about 330F.
After a few minutes at that temperature, I pulled out the Kydex and placed it on the pistol in my homemade press, basically some fairly dense foam sheets which are large enough to hold the pistol + Kydex sandwiched between some plywood.
It's important to note that the shiny, smooth side of the Kydex goes in, or toward the pistol, while the more rough side faces out.
I immediately placed the top of the press on and stepped on it, though I abandoned that idea and managed to set the leg of my heavy dinner table on top in order to maintain compression while the Kydex cooled.
It probably does not matter if you do the back or front first, and in this case I did the front piece first.
I repeated the process with the second piece, making sure to line up the two pieces in the press before removing the first one.
After the second piece cooled, I removed it and made sure the pistol fit well in between the Kydex.
In order to cut away the extra pieces I did not want, I used a utility knife again, scoring where I needed to and breaking off the pieces. This method leaves very little rough edges and is fast and easy.
I'll update this thread once I attach the pieces and construct the belt loops.