Kydex holster making

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Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Kydex holster making

#1 Post by Ron Kulas »

While I have made a lot of knife sheaths and handgun holsters they have all been made from leather. This will be my first attempt at making a Kydex holster. Im making this for my son. He bought a Sig Sauer 1911 and wanted Kydex rather than leather so it was time to learn how. Im using .090 thick Kydex.

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Just like with leather you have to build up areas that will trap the firearm in the holster. Leather is forgiving and will let the handgun go But this .09 Kydex is pretty stiff and I doubt it would flex to let the firearm go so a dowel is taped along the entire length behind the front sight and other areas are built up such as the trigger guard.

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Kydex is heated and then formed around the firearm using a press with foam so I had to build the press first.

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Dry run before heating the Kydex.

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I heated the Kydex in my shop oven to 350F.

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I started with the face (outside) face first.

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After 15 minutes of cooling time I separated the clamp to check out the results of my first form

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Then I put the pistol and the first piece of Kydex back in the form and heated the other half to form it.

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Then I clamped the halves together and ran them through the bandsaw to cut the top off.

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Then I cut off the muzzle end.

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Then I made the belt loops. The plan was Kydex loops held in place with binding post (Chicago) Screws. I'll wrap the Hot Kydex around pieces of wood.

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It worked out pretty well.

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Then I cut off the excess and drilled holes for the screws.

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The binding post screws attach the belt loops and join the two halves of the holster together.

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Then I cut and sanded the outer perimeter to shape then sanded and buffed the edge.

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All finished. Not bad for my first attempt

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I can see a lot of applications for Kydex. Next I will make a holster for the extra magazine/clip for his gun.
The Joy is in the doing.

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Kydex holster making

#2 Post by Ron Kulas »

Here is the holster for the extra mag. I wrapped it with tape to make it a little bigger so it would not be too tight a fit. The rest of the pics are pretty much self explanatory.

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The Joy is in the doing.

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Kydex holster making

#3 Post by Ron Kulas »

A member of the archery club won a handgun and she wants to wear it as a sidearm while running her trap line so she asked me make a holster. Back to the bin of kydex.

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The first step is to build up the areas that can be trapped in the holster such as the trigger guard and front sight.

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Trial run

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Bake as 350F

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Press into foam on my homemade press.

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After 10 minutes of cool down.

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Then make the other half and while clamped together, cut the ends off.

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Then the belt loops

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Then drill for the Chicago screws

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Then assemble

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Then cut out the perimeter and polish the edges.

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The Joy is in the doing.

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Kydex holster making

#4 Post by Ron Kulas »

Given my druthers, I would make holster out of kydex vs leather. Easier to work. More durable and comes in a variety of colors.
The Joy is in the doing.

Captainkirk
Site Admin
Posts: 12787
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm

Re: Kydex holster making

#5 Post by Captainkirk »

OK, it's official.
Your new name is "Leonardo" because it's pretty apparent you are a true renaissance man. I'm not going to ask you if there's anything you CAN'T do because no doubt that would prompt you to try it (and most likely succeed).
I dub thee...LEONARDO!
Aim small, miss small!

Ron Kulas
Posts: 657
Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2015 8:33 am

Re: Kydex holster making

#6 Post by Ron Kulas »

Well we both have beards and I paint and do art work and invent stuff so im ok with that unless you are talking about that short little actor that froze when the Titanic sunk, then no.
The Joy is in the doing.

Captainkirk
Site Admin
Posts: 12787
Joined: Tue Aug 26, 2014 8:19 pm

Re: Kydex holster making

#7 Post by Captainkirk »

Stay Sharp wrote: unless you are talking about that short little actor that froze when the Titanic sunk, then no.
I'm not talking about that little twerp. He ain't no renaissance man!
Hell, the REAL Leonardo would've patched the Titanic long before it sank if he were on board. And probably made New York a day early.
Aim small, miss small!

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