Shaping Kydex - It Works!!
- Thread starter jeffj13
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Spotteddog
Member
I don't, as yet! FWIW: the kydex IWB I just purchased came with instructions on how to use a hair dryer on it to increase retention tension if desired. Per their instructions, they recommended heating then gently (wearing gloves) pushing inward on the inside the trigger guard and ejection port molded areas. Since those are the two areas doing 80%-90% of the retention.
Hope it helps!
Hope it helps!
I changed the title of this thread from "Anyone done this?" to "It Works", because it does. At least it did for me.
I have a kydex holster that would press against the magazine release when I holstered the weapon, popping the magazine. I needed to move a small section of the holster outward slightly in order for this not to happen.
I heated the area very carefully with a micro-torch (not patient enough for a hairdryer) until the material became pliable. It didn't take long. I then used the eraser end of a pencil to press and hold the impacted area where I wanted it (You have to hold it in place as the kydex seems to have some memory). Once the kydex cooled in stayed in its new location and the holster works perfect.
Spotteddog, not sure if this helps you at all, but your advice helped me.
jeff
I have a kydex holster that would press against the magazine release when I holstered the weapon, popping the magazine. I needed to move a small section of the holster outward slightly in order for this not to happen.
I heated the area very carefully with a micro-torch (not patient enough for a hairdryer) until the material became pliable. It didn't take long. I then used the eraser end of a pencil to press and hold the impacted area where I wanted it (You have to hold it in place as the kydex seems to have some memory). Once the kydex cooled in stayed in its new location and the holster works perfect.
Spotteddog, not sure if this helps you at all, but your advice helped me.
jeff
Spotteddog
Member
The saying goes "pass it on" Jeff!
And yes, the angle on the material having "memory" helps!
And yes, the angle on the material having "memory" helps!
Erich
Member
Tom/Crebralfix talked me through doing this a while back - I used Gina's heat gun for her card stamping hobby; worked great.
It's remarkably easy to mold and modify this stuff --- a heat gun works well, but be careful of overheating. You can also heat it in a convection oven, but be careful of ruining other attached materials, like those "rubber" spacers used as tensioning devices, etc. I made a handy-dandy holster for small field-guide size books, complete with an oversize Kydex clip that fits on a jeans pocket, pants belt, or even on a padded pack waistbelt. Most woodworking and leatherworking tools will handle the fabrication tasks.
Chevayea
Member
seagill
US Veteran
Kydex is very easy to work with. Be careful when spot heating because you can cause surrounding areas to loosen. Also, using a pencil torch can cause the surface to turn shiny if you overheat (see hoslter in center). I just started playing with the stuff. Here's what I've come up with so far (the bottom sheath is from the factory).
