Kydex holster ideas

[Guest pjblurton]

Alright, I've got 4 sheets of Kydex on its way to the house via one of those vile brown trucks. I've been kicking around several ideas regarding what type of holster I want to make and came up with a few requirements:

1. IWB

2. Some type of sweat guard

3. Adjustable tension

4. Tuckable

Yes, many of these features are available from manufacturers online, some with a rather lengthy wait period. Few have all of these features. Those that do, either don't make them for my EDC (FNP40) or they are $70 or more.

So what I came up with was something like this except in black:

My question is, have any of you guys done anything in Kydex and if so, post up some pics so maybe I could get a few more ideas.

[Guest Metal]

Goody goody goody:bowrofl:

I am not much for IWB made of Kydex. I is very unforgiven....

I now am in the middle of a few design's I will have to post pic's of them when done. So for now these will have to do...

This is what I had on today.. I seem to be leaning more towards the Steyr these days and this is my favorite holster for it...

Now another IWB I made in the past..

I much more enjoy OWB with Kydex..

If you need any help fell free to ask...

O and show some pic's when your done!!!!!

[Guest pjblurton]

I had considered a leather back, they look VERY comfortable. They seem large to me though.

Got any good sources on the leather without having to buy half the cow?

[poak]

What are you going to use to attach the front and back sheets? Some kind of pop rivet?

[Guest Metal]

Hobby lobby sells a sheet of tooling leather the size of a piece of paper..

I made this with one..

And not as big as it looks..

[Guest pjblurton]

What are you going to use to attach the front and back sheets? Some kind of pop rivet?

I was thinking of folding in half (like a taco) with chicago screws and a piece of hd surgical tubing on the open end (like the first pic) so I could adjust the tension. Metal has me thinking about the leather back half though.

[Guest Metal]

I was thinking of folding in half (like a taco) with chicago screws and a piece of hd surgical tubing on the open end (like the first pic) so I could adjust the tension. Metal has me thinking about the leather back half though.

It's a lot more comfy...

The clips are not hard to make either....

How thick is the Kydex you ordered????

Where did you order it from????

[Ninja9]

I have been wanting to try this myself. Looking forward to seeing your progress, and more tips from Metal

Good luck

[Guest Metal]

I have been wanting to try this myself. Looking forward to seeing your progress, and more tips from Metal

Good luck

The best tip I can give make a press.. It was a pain to do with out a press..

Before

After

Good luck!!!

[Guest pjblurton]

I have the materials to make a press. I was going to use a couple of scrap pieces of heavy MDF, some 3/4" foam scavenged from a camp pad and some quick clamps. I also have some old dowels laying around that would be perfect for a sight channel.

I picked up 2 12" x 12" sheets of .093 and 2 12" x 12" sheets of .080 on ebay. (It was Kydex T not Kydex 100.) Just over 3 bucks per sheet. I wasn't sure if the .080 was substantial enough so I got the .093, too.

I may make the holster out of the .080 and clips from the .093. Dunno yet. I wanted two sheets of each in the event I don't make a mistake, a double mag holder to match would be cool...

One other question Metal. Did you ever have any issues forming hot Kydex on your polymer frame pistols? Some of the things I have read recommend using a "blue gun" rather than your real roscoe. I wouldn't think it would be an issue but some seem to think it is.

[Guest Metal]

Yes you can damage your pistol!!!!

I do not leave my pistol in the clamp very long.. 5 min maybe. Make sure you have a empty unloaded mag inserted too... The most likely thing to happen is your magwell may become deformed causing mag drop type problems...

One more thing that can hurt the finish of your pistol, Once you start cutting and sanding do not insert pistol until you wash off all the dust. It will scratch you stuff quick!!!!!!

Edited April 2, 2009 by Metal

[Guest Metal]

Hey I am working on a little how to over here.....

Maybe it will help....

[Ninja9]

Very cool of you to take the time to put that together. I'm sure lots of people will appreciate it

[Guest pjblurton]

Cool... I stopped by Hobby Lobby and picked the rivet kit already. Going by Tandy Leather this afternoon to pick out some nice leather.

Kydex should be in around Monday or Tuesday. I think I will build a press this weekend.

Thanks for the tutorial link, that helps alot.

[Guest jackdog]

Great post thanks for the info. Been thinking about this for a while. I might give it a try.

[mhm2a]

Here are a few I have done:

Ruger LCP

[mhm2a]

J-Frame:

[mhm2a]

Bersa .380

[mhm2a]

Homemade kydex press made out of 3/4 inch plywood with closed cell foam or camping pad from wal-mart as I like to call it.

Heat Gun straight from Big Lots:

[Guest pjblurton]

That's the EXACT pad that I was going to sacrifice for my press... Does it work pretty well for you?

I had started to second guess that it might be a little thin.

Couldn't tell if there were any hinges or anything. Do you use quick clamps or what for the pressure?

[mhm2a]

The pad does well but I have no reference because it is the only press I have ever used. It might be a little thin, but it works just fine. I just use various clamps or I stand on it for a couple of minutes until it cools.

[Guest Metal]

Good looking stuff...

[Guest pjblurton]

Alright... Just finished up my version of the Crossbreed Supertuck.

First I picked up some supplies at Tandy Leather. Chicago Screws, Rivets and Tooling Leather.

Then prepped my gun with some masking tape and a sight channel. Yes, that's speaker wire...

Once the Kydex was heated up, I slapped it in my homemade press. Just two pieces of plywood and some foam.

Once out of the press, I trimmed off some of the excess kydex.

Then I made a couple of clips.

Then trimmed the leather to the desired shape and dry fit all of the fittings. After that, I used black leather dye to make it look more tacti-cool...

Once the dye dried, I attached all of the hardware. I also made some Kydex spacers to go between the holster and the clips to aid "tuckability", that you can't see in this picture.

Here is the finished product with the pistola.

Here is the front view, tucked.

And the side...

And then how the gun actually sits...

This was WAY easier than it should have been. I have about $20 in materials and maybe 5 hours in piddleing around with it. It was fun, especially watching the Kydex melt.

This holster is super comfortable. It is a little difficult to put on, but I suspect that some practice will make it easier.

Either way, ya'll let me know what you think. I've got three more sheets of Kydex to go through and may end up making one of these for the wife. So keep the ideas coming!

Thanks to Metal and everone else that posted info on this thread.

Edited April 8, 2009 by pjblurton
I can't spell for $h@t.

[mhm2a]

Nice.....I have an comp tac MTAC that is a very comfortable holster. I find i like it to ride higher with more cant to keep the grip from printing.

[Guest pjblurton]

thanks.

I did add a couple of other holes under the clips to adjust height and can't.

I think it will take a little fiddleing with to find the optimal spot.