Kydex bending question
- Boriqua
- ArizonaShooting.org Member
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Kydex bending question
I have now made exactly 3 things of kydex and ... its not as difficult to make functional gear as I had thought. Certainly isnt pro standard but functional. I am not looking to sell anything but I do like making stuff for myself.
So I have a question... until now the things I made I had forms for. I want to do something for one of my guns that I dont have a blue gun for.
What kind of precautions do I need to make so I dont ruin my gun. I am pretty sure the kydex isnt nearly hot enough to due damage to my plastic frame but .. well I dont know!
Sure I cover the whole thing in masking tape .. that sounds like it may make a sticky mess .. or ??
So I have a question... until now the things I made I had forms for. I want to do something for one of my guns that I dont have a blue gun for.
What kind of precautions do I need to make so I dont ruin my gun. I am pretty sure the kydex isnt nearly hot enough to due damage to my plastic frame but .. well I dont know!
Sure I cover the whole thing in masking tape .. that sounds like it may make a sticky mess .. or ??
- XJThrottle
- ArizonaShooting.org Bronze Supporter
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- XJThrottle
- ArizonaShooting.org Bronze Supporter
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Re: Kydex bending question
As a high school job I did Kydex forming for phone booth directory covers. We had a somewhat automated table with timers and pneumatics. The heat source was ultimately just lamps.
- Crippledtrigger
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Re: Kydex bending question
A couple guys here make kydex stuff.
They will chime in but I've seen toaster ovens, t shirt heat presses and low temp heat guns with wooden dowels to shape.
You can always reheat too.
They will chime in but I've seen toaster ovens, t shirt heat presses and low temp heat guns with wooden dowels to shape.
You can always reheat too.
- Boriqua
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Re: Kydex bending question
I have no problem with the shaping .. mostly .. and have the feel right for when its hot enough ... I just never tried it on anything but blue guns and wooden forms and am afraid to ruin the plastic frame of a live firearm.
- Crippledtrigger
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Re: Kydex bending question
Elheffe does holsters n such. He will have your answers.
I had his business contact info but cant find it. PM him on both boards.
I had his business contact info but cant find it. PM him on both boards.
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- ArizonaShooting.org Member
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Re: Kydex bending question
It won't hurt anything. The temps required to form Kydex are much less than required to miss-shape a polymer framed firearm. Besides, you don't really shape the kydex around the grip of the firearm, arguably the most "bendable" part.
What you really need is a Kydex Foam Press...it makes life much easier.
What you really need is a Kydex Foam Press...it makes life much easier.
- Boriqua
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Re: Kydex bending question
I have been using a couple pieces of 3/4 ply with foam between it and clamping it with c clamps. Forms pretty nicely.
Last edited by Boriqua on April 5th, 2020, 4:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- TomI
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Re: Kydex bending question
Just saw this, the only precaution I do on a polymer framed gun is to make sure I have a full magazine inserted before pressing. Other than the usual blocking and taping
- laserguy
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Re: Kydex bending question
I never used masking tape, I always just dropped the gun into a gallon ziplock bag. I learned that from a friend that made leather holsters.
- Ballistic Therapy
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Re: Kydex bending question
When I was in grade school we would basically do the same thing.XJThrottle wrote: ↑December 31st, 2019, 2:03 pm As a high school job I did Kydex forming for phone booth directory covers. We had a somewhat automated table with timers and pneumatics. The heat source was ultimately just lamps.
We made ash trays , bowls and things like that the same way with lamps.
The only difference was that we used vinyl records.
45's for ashtrays and 78's and 33's for bowls and such.