I guess you never have to worry about somebody standing right in front of you. The problem with a cross draw holster is that someone right in your face can stop your draw.
I guess you never have to worry about somebody standing right in front of you. The problem with a cross draw holster is that someone right in your face can stop your draw.
I think we could pick apart any style of carry if we wanted to. people are going to carry how its convenient and comfortable for them.
Cool vid, I wonder where a good place to get kydex and the eyelets and stuff from would be? And the tools.
Knifekits.com Thats where I get all of my kydex, rivets, etc.But when doing gun holsters you have to fill in the trigger gaurd,ejection port,and add a dowel for the front sight.Here is one of mine
The kydex will form inside trigger guards and ejection ports,Then you will not be able to pull the weapon from the holster[Ask me how I know].So I normally just stuff it with paper towel and wrap it in tape.Then you will need to cut a wooding dowel the length in between the front and rear sight so the front sight does not snag when drawing also.I am thinking about making myself another holster and if I do I will be doing a tutorial on this.
Traylor
The kydex will form inside trigger guards and ejection ports,Then you will not be able to pull the weapon from the holster[Ask me how I know].So I normally just stuff it with paper towel and wrap it in tape.Then you will need to cut a wooding dowel the length in between the front and rear sight so the front sight does not snag when drawing also.I am thinking about making myself another holster and if I do I will be doing a tutorial on this.
Traylor
I'm especially interested in what you guys use as a Kydex press. I've seen everything from two padded boards with the holster maker standing on them to press them together to the expensive, factory metal rig on www.knifekits.com.
I’ve been using a simple vacuum form table to make holsters so far. I used a 2X4 to make the side walls, a piece of ¼ inch plywood for the bottom, and metal plates for the table top. I sealed all the edges with silicon and used weather stripping to seal the plates to the box. I use a standard Shop-Vac to pull the vacuum. Since I had the most of the supplies already it cost less than $6.00 to make.
Here is the beginning of my first holster where I used my gun and wooden spacers taped to the gun to create the front sight channel. The tape also keeps the Kydex from getting sucked into the trigger guard too far.
Another thing I’m trying is to make forms so I can get more than one holster from a 12 inch X 12 inch sheet of Kydex. I start using a thinner cheaper ($0.20) sheet of thermoforming plastic to make a mold. Here is an example
I use a casting compound to make a form that I can later trim down to get more holsters from each sheet. Here is an example of the first one I made for a Bersa 380.
I put the Kydex in a frame and then into the oven for until it is ready to form. Here is what the Kydex frame looks like on the table.
I’m also working on making a Kydex press similar to the one offered on KnifeKits.com.
I’m still really new at holster making, but I’m learning new tricks with every holster.
Here are a few links that I have found showing different methods of holster making that may be helpful to anyone who is thinking of giving Kydex a try.
Wow, thanks for the links, and the vacuum table is a totally new thing for me. I really need to sit down and try to make a couple of simple things and see if I can.
i like that press idea, i didn't know if when you heat it up and place it on the weapon, does it just " drape" itself over the gun, did you have to press any grooves by hand ?
could one take the firearm mounted by the grip in a find, and drape a peice of kydex over the grip, smoothing it in with say, welding gloves ?
i like that press idea, i didn't know if when you heat it up and place it on the weapon, does it just " drape" itself over the gun, did you have to press any grooves by hand ?
could one take the firearm mounted by the grip in a find, and drape a peice of kydex over the grip, smoothing it in with say, welding gloves ?
The heated Kydex will drape over, but not close enough to form a good holster. You can make a cheap press using wood for the panels and using pieces of a yoga mat available at wally world. Using bar clamps or C-clamps to hold the press together long enough for the Kydex to set.
Welding gloves may work, but you would have to do a small section at a time due to the limited 'clamping' area .
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I've got a firm policy on gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be the one controlling it. Clint Eastwood
ok i tried it for the first time today. it was really fun ! i was only able to make a general shape pressing by hand. what type of foam does one need to use, and what thickness ? is this the foam i can get at the craft store ? I tihnk for the moment I could get two peoces of this foam and a board and just stand on it, until i get a press. thanks for the help guys.
I have had success doubling sections of a Yoga mat I bought at Wally World. It is made of neoprene and is about 3/4 inch thick.
I have some .093 thick Kydex that I'm using for belt clips. The general process I'm using is here: http://www.paracordsecrets.com/articles/22/article.html
I looked at photos of other holsters online to get different ideas for shaping belt chips
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I've got a firm policy on gun control. If there's a gun around, I want to be the one controlling it. Clint Eastwood
A was at the C&S holster shop a few weeks back and they do none of that. The heat the Kydex to 275 degrees and form it around the gun with their GLOVED hands. They did use a dowel rod between the sights and another dowel from the slide lock lever to the back of the gun. No vacuum table and no yoga mat press but hey, your holsters do look pretty darn good!
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"The Hebrew Hammer" NRA Life Member
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
I bet one could make a fantastic pocket holster with a little kydex, a toaster-oven, and a pair of welding gloves.
Regarding the eyelets, they sell kits at Hobby Lobby, Michael's, etc., with the rivets, a punch, and an anvil, so you can press the eyelets with just about any hammer, brick, or whatever you happen to have handy which can be used to strike the punch.
I gotta get me some o' that kydex stuff. I really need to make a proper pocket holster for my revolver, and haven't been able to do it with leather.
].So I normally just stuff it with paper towel and wrap it in tape.Then you will need to cut a wooding dowel the length in between the front and rear sight so the front sight does not snag when drawing also.I am thinking about making myself another holster and if I do I will be doing a tutorial on this.
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