Heating Kydex

[MatthewSB]

I know that there are gazillions of guides out there, but how do you heat kydex so that it doesn't get 'wierd'?

I've been trying to get higher temperatures lately but it seems like the kydex is getting wavy around the edges and it molds funny. I'm using a toaster oven and 0.093 kydex.

How, exactly, do you heat your kydex?

 

[sonil]

Turn oven knob to bake
Preheat oven around 330 deg.
put your Kydex in the oven on top of a rock,
watch it go limp..
if you got an infra red thermometer use it... get it out anywhere above 290 and below 325(if it`s closer to 290 use more pressure while in the press if it`s closer to 325 use less pressure
(at least that`s my experience with it).. also the higher you go the more "wavy" it will be
if you got no thermometer just pick it up and if it`s limp like a spaghetti ...it`s done...

 

[valhalla2112]

I use a Presto griddle set on 300 degrees. Seems to work well for me but I do small work so maybe that has something to do with it.

 

[DerekH]

I find that longer soak times make the kydex work better. So put in at 200°, let sit for a minute, then ramp up to 225°, let sit for a minute, ramp up to 250°, let sit for a minute, then ramp up to just under 300°, say 290° or so and after the kydex has been in there a minute or so, remove it. This has worked best for me with .093" boltatron.

 

[theHobbyist]

I too use a griddle, but use a combination of the above methods... I ramp up my temps starting at ~150/200 but bring my temps to as close to the forming temps the manufacturer suggests (this is usually in the 350s). And I do let it "soak" for a about 10-15 minutes.

 

[jdigi101]

+1 for the griddle. I set mine at 200-250 and flip it like a tortilla several times (starting flipping when it first start to curl at the edges) until it is as limp as I want it. The more limp the more detailed the mold. I have found that with the frequent enough flipping that I can get it way more limp than in an oven without over doing it or burning it. Seems quicker too. The perceived quicker part may be due to the fact that doing something (flipping) and not just staring at an oven.

 

[Matt Markell]

I use boltaron which is basically kydex that you work at higher heat. I like to start 50 degrees below my final temp and slowly work the boltaron up to it. Also, I use a skillet wih a lid on it. To prevent scorching, I set a couple paper towels onto the griddle surface and then put the boltaron on top of them. Flip the boltaron every few minutes. With a little care I can push up to the max temps were you get really good definition.

 

[theHobbyist]

jdigi101: Does your kydex/boltaron not get a strange sheen to it when you flip it over? I've found this to happen to mine when I heat on the textured side. I can understand if you buffer it with the paper towel why it wouldn't (never have tried this.)

 

[Dtc01]

I use .06 and .08 for holsters and find that the best results(IMO) can be had by not preheating. I toss my kydex in the toaster oven and set it to 100, then periodically bump the temperature up u til I get to 300-330 degrees, depending on thickness. I also found thAt boltaron warps and rolls up where kydex does not. I'm not positive of the cause, but I have decided that I will not be using it in the future.

Just $0.02 from the new guy.