Making Kydex Sheaths: Appropiate sheet thickness?

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Mikel_24

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I am determined to make my own kydex sheaths. So far I am two welds away from making a Kydex press like the one sold in www.knifekits.com. After reading a few more threads in BF about kydex sheath making, I will probably end up modding it so I can put even pressure on the whole plate. I found out that a wood bench vice can also used (and for some it is even preferred) but I found out too late…I will let you know how it goes and post pictures of it. If I screw up at least won’t be a lot of money, I got the steel plate very cheap and did all the drilling, cutting and welding myself. I will probably use sleeping pad foam as padding.

I am from Spain so once again, I am forced to buy everything overseas. I just sent an email to knifekits asking for the shipping of a bunch of items. I wanted to get all the hardware and kydex sheets from them (black, red and orange).

My idea was to buy only 0,08” sheets to craft the sheaths and use leftovers for making the belt loops. I also noticed that knifekits sells already built, ready to attach, kydex belt loops… but they are 0,093” thick (riveted and with two Chicago screws). If I wanted to get some 0,093” kydex for belt loops and other attaching hardware, I would be forced to buy another set of longer rivets and will have to make them all black because they don’t sell fancy colors in 0.093”

So the questions are:
Is 0,08” an appropriate thickness for the main body of the sheaths?
Is 0,08” thick enough for belt loops and alike?
Do I just buy already crafted belt loops in 0.093” and forget about them?
Of course, if you can think of a better place to buy kydex, feel free to tell me about it! Just keep in mind that I need them to ship overseas.

Thanks in advance,
Mikel
 
Mike,

You'll get some differing opinions on this one. A lot of people use 0.080, some even use 0.060, and while for some smaller knives these thicknesses will make "adequate" sheaths, you can make a much better sheath using 0.093. There's even applications for 0.125. The thinner pieces of kydex have a lot more flex. If you use them, you don't have to be as precise with the factors that determine tensioning. which I guess can be good for the beginner, but the sheath also will bend to a degree, negating any "freeplay" you may have built into it and allow rub marks. Also is more sensitive to heat. Thicker materials will make a stiffer, stronger sheath, let you build in more attributes, and will be less affected by temperature. If you are forming your own belt loops, I'd use 0.093 as a minimum for strength. I use 0.125. Of the "off the shelf" belt loops, I prefer Spyderco's new G-clips for versatility and strength. When all is said and done, the choice of material you use will be determined by what your idea of a sheath should be and what you want it to accomplish. Good Luck and have fun learning!
 
Thanks a lot for pointing that out Mike, somehow I felt that 0,08 could be somewhat thin. I just needed someone to reassure me. The only problem I see right now is that I only know about 0,093" Kydex in black. Not that I absolutely need other colors, but I had fantasizez long ago about making some in red or orange (since I bought my Fallkniven F1). Maybe I will just stick to 0,093" and forget about colorfull sheaths...

Do you know about an online store that could provide other than black kydex in 0,093" and would ship overseas? They also have it in coyote brown in Knifekits.com. I just checked interstateplastics and they don't have it in red either... but their black is substantially cheaper than from knifekits.

Thanks in advance,
Mikel

PD: Just sent interstate plastics an email to know about their shipping charges.
 
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The .080 is plenty thick for almost all knives. I have used .060 on really small neck sheaths and have tried .093 but it is overkill in my opinion. Also you can not use the standard 8-8 eyelets sold by all the knife supply stores for .093. You need ot get 8-9 or better yet 8-10 for .093. I think I used almost 700 square feet of .080 last year with excellent results.
 
jll346 said:
The .080 is plenty thick for almost all knives. I have used .060 on really small neck sheaths and have tried .093 but it is overkill in my opinion. Also you can not use the standard 8-8 eyelets sold by all the knife supply stores for .093. You need ot get 8-9 or better yet 8-10 for .093. I think I used almost 700 square feet of .080 last year with excellent results.
Click to expand...

So far I just built the press and still haven't ordered any kydex from anywhere... so I am still considering it. Thanks for the heads up.

Mikel
 
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