Make your own kydex holster!

[mhm2a]

The recent threads on appendix carry, which I prefer, have inspired me to make my own holster. I wanted an AIWB that had a body shield, straight drop, and sat as low as possible. I found a couple of makers that did that, however, the lead time was too much.....I want it now...So here is the rest of the story.

I ordered three 12" x 12" sheets of kydex from knifekits.com



I then made a template to my Bersa .380 using a manilla legal folder:



Using painters tape to mark my lines I tranfered the template onto the kydex using my trusty bosch cordless jigsaw:

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[mhm2a]

After some hand sanding with various grits (60, 120, 400, 600) the edges were looking like a pro. I was now ready to apply some heat to bend the spine to match on both sides.



Once you have the spine where you want it then insert your firearm into your favorite medium thick dress sock then apply some more heat and use your cheap clamp pad plywood press to mold the kydex to your firearm.

[mhm2a]

Your product should look something like this:



Just add your pull the dot strap and voilla:



Final Product:

[orangehole]

Wow! great work. You make it look easy but I was never good with tools especially a bosch cordless jigsaw! How did you heat up the kydex? I have seem people bake it in an over or use a hair dryer type device.

[David in FL]

[mhm2a]

I use a heat gun to shape the kydex. I heat it to a wet leather consistancy and then shape and hold.

[Ragin Cajun]

Nice Job!

[friesepferd]

very nice! bravo

[tseabourn]

What kind of foam did you use?

[Sporty79]

Cool, I might have to try that, I have been wanting some type of custom made holster to fit under the dash of my truck. This sounds like the answer. Thanks

[mhm2a]

The foam is actually a camp pad from wally world, however, knifekits.com does sell the foam too. The camp pad was cut into sections and glued to a peice of 3/4 inch plywood with the same dimensions. I just place the heated kydex with mold in there and stand on it for about a minute. Not high tech...but it works.

Mfitzwater...I am also toying with vehicle mount and Kydex is the perfect material for that as well.

[matiki]

That is a nice looking holster there... I ordered some Kydex myself. I was once a car stereo guy and we used to heat and bend abs plastic a lot back before "dash kits" were common. Hopefully I'll do as well as you have.

[mhm2a]

If you can install a stereo you can make your own holster. If you can dodge a wrench you can make your own holster!

[matiki]

If you can install a stereo you can make your own holster. If you can dodge a wrench you can make your own holster!

I don't know why but that scene has stuck with me as one of the funniest moments in a movie I've ever seen.

[bluelineman]

How did you put the pull the dot strap on? Did you get that from knifekits.com too?